Twi vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Twi vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
Greetings & politeness
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Maakye | Good morning | |
| Maaha | Good afternoon | |
| Maadwo | Good evening | |
| Akwaaba | Welcome | Culture: "Akwaaba" est l'un des mots ghanéens les plus célèbres, affiché à l'aéroport d'Accra. |
| Nante yie | Goodbye (go well) | |
| Meda wo ase | Thank you | |
| Yoo | OK / Alright | |
| Kafra | Sorry / Excuse me | |
| Wo ho te sɛn? | How are you? | |
| Me ho yɛ | I am fine |
Food & drinks
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Aduane | Food | |
| Nsuo | Water | |
| Nam | Meat | |
| Ɛnam | Fish | |
| Fufu | Fufu | Culture: Le fufu est préparé en pilant du manioc, de l'igname ou du plantain. Il se mange avec une soupe et se déguste sans couverts. |
| Kontomire | Taro leaf soup | |
| Banku | Fermented corn ball | |
| Nkatie nkwan | Peanut soup | |
| Bɔfrɛ | Papaya | |
| Nsa | Alcoholic drink |
Family
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Agya | Father | |
| Ɛna | Mother | |
| Onua (barima) | Brother | |
| Onua (baa) | Sister | |
| Ɔba | Child | |
| Okunu | Husband | |
| Ɔyere | Wife | |
| Nana (barima) | Grandfather | |
| Nana (baa) | Grandmother | |
| Adamfo | Friend |
Human body
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ti | Head | |
| Ani | Eye | |
| Hwene | Nose | |
| Enu | Mouth | |
| Aso | Ear | |
| Nsa | Hand | |
| Nan | Foot | |
| Akoma | Heart | Culture: L'Adinkra "Sankofa" (retourner en arrière) et "Akoma" (cœur) sont des symboles fondamentaux de la culture akan. |
| Yafunu | Stomach | |
| Honam | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| baako | One | |
| mmienu | Two | |
| mmiɛnsa | Three | |
| ɛnan | Four | |
| enum | Five | |
| nsia | Six | |
| nson | Seven | |
| nwɔtwe | Eight | |
| nkron | Nine | |
| du | Ten | |
| du baako | Eleven | |
| du mmienu | Twelve | |
| du mmiɛnsa | Thirteen | |
| du ɛnan | Fourteen | |
| du enum | Fifteen | |
| du nsia | Sixteen | |
| du nson | Seventeen | |
| du nwɔtwe | Eighteen | |
| du nkron | Nineteen | |
| aduonu | Twenty |
Colors
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fitaa | White | |
| tuntum | Black | |
| kɔkɔɔ | Red | |
| bluuu | Blue | |
| ahabammono | Green | |
| ahabamono | Yellow | |
| tuntum foforo | Grey | |
| pinku | Pink |
Animals
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gyata | Lion | |
| Esono | Elephant | |
| Ɔkraman | Dog | |
| Akoko | Chicken | |
| Nantwie | Cow | |
| Abirekyi | Goat | |
| Ɛnam | Fish | |
| Anoma | Bird | |
| Ɔtwe | Antelope | |
| Kronkron | Monkey |
Home & daily life
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ofi | House | |
| Pinni | Door | |
| Dan | Room | |
| Mpa | Bed | |
| Dwa | Chair / Seat | |
| Agudie | Market | |
| Sukuu | School | |
| Sika | Money / Gold | Culture: "Sika" désigne à la fois l'or et l'argent. Le Ghana s'appelait "Gold Coast" à l'époque coloniale. |
| Ntama | Cloth / Clothing | |
| Hyira | Blessing |
Time & weather
| Twi / Akan | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ɛnnɛ | Today | |
| Ɛnnɛ tweredum | Yesterday | |
| Ɔkyena | Tomorrow | |
| Owia | Sun | |
| Ɔsrane | Moon | |
| Ɔsu | Rain | |
| Owuo | Cold | |
| Hyew | Heat | |
| Mframa | Wind | |
| Ɔpɛpɔn | Dry season |
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