One of the most important vocabulary topics we’ve treated so far has been the one on numbers. The ability to count in any language being learnt is undoubtedly key to a learner’s overall success. It forms a basis for other numerical lessons such as how to tell the time, reading sums of money, fractions, calling out years, percentages, etc.
I hope you’ve gone through the lesson on numbers and memorised up to one hundred, at least. If you haven’t, I suggest you pause on the present lesson and go check it out here. Today’s lesson is going to be a very easy one, but how easy it will be will largely depend on whether or not you can count in Twi up to a hundred.
We are looking at percentages. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to call out any percentage at all in Twi: 10%, 20%, 30%, 16%, 61%, you name it.
If you’re ready, let’s begin.
Percentages in Twi
So, all you need to know in order to call out percentages in Twi, beyond the ability to count, is just one of the two formats below. Any one of them would work just fine.
Format 1: ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu [NUMBER]
Format 2: ɔha mu nkyɛmu [NUMBER]
Let’s do a literal breakdown of the structures for a better understanding before we move on.
Literal Breakdown
ɔha (hundred) + mu (inside) + nkyekyɛmu (division) + [NUMBER]
ɔha (hundred) + mu (inside) + nkyɛmu (division, contracted form) + [NUMBER]
You get it, right? Good!
So, again, all you need now are your numbers to fill in the [NUMBER] placeholder. That’s all! Now let’s look at some examples.
| Percentage | Long Form (Twi) | Short Form (Twi) |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu num | ɔha mu nkyɛmu num |
| 10% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu du | ɔha mu nkyɛmu du |
| 20% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduonu | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduonu |
| 30% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduasa | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduasa |
| 40% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduanan | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduanan |
| 50% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduonum | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduonum |
| 60% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduosia | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduosia |
| 70% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduɔson | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduɔson |
| 80% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduɔwɔtwe | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduɔwɔtwe |
| 90% | ɔha mu nkyekyɛmu aduɔkron | ɔha mu nkyɛmu aduɔkron |
So that’s it! Whichever percentage you need to say, just slot in the appropriate number into the [NUMBER] placeholder.
And, if you’re wondering how we’d say 100%, well, we technically wouldn’t. The format used to call out percentages in Twi actually requires that there be a division. 100% basically connotes “fullness/all”. We would, therefore, normally use “mua (full)” or “nyinaa (all)” to convey same in Twi.
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