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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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Responses
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)”.
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