Kitu Kidogo, Panya Route: Oxford English Dictionary Adds More Kenyan Kiswahili Words

• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included popular Kenyan Kiswahili terms like kitu kidogo and panya route in its latest update
• Kitu kidogo, a phrase used locally to refer to bribes or small favours, is now officially recognized by the OED as "money offered or accepted as an inducement or bribe"
• Panya route, which refers to hidden or unofficial shortcuts, is defined by the OED as "a secret path or roundabout route, especially one used for smuggling"
• Uganda's popular street food, Rolex, a chapati wrap with omelette and vegetables, has also been added to the dictionary

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The highly rated Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has once again embraced Kenyan Kiswahili in its latest update.

What Kiswahili words have been added to OED?

In a move that will excite many Kenyans, the OED officially included popular Kiswahili terms, such as kitu kidogo and panya route.

The latest development is seen as a recognition of Kenya's rich linguistic diversity and its influence on the global stage.

Kitu kidogo, in local slang, literally means "something small," and it is often used in reference to bribes or small favours.

Many Kenyans are familiar with this phrase, especially when dealing with informal transactions or navigating bureaucratic red tape.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Kitu kidogo translates to “Money offered or accepted as an inducement or bribe.”

Another word that has entered the Oxford dictionary is panya route.

The term was originally used to describe hidden or unofficial routes that help one reach any destination through shorter routes.

“A secret path or roundabout route; esp. one used for smuggling," OED explained.

Uganda's popular delicacy Rolex, a dish consisting of an omelette and vegetables wrapped in a chapati, usually sold by street vendors and eaten as a meal, has also made it into the dictionary.

How has OED embraced African languages?

In 2022, the OED, widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, added some Kiswahili and Sheng words to its dictionary.

OED said it had updated the World Englishes page with words from Kenyan, Nigerian, Tanzanian, and Ugandan English and added a host of Kenyan words.

It explained that the addition of the words was motivated by the growing popularity of Kiswahili, which is spoken by over 200 million people globally.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Oxford English Dictionary (OED) included popular Kenyan terms.

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