Twi (pronounced ‘ch-wee’ [ʨʷi]) specifically Ashanti Twi is a language spoken in Ghana by about 8 million people. It is one of the three dialects of the Akan language, the others being Akuapem Twi , Kwahu Twi, Fante Twi etc which in turn belongs to the AKAN language family. Within Ghana, Twi is spoken in the Ashanti Region and in parts of the Eastern, Western, Central, Volta and Brong Ahafo Region. There are many divisions of twi languages, but they are all mutually intelligible.
Boy – Abɛɛmuwa
Man – Ɔbarima
Man – Barima
Male – Bɛvma
Old Man – Akwakoraa
Girl – Ɔbaa
Woman – Ɔbaa
Young Boy –
Young Girl –
Adult – Opanyin
Adult – Panyin
Child – Akwadaa
Baby – Akɔlaa
Human Body:
Head – Eti/Etire/Ti
Hair – Ti nwi
Face – Ɛnim
Forehead – Mo mma
Eyes – Ɛni
Teeth – Ɛse
Nose – Hwene
Ear(s) – Aso
Mouth – Ano
Neck – Ɛkɔn/kɔn
Arm(s) – Nsa
Stomach – Ɛfu/
Back – Ɛkyi
Waist – Sisi
Legs – Ɛnan/ Nan
Eyebrow(s) – Ani akyi nwi
Cheeks- Afono
Chin – Abogwe
Beard – Abogwe sɛ
Shoulders– Mmbɛti
Shoulder – Abɛti
Chest – Bo
Thigh – Srɛ
Knee – Kotodwe
Soul – Okra
Spirit – Sunsum
Blood – Mogya
Family – Abusua
Numbers in Twi:
1. Baako
2. Mmienu
3. Mmiensa
4. Nnan
5. Enum
6. Nsia
7. Nson
8. Nwɔtwe
9. Nkron
10. Du
11 (Eleven) = Du Baako = Du + Baako ( 10 + 1)
16 (Sixteen) = Du Nsia = Du + Nsia ( 10 + 6)
37 (Thirty seven) = Aduasa Nson = ‘Aduasa + Nson (30 + 7)
20. Aduonu
30. Aduasa
40. Aduanan
50. Aduonum
60. Aduosia
70. Aduɔson
80. Aduɔwɔtwe
90. Aduɔnkron
100. Ɔha
1000. Apem Plural Mpem
10,000. Mpem du
Akan Abusua:
The Akan believe that man is made up of soul (okra), spirit (sunsum),
blood (mogya) and family (abusua). The blood which comes from the mother
determines the abusua or family group in Ashanti but from other Akan
group it is the opposite. Since most Akan`s are matrilineal,
a child is what his/her mother is. Therefore a person can be Asante only
by virtue of the fact that his/her mother is Asante. The eight Akan
abusua are Aduana, Agona, Asakyiri, Asenie, Asona, Bretuo, Ekuona and
Oyoko. It is said that generally, more people belong to the Asona abusua
than to any other family group. The smallest of the abusua is Asakyiri.
Abusua is not the same as clan. Whereas abusua means (or is) a group or
groups of people descended from one great-grand-mother on the maternal
side, clan is a federation of four or five different groups of abusua or
families with one recognised head.
Akan Twi Verbs Translator
Pronouns and verbs in Akan Twi language
| English | Twi |
| I | Me/ Mi. |
| You | Wo |
| He/She | Ɔno |
| We/Us/Our | Yɛn |
| It | Ɛno |
| Them/They | Wɔn / Wɔm |
| Go | Kɔ |
| Come | Bra |
| Sit | Tenase |
| Jump | Huri |
| Drink | Nom |
| Cook | Noa |
| Earn | Nya |
| Talk | Kasa |
| Fry | Kye |
| Buy | Tɔ |
| Ask | Bisa |
| Eat | Didi |
| Laugh | Sre |
| Look | Hwɛ |
| Cry | Su |
| Burn | Hye |
| Measure | Susu |
| Shout | Tiɛmu |
| Spoil | Sɛe |
| Fly | Tu |
| Sell | Tɔn |
| Help | Boa |
| Hold | Somu |
| Walk | Nante |
| Run | Kɔ/Tu Mmrika |
| Steal | Wia |
| Sew | Pam |
| Teach | Kyerɛ |
| Remember | Kae |
| Fear | Suro |
| Receive | Gye |
| Take | Fa |
| Need | Hia |
| Want | adehia |
| Call | Frɛ |
| Breathe | Home |
| Throw | To |
| Dry | Hata |
| Sweep | Pra |
| Hurry | Yɛ ntɛm |
| Greet | Kyia |
| Lost | Yera |
| Turn | Dane |
| Hurt | Pira |
| Blow | Hu |
Days of the Week in Twi
Monday – Dwoada
Tuesday – Benada
Wednesday – Wukuada
Thursday – Yawoada
Friday – Fiada
Saturday – Memeneda
Sunday – Kwasiada
Ghana Twi Greetings
Good morning – Maakye
Good afternoon – Maaha
Good evening – Maadwo
Animals in Twi:
Cat – Ɔkra/Agyinamoa
Dog – Ɔkraman
Chicken – Akokɔ
Duck – Dabo-Dabo /
Duck – Dɔkɔ-Dɔkɔ
Goat – Aponkye
Sheep – Odwan
Cow – Nantwie
Turkey – Kro-kro
Hawk – Akroma
Squirrel – Opuro
Fox – Sasakraman
Wolf – Pataku
Vulture – Pete
Snake – Ɔwɔ
Rabbit – Adanku
Bat – Ampan
Butterfly – Afofantɔ
Frog – Apɔtrɔ
Ghana Akan`s Who Speak Twi Language:
Akan People – Ahanta
Akan People – Akwamu
Akan People – Akyem
Akan People – Anyi
Akan People – Aowin
Akan People – Asante
Akan People – Baule
Akan People – Bono
Akan People – Chokosi
Akan People – Denkyira
Akan People – Fante
Akan People – Kwahu
Akan People – Nzema
Akan People – Sefwi
Akan People – Wassa
Twi (pronounced ‘ch-wee’ [ʨʷi]) specifically Ashanti Twi is a language spoken in Ghana by about 8 million people. It is one of the three dialects of the Akan language, the others being Akuapem Twi , Kwahu Twi, Fante Twi etc which in turn belongs to the AKAN language family. Within Ghana, Twi is spoken in the Ashanti Region and in parts of the Eastern, Western, Central, Volta and Brong Ahafo Region. There are many divisions of the Twi languages, but they are all mutually intelligible.
They are all tonal language like the word ‘PAPA’, which means many things in different places in Ghana and even in other countries.
PAPA can mean any of the following’s in Ghana:
1. Father;
2. Something good;
3. An object that can be used to generate Air ( fan) in hot environment.
Ghanaians can easily understand what exactly one is talking about based on the speech sound.
Twi Music: Ability OFM Radio as an example:
Holy Bible – Twerɛ Kronkron
New Testament – Apam Foforɔ
Asante Twi Bible: Ability OFM Radio as an example:
Akuapem Twi Bible: Ability OFM Radio as an example:
Fante Twi Bible: Ability OFM Radio as an example:
NB: This is just example by OFMTV.COM
However, variants do occur; for example, in Fijian, the word for “mother” is nana, in Altaic and Turkish we have ana, and in proto-Old Japanese, the word for “mother” was ‘papa’. The modern Japanese word for “father, ” chichi, is from older titi. In Japanese the child’s initial mamma is interpreted to mean “food”.
Ashanti Twi is the most widely spoken of the dialects of the Akan language. Akan is spoken by about 45 percent of Ghana’s population as a first language, and is also used as a second language by a large number of the remainder. These definitions and phrases are meant to introduce a non-Twi beginner to the spoken language.
Twi Family & Culture Dictionary:
NB: The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular Akan-Twi people in a society.
English Language | Twi Language:
Eat breakfast – Di anɔpa eduane
Do you miss me? – W’afe me anaa?
Early morning – Anɔpa paa
Drink water – Nom nsuo
Don’t go there – M’ɛnkɔ hɔ
Eat dinner – Di anwumerɛ aduane
Eat lunch – Di ɛwia eduane
Have fun – Gye w’ani
Help me – Boa me
He is laughing – ɔre sere
Have you seen my friend? – Wo ahu m’adamfo no anaa?
Come let’s eat – Bra na yɛn didi
Good family – Abusua pa
God’s time is the best – Nyame mmere ne mmere pa
Give me more – Fa bi ka ho
Good character – Suban pa
Bread and water – Paanoo ne nsuo
come here now – bra ha seeseyi ara
Blow your nose – Hemm
Don’t worry about it – M’ɛndwen beberee
Give me a new one – Ma me foforɔ
Argue – Akyinye Gye
Father – Papa
Mother – Maame
Sibling – Nnua
Brother – Nnua Bɛɛma (pronounced “Burma”)
Sister – Nnua Baa
Older Sibling – Nnua Panyin
Younger Sibling – Nnua Kumaa/Nnua Ketewa
Twins – Ntaa/Ntaafoɔ
Uncle – Wɔfa (pronounced “Worfah”)
Aunt – Sewaa
Niece/Nephew – Wɔfa’se
Grandparents – Nana
Grandchild – Nana
Good Woman – Obaapa
Love – Ɔdɔ
Thanks – Aseda
Music – Dwom
Grace – Adom
Chief – Nana
King – Ohene
Chief’s Palace – Ahenfie
Kings’s Palace – Ahenfie
Family Elders – Abusua Mpanyinfoɔ
Big – Kεsi
Forest – Kwayεm
Earth – Asase
Good morning – Maakye
Good afternoon – Maaha
Good evening – Maadwo
Money for funeral support – Nsawa
Heir – Odiadefo
Box – Adaka
Place of the Dead – Asamando
King`s Child – Oheneba
Husband – Kunu
Wife – Yere
Fiancee – Mpena
Bachelor – Osugyani
Family – Abusua
Blood Money – Sika aduro
Rituals Money – Sika aduro
Protectors of the Land – Asase Aban
We don`t quit – Yεnte Gyae
Child of the Rock – Oboכּba
Rock – Bepo/
Stone – Oboכּ
Misers – Pεpεe (a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible)
Oboכּba is normaly referred to Kwahu people who speak a dialect of Akan language called Twi and live specifically
in the mountainous Eastern Region of Ghana in the towns such as Abene, Abetifi,
Pepease, Atibie, Nkwatia, Obo, Bepong, Tafo, Akwasiho, Obomeng, Twenedurase, Nteso,
Mpraeso, Asakraka, Aduamoa, Pitiko, Sadan, Burukuwa, Nkantanane, Ahinasie and Donkorkrom.
Macmillan and Kwamena Poh (1965) described the wonderful climate of their mountainous town,
Abetifi as “…the Switzerland of West Africa, with nights as cool as May nights in Europe”.
Taboos – Eyirwodea.
Examples of Taboos – Eyirwodea
1. The Akan-Twi people have a notion that one should not shout on top of one’s voice
when mentioning somebody’s name in the night. It is believed that ghosts and
other spirits might hear the name and can spiritually manipulate them. The
moral lesson is actually to stop people from making noise or cause
unnecessary distraction in the night.
2. It is also believed that, one should not sing whiles bathing. It is said
that one who fall prey to this act will die. The prime aim was to prevent
lather and other chemicals from entering one’s mouth while bathing.
3. Another superstitious belief among Akan people is that one should not
sweep at night. Parents say that one will sweep away his / her success. The
idea behind this superstitious belief is to protect people from losing their
valuable items since, vision or visibility is impaired at night.
Fruits and Vegetables in Twi:
Orange – Akutu/Akutuo
Banana – Kwadu
Mango – Amango
Pawpaw – Bɔfre
Pineapple – Abrɔbɛ
Tomato – Ntoes
Pepper – Amako/Mako
Cocoyam – Mankani
Yam – Bayerɛ
Cassava – Bankye
Onion – Gyeyney
Okro – Nkruma
Egg plant/Aubergine
Garden Egg – Ntrowa/Nyaadowa
Nuts – Nkatiɛ
Colours in Twi Language:
Red – KɔKɔɔ
Black – Tumtum
White – Fitaa
Blue –
Green – Ahaban Mono (Literal Translation: New Leaf)
Yellow – AkoKɔ Sradeɛ (Literal Translation: Chicken’ Oil)
Brown – Ahaban dada (Literal Translation: Old Leaf)
Dark – Tuum
Akan Twi Pidgin Dictionary:
Achormor – A long baked/ fried snack similar to bread sticks
Agaatha – Lollipop
Akpeteshie(Akpet) – Alcohol
Apio – Same as Akpeteshie
Apuskeleke – Descriptive term for woman wearing short and tight skirt or
simply tight clothing.
Azonto – Descriptive term for a high maintenance woman. or A popular
Ghanaian dance.
Cha Cha – Gambling
Chaley – A term casually used to call a friend. Similar to “Hey Dude, Hello
Mate, What’sup Bro”
Chisel – A miser or stingy person.
Chobo – Money taken from a given total through deliberate miss-accounting o.
E.g. The money stolen from the cashier by the shop assistant, without the shop
owners knowledge, is chobo.
Dropping – Privately Chartering a taxi. Note: Most Ghanaian taxis are run buses;
They follow routes and thus many individuals can get into one taxi heading to a
single destination. If you want to deviate from the drivers route, you have to
take a dropping.
Galamsey – Illegal mining
Guarantee – Long heeled women’s shoes
Joseph – Cat meat
Kayayo – A courier employed to carry goods to accompany a purchasing customer.
Kobɔlor – Vagabond
Lacoste – A polo shirt
Lift – Hitching a ride.
Mashke – Mashed Kenkey also known as Iced Kenkey.
Mobitel – Mobile phone
Oluman – Old man
Sakora – A hair style involving shaving all hair off, like a Shaolin.
Shashee – A promiscuous woman. Not to be confused with Ashawo. which is a
prostitute
Shegelege – Commotion or Chaos
Skin Pain – A person not happy about other peoples successes. A hater.
Skin Tight – Tights, leggings or leotard.
Vamoose – Go away.
Vim – An expression for descibing power, passion or enthusiasm. E.g. More vim –
More Passion.
Yawa – A description for something fake or disgraceful. E.g. ’She is yawa’.
Yoomo – A type of hair dye.
[quote font=”verdana” font_size=”14″ font_style=”italic” color=”#474747″ bgcolor=”#F5F5F5″
bcolor=”#dd9933″ arrow=”yes” align=”centre”] Source: GhanaSky.com – The sky is our limit [/quote]
