Ghana Language Guide
Twi to English Dictionary
Learn Akan Twi words and phrases — greetings, family terms, numbers, food, body parts, animals, time words, and Ghanaian day names — all translated and organized for quick everyday use.
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Greetings & Common Phrases
- Ɛte sɛn?How are you?
- Ɛyɛ / BɔkɔɔI'm fine / Cool
- Me da wo aseThank you
- Meda wo ase piiThank you very much
- Wo ho te sɛn?How are you doing?
- Yɛfrɛ me...My name is...
- Wo din de sɛn?What is your name?
- Mema wo akyeGood morning
- Mema wo ahaGood afternoon
- Mema wo adwoGood evening
- Ɛda wo hoTake care
- Nante yiyeTravel well / Safe journey
- Dɛn neɛ?What is this?
- MepawokyewPlease
- Kɔ soGo ahead / Continue
- AaneYes
- DaabiNo
- KafraSorry
- Me te aseɛI understand
- Me nte aseɛI don't understand
- Boa meHelp me
Numbers
- BaakoOne
- MmienuTwo
- MmiɛnsaThree
- ƐnanFour
- EnumFive
- NsiaSix
- NsonSeven
- NwɔtweEight
- NkronNine
- EduTen
- AduonuTwenty
- AduasaThirty
- ƆhaOne hundred
- ApemOne thousand
Family
- MaameMother
- Papa / AgyaFather
- Nua / OnuaSibling
- Nua barimaBrother
- Nua baaSister
- NanaGrandparent / Grandchild
- WɔfaUncle (mother's brother)
- Sewaa / SewaAunt
- Ɔba / AbɔfraChild
- ƆbarimaMan
- ƆbaaWoman
- OkunuHusband
- YereWife
- AbusuaFamily / Extended family
- AdamfoFriend
Everyday Nouns
- FieHouse
- NkyɛnPlace / Side
- NsaHand
- AdakaBox
- NkutoLotion
- AkomaHeart
- SikaMoney
- DanRoom / Building
- KwanRoad / Path
- NsuoWater
- OwiaSun
- ƆsramMoon
- AhyɛnsoɔStar
- SukuuSchool
- AdwumaWork / Job
Verbs
- DiEat
- KɔGo
- TeLive / Stay
- BɔStrike / Make
- TɔBuy
- TɔnSell
- SɔTry
- KɔdaSleep
- TɔkwaFight
- HyɛWear
- DɔLove
- YɛDo / Make
- NomDrink
- SomServe / Worship
- SuaLearn
- KasaSpeak
- TieListen / Hear
- HwɛLook / See
Adjectives
- FɛBeautiful
- KɛseBig
- SuaSmall
- DɛSweet
- WareTall
- DuruHeavy
- HareLight (weight)
- KɔkɔɔRed
- TuntumBlack
- FitaaWhite
- MɛrɛSoft
- NwunuCold
- HyewHot
- GidigidiRough
- PaGood
- BɔneBad
Food & Drink
- AduaneFood
- NsuoWater
- ƐmoCooked rice
- BankyeCassava
- BayerɛYam
- Kɔkɔɔ aduaneRed food / Stew dish
- NkateGroundnut / Peanut
- ƐkɔmHunger
- Ɔsa / NsaAlcoholic drink
- NkwanSoup
- BrodoBread
- NkyeneSalt
Body Parts
- TiHead
- AniEye
- AsoEar
- HweneNose
- AnoMouth
- SeTooth
- NsaHand / Arm
- NanLeg / Foot
- AkomaHeart
- YamStomach / Belly
- Ti nwiHair
- HonamSkin / Body
Animals
- KramanDog
- Ɔkraman / AkramanDogs
- ƆkraCat
- AkokoChicken
- NantwiCow
- OguanSheep
- AbirekyiGoat
- KɔtɔCrab
- ApanAntelope
- Ɔkraman-AkɛkyemTortoise
- AnomaaBird
- ƆwɔSnake
Understanding the Akan Twi Language
Akan Twi is the most widely spoken local dialect in Ghana, especially across central and southern regions like Kumasi, Accra, and Koforidua. Learning basic words makes everyday communication much easier when interacting with locals, traders, or transport operators.
The letters Ɛ (epsilon) and Ɔ (open o) are unique vowels in Twi. "Ɛ" sounds like the "e" in the English word "bet", while "Ɔ" sounds like the "o" in "boy" or "corn".
Days of the Week in Twi
- DwowdaMonday
- BenadaTuesday
- WukudaWednesday
- YawdaThursday
- FidaFriday
- MemenedaSaturday
- KwasiadaSunday
Ghanaian Day Names (Soul Names)
In Ghanaian culture, children are traditionally given a first name based on the specific day of the week they were born. For example, a male child born on Friday is named Kofi. These names carry cultural significance and vary slightly between males and females.
| Day of the Week | Male Name | Female Name |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Kojo / Kwadwo | Adwoa |
| Tuesday | Kwabena | Abena |
| Wednesday | Kwaku | Akua |
| Thursday | Yaw | Yaa |
| Friday | Kofi | Afia / Afua |
| Saturday | Kwame | Ama |
| Sunday | Kwasi | Akosua |
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common greeting is "Ɛte sɛn?", which translates directly to "How is it?" or "How are you?". The standard friendly response to this is "Ɛyɛ" (It is good) or "Bɔkɔɔ" (Cool/Fine).
Twi has a straightforward sentence structure similar to English. Once you master the distinct vowel sounds (like ɛ and ɔ), memorizing everyday nouns and simple verbs allows you to communicate basic ideas quickly.
One to ten in Twi is: Baako, Mmienu, Mmiɛnsa, Ɛnan, Enum, Nsia, Nson, Nwɔtwe, Nkron, Edu. See the Numbers section above for the full list with English meanings.
Twi is a dialect of the Akan language, part of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is mutually intelligible with Fante, another major Akan dialect spoken in Ghana's Central and Western regions.
Akan culture places cultural restrictions on openly naming certain body parts, particularly sexual organs. Euphemisms are typically used instead when such topics come up in conversation, which is why standard vocabulary lists usually exclude them.
