Archive · 25 Sep 2025
Caribbean Words Added to Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary has added 12 new words from the Caribbean!
Some of these words describe food like 'bulla,' a type of flat cake, and 'buss up shut,' a flaky bread.
Others are about gossip ('carry-go-bring-come') or manners ('broughtupsy').
There's also 'bobolee,' an effigy, and 'saltfish,' fish that has been salted and dried.
These words show how people in the Caribbean speak, and this is now recognized by the dictionary!
The Oxford English Dictionary added 12 new Caribbean words.
Included words: 'carry-go-bring-come', 'cou-cou', and 'bulla'.
'Buss up shut' refers to a flaky bread.
'Pholourie' is an Indo-Caribbean dish.
Saltfish, dating back to 1558, is the oldest addition.
- Who
- The Oxford English Dictionary
- What
- Added 12 Caribbean words
- When
- Announced on Wednesday
- Where
- The Oxford English Dictionary
- Why
- To recognize and include Caribbean words.
- New Words Added
- 12
- Oldest Word Added
- Saltfish (1558)
- Longest Word Added
- Carry-go-bring-come
- Origin of Bulla
- Spanish 'bollo'
- Origin of Buss Up Shut
- Bust-up shirt
- First Quote of Pholourie
- 1936 Song by Rafael de Leon