Religion & Temples

1. Onyankopɔn

   God

   Usage

   The word Christians use for God. It comes up often when religion is discussed in Akan-speaking areas

   Grammar Note

   Onyankopɔn is the noun for the Supreme Being and is the word for "God" in the Twi Bible. It is written with a capital letter.

2. Asɔredan wɔ he?

   Where is the church?

   Usage

   Ask where a church is when you want to attend a service

   Grammar Note

   asɔredan is asɔre (worship) + dan (building): "church building". The question word he comes last.

3. Mepɛ sɛ mekɔ asɔredan

   I want to go to church

   Usage

   Say that you would like to attend a service. Christians are the majority in Ghana

   Grammar Note

   The verb kɔ and the destination follow Mepɛ sɛ me- directly: the "Mepɛ sɛ mekɔ + place" frame.

4. Mepɛ sɛ mebɔ mpae

   I want to pray

   Usage

   Say this when you would like a quiet place to pray

   Grammar Note

   bɔ mpae is the fixed way to say "to pray" (literally "to strike a prayer"); the Bible has sɛ mobɔ mpae a "when you pray".

5. Mpaebɔ

   Prayer

   Usage

   The noun for prayer itself, used when speaking of worship or a prayer before a meal

   Grammar Note

   mpaebɔ is the noun formed from mpae (prayer) + bɔ (to do). The verb form is bɔ mpae.

6. Meyɛ Kristoni

   I am a Christian

   Usage

   Answer when asked about your faith. The word does not mark gender

   Grammar Note

   Kristoni is "a Christian" (one person); the plural is Kristofo. yɛ works as "to be" before a noun.

7. Meyɛ Kramoni

   I am a Muslim

   Usage

   Answer when asked about your faith. Muslims are numerous in northern Ghana

   Grammar Note

   Kramoni is "a Muslim" (one person) and also appears in older dictionaries.

8. Onyankopɔn nhyira wo

   God bless you

   Usage

   A blessing said at parting or in thanks, especially to elders

   Grammar Note

   nhyira is the optative/imperative of hyira "to bless". The Bible has the same sentence, Onyankopɔn nhyira wo.

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