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NB:
this video was filmed a while ago and, in hindsight, I need to make two points:
- I still haven’t heard anyone use “agoo” or “huu” as “hello” over the phone. But considering the contexts within which “agoo” is used, I’m thinking – and agree with those who have made this point – that we could use that. But with language being conventional, it’ll take a collective effort to convince society to accept and use “agoo” in place of the “hɛloo” that we’ve been using. If you agree, then it starts with us.
- “later” is “akyire yi“, not just “akyire“
| TWI | ENGLISH |
| frɛ | to call |
| ɔfrɛ | calling; call NOUN |
| frɛ me | call me |
| wofrɛɛ me? | you called me?; did you call me? |
| wofrɛɛ me nnora? | you called me yesterday?; did you call me yesterday? |
| aane, mefrɛɛ wo | yes, I called you |
| dabi, mamfrɛ wo | no, I didn’t call you |
| aane, mefrɛɛ wo nnora | yes, I called you yesterday |
| dabi, mamfrɛ wo nnora | no, I didn’t call you yesterday |
| mɛfrɛ wo | I will call you |
| mɛfrɛ wo kyena | I will call you tomorrow |
| mɛfrɛ wo anwummerɛ yi | I will call you this evening |
| mɛfrɛ wo anadwo yi | I will call you tonight |
| mefrɛ wo a, fa | when I call you, pick up |
| mefrɛ wo a, womfa | when I call you, you don’t pick up |
| hwan nie? | who’s this? |
| Yaw nie | this is Yaw |
| Kwadwo nie | this is Kwadwo |
| Kwabena nie | this is Kwabena |
| worehwehwɛ hwan? | whom are you looking for? |
| merehwehwɛ … | I’m looking for … |
| merehwehwɛ Kwadwo | I’m looking for Kwadwo |
| merehwehwɛ Abena | I’m looking for Abena |
| merehwehwɛ Ama | I’m looking for Ama |
| merehwehwɛ Yaw | I’m looking for Yaw |
| mɛtumi ne Yaw akasa? | can I speak with Yaw? |
| mɛtumi ne Abena akasa? | can I speak with Abena? |
| mɛtumi ne Kwabena akasa? | can I speak with Kwabena? |
| mɛtumi ne Akwasi akasa? | can I speak with Akwasi? |
| wapue | he/she has stepped out |
| ɔnni hɔ | he/she is not there |
| Akosua na ɛrekasa yi; Akosua na ɔrekasa yi | this is Akosua speaking |
| Yaw na ɛrekasa yi; Yaw na ɔrekasa yi | this is Yaw speaking |
| Joseph na ɛrekasa yi; Joseph na ɔrekasa yi | this is Joseph speaking |
| Kwabena na ɛrekasa yi; Yaw na ɔrekasa yi | this is Kwabena speaking |
| Akosua wɔ hɔ | is Akosua there? |
| aane, ɔwɔ ha | yes, she/he is here |
| dabi, ɔnni ha | no, she/he isn’t here |
| dabi, ɔnni hɔ | no, she/he isn’t there |
| wode nkra bɛgya? | will you leave a message? |
| agoo; hɛloo | hello |
| wote me nka? | do you hear me?; can you hear me? |
| wote me kasa? | do you hear me (my voice/speech)? |
| aane, mete | yes, I hear |
| dabi, mente | no, I can’t hear |
| aane, mete wo nka | yes, I can hear you |
| dabi, mente wo nka | no, I can’t hear you |
| aane, mete wo kasa | yes, I hear your voice/speech |
| dabi, mente wo kasa | no, I can’t hear your voice/speech |
| ahoma no retwitwa si | the line is breaking |
| w’ahoma no retwitwa si | your line is breaking |
| gyina yie | position yourself well; stand well |
| gyina so | hang on; stand on |
| gyina so simma | hang on a minute |
| baabae | bye-bye |
| akyire yi | later |
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Founding Editor at LEARNAKAN.COM | MYTWIDICTIONARY.COM | LEARNAKANFLUENCYCLUB.COM
STEPHEN AWIBA, known by his students as TIKYA YAW, is the founding editor of LEARNAKAN.COM and MYTWIDICTIONARY.COM. He was born and raised in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital of Ghana, where Akan (Asante Twi) is spoken as the first language. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Theatre Arts from the University of Ghana and an MPhil in English Linguistics and Language Acquisition from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
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