Here is how to count in Akan (Twi), from 1 to 20, with 20 numbers checked against reference sources (Twi of Ghana). Learn the first ten first: almost all the others are built from them.
1
From 0 to 10
Baakoone
Mmienutwo
Mmiɛnsathree
Ɛnanfour
Enumfive
Nsiasix
Nsonseven
Nwɔtweeight
Nkronnine
Eduten
2
From 11 to 19
Dubaakoeleven
Dumienutwelve
Dumiɛnsathirteen
Dunanfourteen
Dunumfifteen
Dunsiasixteen
Dunsonseventeen
Dunwɔtweeighteen
Dunkronnineteen
3
Tens, hundreds, thousands
Aduonutwenty
Test yourself
1. What does “Mmienu” mean?
2. What does “Nson” mean?
3. What does “Dumienu” mean?
4. What does “Dunson” 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.
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.