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Have you read our lesson on Twi concrete nouns? In that lesson, we identified concrete nouns as nouns used to denote things that we can see, smell, hear, taste, and/or touch.
In contrast to concrete nouns, there are nouns whose referents cannot be seen, smelled, heard, tasted, nor touched. We refer to such nouns collectively as abstract nouns (adwenemudeɛ). We focus on abstract nouns (adwenemudeɛ) in today’s lesson.
What is an abstract noun?
An abstract noun is a noun used to denote an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object. If you come across a noun that is used to refer to something that cannot be seen, smelled, heard, tasted, nor touched, it is most likely an abstract noun.
Examples of abstract nouns in Twi
| Twi | English |
|---|---|
| ahoɔfɛ | beauty |
| animuonyam | honour |
| nimdeɛ | knowledge |
| ɔtan | hatred |
| ɔdɔ | love |
| ahoɔyaa | jealousy |
| akokoɔduro | bravery |
| suban | character |
| ohia | poverty |
| ayamyɛ | kindness |
| awɔ | cold weather |
| ehu | fear |
| abufuo | anger |
| nokorɛ | truth |
| anigyeɛ | happiness |
Usage examples
Let’s use some of the above-listed abstract nouns in a few sentences. You will find the abstract nouns italicized and underlined.
1. Abufuo nyɛ.
Anger is not good.
2. Woamma ntɛm a, awɔ bɛku me.
If you don’t come quickly, cold weather will kill me.
3. Ɔdɔ nnim ohia.
Love knows not poverty.
4. Anigyeɛ ahyɛ m’akoma mu ma.
Happiness has filled my heart.
5. Suban te sɛ nyinsɛn; wontumi mfa nsie.
Character is like pregnancy; you cannot hide it.
Go on and add to the list. What noun can you think of that refers to an idea, quality, or state of being other than a concrete object? Do you know how it is called in Twi? Let us know in the comments section below.
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