The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has embraced African linguistic flair in its latest update, adding nine South African loanwords and 20 new terms from Nigeria and Ghana. South African additions include expressive gems such as yoh (an interjection of surprise), gatvol (fed up), and tjoekie (prison), as well as zol (marijuana), moggy (irrational), and sharp-sharp (a casual greeting or farewell). From West Africa, Nigerian terms like suya, adire, 419, and Yahoo boy, join Ghanaian favorites like banku, azonto, and galamsey. While previous updates sparked buzz, this round landed quietly—perhaps because these words are already so ingrained in pop culture and daily speech. Still, the inclusion reflects growing global recognition of African languages.
Source: okayafrica
