Twi Family & Culture Dictionary:
The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular Akan-Twi people in a society.
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 Many nights in Europe”.
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
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.
CLICK HERE FOR “Free Akan Twi Dictionary & Translator Lesson Five“
[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]
