Basic Nouns

1. Nsuo

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for asking for drinking water. Akuapem Twi writes it nsu

   Grammar Note

   The noun has no gender and no separate plural form.

2. Aduane

   Food

   Usage

   Means food in general, as in "Mepɛ sɛ medi aduane" (I want to eat)

   Grammar Note

   The plural is nnuane. Akuapem Twi writes aduan.

3. Sika

   Money

   Usage

   Means both money and gold. Prices are often quoted in English numbers

   Grammar Note

   One word carries two meanings, so context decides.

4. Aduro

   Medicine

   Usage

   The basic word at pharmacies and clinics

   Grammar Note

   A noun meaning "medicine".

5. Ɔdan

   Room

   Usage

   Refers to a room in a lodging or a building

   Grammar Note

   ɔdan means "room, building". The initial ɔ is U+0254.

6. Fie

   Home

   Usage

   Means a house or home, as in "Mekɔ fie" (I am going home)

   Grammar Note

   fie means "home". It is also written efie.

7. Ɛkwan

   Road

   Usage

   Means road or way. It comes up when asking directions

   Grammar Note

   The plural is akwan.

8. Dwa

   Market

   Usage

   The place where people shop. Akuapem Twi says gua

   Grammar Note

   dwa is the word for "market".

9. Dɔkota

   Doctor

   Usage

   A loanword from English doctor, respelled in Twi

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English, spelled with ɔ.

10. Opolisini

    Police officer

    Usage

    Refers to a police officer; useful when asking for help

    Grammar Note

    The initial o- is a prefix for a person.

11. Ayaresabea

    Hospital

    Usage

    The place where sick people are treated. The suffix -bea means "place"

    Grammar Note

    Built from yare "sickness", sa "to heal" and -bea "place": a place where sickness is healed.

12. Wiemhyɛn gyinabea

    Airport

    Usage

    wiemhyɛn is "aeroplane" and gyinabea "place to stop". Literally "aeroplane station"

    Grammar Note

    gyina "to stand" plus -bea "place" gives "stopping place".

13. Din

    Name

    Usage

    Used when introducing yourself: "Me din de ..."

    Grammar Note

    din is "name"; the possessor goes in front (me din = my name).

14. Ti

    Head

    Usage

    Used to say which body part hurts. Also heard as tiri

    Grammar Note

    ti is the body part "head"; it also means a leader.

15. Aso

    Ear

    Usage

    Used to name the body part

    Grammar Note

    aso is "ear".

16. Ani

    Eye

    Usage

    Used to name the body part

    Grammar Note

    ani is "eye"; the possessor goes in front.

17. Ano

    Mouth

    Usage

    Used to name the body part

    Grammar Note

    ano is "mouth".

18. Ɛse

    Tooth

    Usage

    Used to say that a tooth hurts

    Grammar Note

    ɛse is "tooth".

19. Ɛkɔn

    Neck

    Usage

    Used to name the body part

    Grammar Note

    ɛkɔn is "neck". The ɔ is U+0254.

20. Abatire

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Used to say a shoulder hurts

    Grammar Note

    abatire is "shoulder".

21. Yafunu

    Belly

    Usage

    Used to say that the belly hurts

    Grammar Note

    yafunu is "belly".

22. Akyire

    Back

    Usage

    Used to say that the back hurts

    Grammar Note

    akyire means "back, behind".

23. Nan

    Leg

    Usage

    Used to say that a leg hurts

    Grammar Note

    nan is "leg".

24. Abusua

    Family

    Usage

    An important word in Akan society, where the family line follows the mother

    Grammar Note

    abusua means "family, clan".

25. Mpoano

    Beach

    Usage

    Refers to the seashore. ɛpo means "sea"

    Grammar Note

    mpoano means the edge of the sea.

26. Kurow

    Town

    Usage

    Means a town or village. The plural is nkurow

    Grammar Note

    kurow is "town, village". Akuapem texts may write kuro.

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