Introduce yourself, ask the way or a price, ask someone to repeat: 19 phrases in Akan (Twi) checked against reference sources (Twi of Ghana).

1

Travelling

Fa nifaturn right
Fa benkumturn left
kwanpath, road
Kɔ wanim teego straight
2

Everyday phrases

Yɛfrɛ wo sɛn?what is your name?
Wo din de sɛn?what is your name?
Wo fire he?where do you come from?
Ɛyɛ sɛn?how much is it?
Ɛyɛ ahe?how much is it?
Ne boɔ yɛ denit is expensive
Ɛdeɛn nie?what is this?
Mente Twi papaI don’t speak Twi well
Mete Twi kakraI speak a little Twi
Wote brɔfo?do you speak English?
Mente aseɛI don’t understand
MennimI don’t know
Ɛkɔm de meI am hungry
Nsukɔm de meI am thirsty
MabrɛI am tired

Test yourself

1. What does “Fa benkum” mean?

2. What does “Wo din de sɛn?” mean?

3. What does “Ne boɔ yɛ den” mean?

4. What does “Wote brɔfo?” mean?

Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Ghana Twi booklet. They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.