Ashanti Twi
Twi (pronounced 'chwee' [ʨʷi]) specifically Ashanti Twi is a language spoken in Ghana by about 7 million people. It is one of the three dialects of the Akan language, the others beingAkuapem Twi and Fante Twi, which in turn belongs to the Kwa 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.
Ashanti Twi is the most widely spoken of the dialects of the Akan language. Akan is spoken by about 44 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.
Click on link below to view an extensive chart and view course info from Abibitumikasa Afrikan Language Institute.
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ENGLISH PHRASE
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TWI PHRASE |
PRONOUNCIATION IN TWI |
|
|
|
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1. |
Good morning |
maakye |
MAH CHEE |
2. |
Good day/ afternoon |
maaha |
MAH HA |
3. |
Good evening/ night |
maadwo |
MAH JWO |
4. |
Sleep well/ Good night |
da yie |
DA YEAH |
5. |
We will meet again/ |
yεbεhyia |
YAA-BAY-SHEE-YAH |
6. |
Later |
akyire |
AY-CHEE-REE |
7. |
Safe Journey |
nantew yiye |
NAN TI YEAH |
8. |
Call to attention /Knock Knock |
agoo |
AH GOO |
9. |
Response to a call to attention/ Knock |
amee |
AH MAY |
10. |
How are you? |
wo ho te sεn |
WHOA HOE TEH SANG |
11. |
I am doing well. |
me ho yε |
MAY HO YEH |
12. |
What’s up? |
εte sεn? |
EH-TEH SANG |
13. |
I’m fine/ Easy or Cool |
eyε/ Bokoo |
EH-YEH/ BOU KOW |
14. |
And you? |
na wo nso ε? |
NAH WHO-NSOH EH |
15. |
Hello |
ayikoo |
AY-YEE-KOOH |
16. |
Greetings/ I greet you |
mekyea wo |
ME-CHEE-YA WO |
17. |
Welcome |
akwaaba |
AH-QUAAH-BA |
18. |
Responses Father/ Mother/Sibling/ Child |
yaa agya/ εna/ nua/ ɔba |
YAAHAY-JAH/ EH-NAHNWEE-YAH/ OH-BAH |
19. |
What’s your name? |
wo din de sεn? |
WHOA DEEN DAY SANG |
20. |
My name is |
me din de |
MAY DEEN DAY |
21. |
What are you called |
yεfrε wo sεn |
YEH FRE WHOA SANG |
22. |
I’m called |
yεfre me |
YEH FRE MAY |
23. |
Where do you come from? |
wofiri he |
WHO FRI HE |
24. |
I come from |
mefiri |
MI FRI |
25. |
Where were you born? |
ye woo wo he? |
YEH WOOH WO HE |
26. |
I was born or live in |
yε woo me wo |
YEH WOOH MI WO |
27. |
Africa/ Black Nation |
abibiman |
ABI BI MINE |
28. |
Please/ excuse me |
mepa wo Kyεw |
ME POW CHOW |
29. |
Thank you very much |
meda ase pii |
MAY-DAAH SAY PEE |
30. |
Repeat what you said |
ka bio |
KAH BEE-YO |
31. |
Speak slowly |
kasa brεoo |
KA SA BRE OH |
32. |
Sitdown |
tena ase |
TEH NAH SIE |
33. |
Stand |
gyina |
JI NAH |
34. |
Help me |
boa me |
BWA MAY |
35. |
No/ Yes |
anne/ Daabi |
AN NIE/ DE BIE |
36. |
Congratulation |
mo |
MOE |
37. |
Good Job |
woaye adee pa ara |
WO YE ADIA PAH |
38. |
Really/ Ok |
saa/ Yoo |
SAAW/ YOH |
39. |
Go/ Come |
kɔ / Bra |
KO/ BRA |
40. |
How much is this? |
wei yε sεn |
WEIGH YEH SANG |
41. |
Reduce the price |
te so |
TAY SO |
42. |
Teach/ Show me |
kyerε me |
CHER EH MAY |
43. |
What does that mean? |
εkyerε sεn? |
EH CHER-EH SANG |
44. |
Translate |
kyerε___aseε |
CHER-EH AH SEE-EH |
45. |
I don’t understand |
mente aseε |
MEN TEY AH SEE EH |
46. |
I understand |
mete aseε |
ME THE AH SEE EH |
Click on link below to view an extensive chart and view course info from Abibitumikasa Afrikan Language Institute.
For more Information on twi course, materials and more you can contact:
Obadele Kwame Kambon for Abibitumi Kasa Afrikan Language Institute.
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Kwadwo Gyasi Nkita-Mayala for Adiama Services and Tours.
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You can learn to speak Twi fluently by signing up for classes with one of these organizations.