deɛ (As For)

As for: Deɛ

Level 3

Me deɛ, mempɛ means As for me, I do not want it. Deɛ marks the topic, and the sentence after the pause says something about it.

How It Works

1. The pattern
Topic + deɛ + pause + comment.

  • Me deɛ, mempɛ. (As for me, I do not want it.)
  • Kofi deɛ, waba ha. (As for Kofi, he has come here.)

2. A contrast is often implied
Me deɛ, mɛtena ha (As for me, I will stay here) suggests that others may leave. Deɛ answers the question what about X?

3. The pronoun comes back
After the pause the comment is a complete sentence. If the topic is its subject, the verb takes a prefix that points back to it: Kofi deɛ, ɔbɛba. If the topic is a person object, repeat it with an object pronoun: Kofi deɛ, manhunu no (As for Kofi, I did not see him). A thing usually needs no pronoun: Nam deɛ, mendi (As for meat, I do not eat it). See Leaving Out It.

4. Deɛ or na?
Focus on the Subject: X na says this one and no other: Kofi na ɔbɛba (Kofi is the one who will come). Deɛ only sets up the topic: Kofi deɛ, ɔbɛba (As for Kofi, he will come), without saying anything about the others.

5. A topic without deɛ
A topic can also go first without deɛ, followed by a pause and a pronoun: Wɔfa Kofi, waba ha (Uncle Kofi, he has come here). See Topics Taken Up by a Pronoun.

6. Other jobs of deɛ
Deɛ is also a noun meaning thing or the one, as in What, The One Who: nea and As, The Way: sɛdeɛ. As a topic word it always follows the word it marks.

Examples (6)

  1. Me deɛ, mempɛ.

    As for me, I do not want it.

    Word by Word: me TOPIC, I-not-want

  2. Kofi deɛ, ɔbɛba.

    As for Kofi, he will come.

    Word by Word: Kofi TOPIC, he-will-come

    The prefix ɔ- picks Kofi up again after the pause.

  3. Me deɛ, mɛtena ha.

    As for me, I will stay here.

    Deɛ hints that the others may do something different.

  4. Nam deɛ, mendi.

    As for meat, I do not eat it.

    Word by Word: meat TOPIC, I-not-eat

    Nam is a thing, so no pronoun is needed after mendi.

  5. Nnɛ deɛ, ɛyɛ hyew.

    As for today, it is hot.

  6. Kofi deɛ, waba ha.

    As for Kofi, he has come here.

    Word by Word: Kofi TOPIC, he-has-come here

    Waba is the perfect of ba with the he or she prefix.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the subject prefix after the topic.

    Kofi deɛ, bɛba.
    Kofi deɛ, ɔbɛba.

    The part after deɛ is a full sentence, so its verb needs a subject prefix. Ɔ- points back to Kofi.

  • Using na when you mean as for.

    Me na mempɛ.
    Me deɛ, mempɛ.

    Me na mempɛ is correct Twi, but it means I am the one who does not want it, singling you out from everyone else. To say as for me, use deɛ.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

deɛ (As For)Level 3As for: Deɛ

Words in This Pattern

deɛ