Oxford University Press East Africa has unveiled a new edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary featuring about 2,000 additional words and meanings.
Kenyan terms, including “biting”, “butchery”, chang’aa and sub-county, are among the new additions recognised in the latest update.
The new entries reflect how English continues to change through local usage, technology, culture and social developments, with the dictionary also adding global terms such as content creator, anti-vaccine, self-care, livestreamer and unmute.
The dictionary was launched in Mombasa on Wednesday during the 49th annual Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) conference.
Oxford University Press East Africa said the inclusion of the new words was based on ongoing language research and corpus analysis by lexicographers who track how English is used in real-life situations.
“We recognise that strong English proficiency underpins success across the curriculum. This new edition is closely aligned to curriculum needs, enabling learners to think critically, express themselves clearly, and succeed in a rapidly changing world,” Beatrice Karanja, chief publishing officer, Oxford University Press East Africa, said.
The Kenyan expressions included in the update represent words commonly used in local settings. “Biting” refers to a small meal, while “butchery” is used in some contexts to mean a snack bar.
Also included is ‘matatu’, referring to privately operated public transport vehicles, and boda boda, which describes motorcycle taxis used for public transport.
Other words associated with Kenyan culture and lifestyle include harambee, a Swahili term meaning pulling together that represents community cooperation, and jua kali, which refers to informal sector workers, especially artisans who operate in open spaces.
The update also recognises words linked to Kenyan food and traditions. Nyama choma, meaning grilled meat, ugali, a maize-based staple food, and mandazi, a popular fried snack, are among expressions that have gained wider use beyond Kenya.
Swahili words such as safari, meaning journey or travel, karibu, meaning welcome, asante, meaning thank you, and amani, meaning peace, have also become familiar in global conversations.
Across Africa, words such as ubuntu, a Southern African philosophy centred on humanity and shared connections, and Bongo Flava, Tanzania’s popular music genre, show how regional cultures continue to shape modern English.
The latest edition also introduces words linked to artificial intelligence, including hallucination, prompt and slop. Business-related terms such as omnichannel and seed funding have also been added.
Other new concepts captured in the dictionary include eco-anxiety, net zero, gaslighting, scammer, man or woman of colour and neurodivergent.
KESSHA national chairman Willie Kuria said the updated dictionary would help learners understand different subjects by providing clearer explanations and additional learning materials.
“The clarity of language and additional learning resources enable students to grasp even complex STEM and mathematical terms with ease,” Kuria said.
The additions come as language continues to develop through changing social practices, digital advancements and cultural interactions. Oxford University Press East Africa said the latest edition aims to keep the dictionary useful for learners and speakers using English in different regional and global settings.
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