The short version
- Greet first, always. In Ghana, starting with a question before saying hello comes across as rude.
- Maakye, Maaha, Maadwo (good morning, afternoon, evening) will win you smiles everywhere.
- Medaase means thank you. Use it a lot.
- Don't worry about being perfect. People love it when you try.
Twi (say it "chwee") is the most widely spoken local language in Ghana, and Asante Twi is the version you'll hear most in Kumasi and much of Accra. English is the official language, so you'll get by without Twi. But a few words change everything. The first time a market auntie hears you say "Maakye!" her whole face lights up, and suddenly you're not a tourist anymore. You're family who's been away.
The phrases
| Akwaaba | ah-KWAH-bah Welcome |
| Maakye | maa-CHEH Good morning |
| Maaha | maa-HAA Good afternoon |
| Maadwo | maa-JWOH Good evening |
| Yaa agya / Yaa ɛna | yaa AH-jah / yaa EH-nah The reply to a greeting (to a man / to a woman) |
| Wo ho te sɛn? | woh hoh teh SEN How are you? |
| Me ho yɛ, medaase | meh hoh YEH, meh-DAH-seh I'm fine, thank you |
| Medaase (paa) | meh-DAH-seh (PAH) Thank you (very much) |
| Mepa wo kyɛw | meh-pah-woh-CHEW Please / excuse me |
| Aane / Daabi | AH-neh / DAH-bee Yes / No |
| Kafra | KAH-frah Sorry |
| Me din de… | meh DIN deh My name is… |
| Wo din de sɛn? | woh DIN deh SEN What's your name? |
| Mefiri Amerika | meh-FEE-ree ah-MEH-ree-kah I'm from America |
| Ɛyɛ sɛn? | eh-YEH SEN How much is it? |
| Te so kakra | teh soh KAH-krah Reduce it a little (for bargaining) |
| Mepɛ… | meh-PEH I want… |
| Mempɛ, medaase | mem-PEH, meh-DAH-seh I don't want it, thank you |
| Ɛhe na … wɔ? | eh-HEH nah … WAW Where is …? |
| Ma me nsuo | mah meh n-SOO-oh Give me water |
| Ɛyɛ dɛ! | eh-YEH DEH It's delicious! |
| Ayekoo | ah-yeh-KOO Well done (to someone working) |
| Ɛte sɛn? | eh-teh SEN How's it going? (casual) |
| Nante yie | NAHN-teh YEE-eh Go well (goodbye) |
| Yɛbɛhyia bio | yeh-beh-SHEE-ah BEE-oh See you again |
Greeting etiquette that matters
- Greet before you ask. Say "Maakye" or "Good morning" before asking for directions or a price.
- Use your right hand to wave, shake hands, give money or pass food. The left hand is considered impolite.
- Greet elders first, and greet everyone in a room, starting from your right.
- Bargaining is friendly. In markets, the first price is a starting point. Smile, say "Te so kakra," and enjoy the back-and-forth.
Your day name: the best icebreaker
In Akan tradition, everyone has a name based on the day they were born. Kofi is a boy born on Friday, Ama is a girl born on Saturday, and so on. Tell people your day name and you'll make friends fast. Our sister site Barima Kofi Akuffo explains how Akan names work, and Akonua makes day-name tees if you want to wear yours home.
Want to practice out loud? Ask Kofi to quiz you. Turn on voice replies and he'll say the phrases back to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Twi hard to learn?
Basic greetings are easy and go a long way. Twi is tonal, so pitch changes meaning, but people will understand you from context and appreciate the effort.
Do people in Ghana speak English?
Yes. English is Ghana's official language and is widely spoken in cities, hotels and tourist areas. Twi and other local languages are used every day too.
How do you say thank you in Twi?
Medaase (meh-DAH-seh). Add "paa" to say thank you very much: Medaase paa.
How do you say welcome in Twi?
Akwaaba (ah-KWAH-bah). You'll see it on signs at the airport and hear it everywhere.