Oxford dictionary Adds ‘Nyash’, ‘Mammy Market’, ‘Amala’ as Nigerian slang goes global

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially added several Nigerian words and expressions to its lexicon, further cementing Nigeria’s growing cultural and linguistic influence on global English usage.

BREAKING: Nyash’, ‘mammy market’ and ‘amala’ have been added to the Oxford Dictionary pic.twitter.com/GPjTeCgbBu

— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) January 8, 2026

In its December 2025 update, the OED included popular Nigerian terms such as “nyash,” “mammy market,” and “amala,” alongside other widely used expressions like “abeg,” “biko,” “moi moi,” and “Ghana Must Go.” The development has been met with widespread excitement and pride across Nigeria and its diaspora.

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The announcement gained rapid traction on social media after a post by @NigeriaStories went viral on January 8, proclaiming: “BREAKING: ‘Nyash’, ‘mammy market’ and ‘amala’ have been added to the Oxford Dictionary.” The post attracted thousands of likes, reposts, and comments within hours.

According to the OED, “nyash” is defined as “a person’s (especially a woman’s) buttocks; the bottom, the backside.” The slang word is commonly used in Nigerian everyday speech, music, and pop culture.

Mammy market is described as “a market typically run by women, originally found in military barracks but later also in youth service camps and educational institutions.”

The term traces its roots to Nigerian military history, where soldiers’ spouses sold food and household items, a practice that later spread to NYSC camps and universities.

Amala, a staple Nigerian dish popular among the Yoruba people, is defined as “a kind of dough made of yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, typically formed into a ball and served as an accompaniment to other dishes.” Its inclusion places Nigerian cuisine firmly on the global culinary map.

The OED noted that the new additions reflect the impact of West African Englishes, driven by migration, music, film, social media, and everyday cross-cultural exchanges. Linguists say the update is a milestone for African contributions to the evolution of global English.

Social media reactions have been largely celebratory. Some users described the update as proof that “Nigeria is global,” while others humorously called for more local foods like ewedu and gbegiri to be added next. There were also light-hearted debates over spelling variations, particularly between “nyash” and “yansh.”

The December update reportedly introduced over 500 new words into the dictionary, with more than 20 originating from Nigeria and West Africa. For many Nigerians, the recognition goes beyond vocabulary—it represents cultural validation on a global stage.