25 New Kenyan Words Added To The Oxford Dictionary

New Kenyan words added to the Oxford dictionary portray significant recognition of the country’s vibrant culture and language.

Kenya is a country with a rich culture and a vibrant history. It’s also a country with a rich language, and this is reflected in the fact that 25 Kenyan words were recently added to the Oxford Dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is constantly evolving to keep up with the times. And in recent years, that has meant adding several Kenyan words to their list.

Here are 25 of the most popular Kenyan words that have been added to the Oxford Dictionary recently.

Kenyan Words That are Already in the Oxford Dictionary

The Oxford Dictionary is a widely respected authority on the English language. So it’s no surprise that many people were excited to see Kenyan words make an appearance in the latest edition of the dictionary.

Some of the Kenyan words that are now in the Oxford Dictionary include:

• Nyama Choma: Swahili word for grilled meat
• Isikuti: a Luhya word for lively, fast-paced dance accompanied by drums and singing
• Mboga: a Kenyan vegetable, typically green in color
• Maasai: an ethnic group that resides largely in Kenya and parts of Tanzania
• Kayamba: a flat, Kenyan musical instrument that produces sound when shaken
• Majimbo: Swahili word for a governing system in a country comprising multiple smaller states, each with some power
• Boda-boda: a type of motorcycle or bicycle with room for a passenger or cargo
• Mandazi: Swahili for a simple dough that is deep fried until puffy and light
• Safari: Swahili word for a trip to see wild animals or a period of time spent traveling

It’s great to see Kenyan culture and language being recognized on a global stage. We can only hope that this trend continues in the future.

Why These Words Were Included in the Oxford Dictionary

So why exactly do some words make it into the Oxford Dictionary while others don’t? It all comes down to usage and popularity. The Oxford Dictionary monitors how words are used over time and makes note of any new or trending words. The numerous new terms are those that have become ingrained in Kenyan linguistic DNA.

Once a word has been added to the Oxford Dictionary, it is considered to be an official English word.

New Kenyan Words Added to the Oxford Dictionary

The Oxford Dictionary has announced that it has added new Kenyan words to its latest edition. According to the OED, the inclusion of new words is owing to the popularity of Swahili, a language spoken by approximately 200 million people in East Africa.

The latest update to the OED includes several new and revised entries for Swahili-derived words that are believed to fall under the semantic scope of East African clothing, cuisine, and architecture.

This is a major achievement for Kenya, and it will help to preserve the country’s rich culture and history for future generations.

• Githeri: a Central Kenya traditional dish consisting of boiled maize and beans
• Chapo: a thin round pancake cooked on a pan
• Mpango wa Kando: Swahili phrase for a sexual relationship with a person other than one’s spouse or partner
• Mabati: corrugated iron sheets used as building materials for houses
• Chips mayai: In Kenyan cuisine, a thick omelette with fried potatoes (chips) stirred with eggs while cooking
• Muratina: a Kikuyu word for a sweet fermented alcoholic drink made with sausage tree fruit and sugar cane juice or honey
• Busaa: a strong home-brewed traditional Kenyan beer made from fermented millet, maize, or sorghum flour
• Kipande: a national identity document
• Irio: a Kenyan dish consisting of mashed potatoes with maize, peas and leafy green veggies
• Jembe: Swahili word for a farming tool with a long wood handle and blade at the end
• Otherwise: Kenyan English for option, choice or alternative
• Shrub: when you pronounce a word in another language in a manner that it sounds like your mother tongue
• Merry-go-round: informal cooperative savings scheme typically run by women whereby each participant contributes a certain amount of money and the whole sum is distributed to members
• Buibui: an item of clothing worn by Muslim women
• Sufuria: a Kenyan metal pot used for cooking

Other words include shrubbing, tarmac, kamba, jiko, sambaza, sheng, uji, uhuru, collabo among others.

What Does Inclusion in the Oxford Dictionary Signify for the Kenyan Language?

There has been a rising effort in recent years to include more Kenyan words in the Oxford English Dictionary. This is an important accomplishment for Kenyan language and culture since it ensures that Kenyan terms will be preserved and recognized by the rest of the world.

Inclusion in the Oxford dictionary is a significant step toward preserving and promoting Kenyan language. It is an acknowledgement of Kenyan culture’s depth and diversity, and it will help to ensure that the Kenyan language is carried down to future generations.

It’s encouraging to note that the Oxford English Dictionary’s most recent edition includes several Kenyan words from local dialects. This reflects our language’s liveliness and the fact that it is utilized in a variety of circumstances.

However, it is worth noting that this is just a small step in the right direction. There are many more Kenyan words that could be added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Only time will tell how many more Kenyan words will be added in the future.