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Whichever language(s) you speak, I’m sure you know quite a handful of its two-letter words. In English, for example, we have an, am, is, go, to, be, do, and a host of other two-letter words with complete, independent meanings. This is no different in Twi.
Today’s lesson aims to introduce you to a number of two-letter words in Twi and their meanings. A very important point to note before we proceed is the fact that a two-letter Twi word (most, actually) may carry more than a single meaning. In most such cases, the distinctions are made through variations in certain phonological features such as tone and nasalisation.
Thus, pronunciation is key; a little error in the pronunciation of a two-letter Twi word and you’ll be referring to something completely different from what you intend saying. But, in a text lesson like this, I can only list the various meanings a single word may carry. Many of you have expressed interests in one-on-one conversational Skype sessions. I believe this will help a great deal as learners will get the chance to learn new stuff, practise what they’ve learnt and receive corrections on their speech. So, we are currently working on setting up a page where you can book available days and time slots. I will e-mail all subscribers when it is ready.
OK, if you are ready, let’s start.
Two-letter Words in Twi
| Two-letter Word (Twi) | English |
|---|---|
| ba | offspring |
| bo |
chest (noun) beat (verb) booze (verb) |
| bu |
break (verb) swindle respect (verb) |
| bi |
some a certain… (e.g. “akwadaa bi” meaning “a certain child”) |
| bɛ | proverb |
| bɔ |
create (applicable to God’s creation) kick (verb) |
| da |
sleep (verb) day solidify (of oil, e.g. “ngo no ada” meaning “the oil has solidified”) |
| dɛ | sweet (adjective) |
| di | eat |
| dɔ |
weed (verb) deep (adjective) love (verb) |
| du |
heavy (adjective) reach/arrive |
| fa |
take (verb) half (noun) festival (e.g. “Asanteman rehyɛ fa” meaning “Asanteman is celebrating a festival”) |
| fo |
climb (verb) cheap (adjective) |
| fi |
filth leave (verb) |
| fe | vomit (verb) |
| fu |
grow (plant/weeds’ growth, e.g. “nwura no afu” meaning “the weeds have grown”) grow (in anger, e.g. “me bo afu” literally: “my chest has grown (in anger)) |
| fɔ | wet (verb) |
| fɛ |
beautiful/nice age mate/co-equal |
| ka |
bite (verb) debt |
| ko | fight (verb) |
| ku | kill (verb) |
| kɔ | go (verb) |
| sa |
fetch dance (verb) apply the enema |
| so |
big top (adjective) reach the required amount/quantity |
| si |
wash (verb) descend happen |
| se |
tooth/teeth say (verb) |
| sɛ |
resemble (verb) that (conjunction) |
| go | loosen |
| gu |
sow (verb, seed) end something interesting (e.g. “Kofi agu agorɔ no” meaning “Kofi has ended/stopped the game) place on (e.g. “fa gu fam” meaning “place on the floor/ground) |
| ha |
worry (verb) light (weight, adjective) here (adverb) |
| hi | wear off |
| hɔ | there (adverb) |
| he? | where? |
| hu |
see fear (noun) |
| ta |
fart (noun, verb) tool for preparing banku (a Ghanaian dish) tool (small pestle) for grinding spices in earthenware pot) |
| to |
throw (verb) place (verb) bake buttock |
| te |
tear (verb) hear (verb) |
| tɔ |
buy (verb) drop/fall (verb, applicable to rain) die (idiom) |
| tu |
dig (verb) fly (verb) pack out of residence |
| ti |
pinch (verb) head (noun) |
| tɛ | hide (verb) |
| ma |
give (verb) full (adjective) |
| mu | inside |
| me |
I (1st person singular subject pronoun) me (1st person singular object pronoun) my (1st person singular possessive adjective) |
| mo |
you (2nd person plural subject pronoun) you (2nd person plural object pronoun) your (2nd person plural possessive adjective) |
| mo! | kudos!/good job! |
| na | and (for conjoining clauses) |
| ne |
and (for conjoining individual elements) defecate |
| ni | this is (e.g. “Kofi ni” meaning “This is Kofi”) |
| nu | harvest (verb, applicable to palm fruit e.g. “nu abɛ no” meaning “harvest the palm fruit”) |
| pa |
good (adjective) hip uncover/expose (usually applicable to taking off a cloth to reveal one’s nakedness) |
| pe | ejaculate (verb) |
| pu |
bring (swallowed food) up into the mouth again bring something up (e.g. “pu w’afu” meaning “bring your stomach up/make your tummy big”) |
| pi |
heavily concentrated (applicable to soup and other soluble substances) |
| po |
reject (verb) sea |
| pɛ |
find/look for only (adjective) harmattan/dry weather |
| pɔ |
bleach (verb) knot (noun) lump |
| wa |
long/tall |
| we |
chew |
| wo |
give birth you (2nd person singular subject pronoun) you (2nd person singular object pronoun) your (2nd person singular possessive adjective) |
| wu |
die |
| wɔ |
pound (verb) |
| ya |
painful |
| yi |
remove shave (verb) |
| yɛ |
do (verb) well/good |
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4 thoughts on “Two-letter Words in Twi and their Meanings”
Thank you for your awesome and helpful lessons!
Is it possible for you to make a video lesson for this? I think it would be very helpful for practicing the pronounciation.
Greatings from Germany
Melli
Greetings Melli. There’ll definitely be a video lesson for this. We are trying to resolve a technical issue with the YouTube channel; as soon as that is done, you’ll be seeing more videos. Thank you
Yaw
there has been an argument about the two word ‘Twaka’
Eg: Esum need han no twaka
I would like to know the meaning of the word *twaka*
Hello Osei Tutu,
The best English word I can think of for “twaka” would be “dealings”. So, “esum ne han nni twaka” means “darkness and light have no dealings (together)”.