Directions

1. Nifa

   Right

   Usage

   The word for "right" when giving or asking directions. "It is on the right" is said with wɔ nifa

   Grammar Note

   nifa is the noun "right (side)"; its opposite is benkum (left). No tone marks are written.

2. Benkum

   Left

   Usage

   The word for "left" when giving or asking directions. "It is on the left" is said with wɔ benkum

   Grammar Note

   benkum is the noun "left (side)"; its opposite is nifa (right).

3. Kɔ nifa

   Go to the right

   Usage

   Tell a driver or passer-by to head right, for example at a corner. The phrase is built by joining kɔ (go) and nifa (right)

   Grammar Note

   kɔ is the bare imperative "go" (no subject). A negative "do not go right or left" (nkɔ nifa anaa benkum) is attested; this affirmative form is simply the words combined.

4. Kɔ benkum

   Go to the left

   Usage

   Tell a driver or passer-by to head left, for example at a corner. The phrase is built by joining kɔ (go) and benkum (left)

   Grammar Note

   kɔ is the bare imperative "go". Swapping nifa for benkum reverses the direction.

5. Ɛwɔ nifa

   It is on the right

   Usage

   Say this to tell someone that a place or building is on the right-hand side

   Grammar Note

   wɔ is the verb "to be at / to have" and the place word follows it directly. The subject ɛ refers to a thing.

6. Ɛwɔ benkum

   It is on the left

   Usage

   Say this to tell someone that a place or building is on the left-hand side

   Grammar Note

   The place word follows wɔ; benkum is used here in place of nifa.

7. Ɛhe na worekɔ?

   Where are you going?

   Usage

   Ask a driver or someone met on the road where they are heading. It also works as a conversation opener

   Grammar Note

   The question word ɛhe (where) comes first and is focused with na. re- is the progressive prefix (wo + re + kɔ). The same sentence form occurs in the Akuapem Bible.

8. Kyerɛ me ɛkwan

   Show me the way

   Usage

   Ask a passer-by to point out the road when you are unsure. Put Mepa wo kyɛw before it to be more polite

   Grammar Note

   kyerɛ is the verb "to show / teach"; it can take a person and then a thing as objects.

9. Ɛbɛn ha

   It is near here

   Usage

   Say that a destination is close. Use it to tell someone it is within walking distance

   Grammar Note

   bɛn is the verb "to be near / approach"; ha (here) after it gives "near here".

10. Ɛwɔ akyirikyiri?

    Is it far?

    Usage

    Ask how far a destination is, to decide whether you can walk

    Grammar Note

    akyirikyiri is an adverbial word meaning "far away". The word order does not change in a question; it is marked by intonation.

11. San kɔ

    Go back

    Usage

    Tell someone to turn back the way they came, for example after going too far

    Grammar Note

    san kɔ means "go back"; the Bible has san kɔɔ Kaanan ("went back to Canaan"). Here it is used as a bare imperative.

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