ɛfiri sɛ (Because)

Because: Ɛfiri Sɛ

Level 3

Result + ɛfiri sɛ + reason: Merenkɔ ɛfiri sɛ meyare means I will not go because I am sick.

How It Works

1. The pattern
result + ɛfiri sɛ + reason.

  • Merenkɔ ɛfiri sɛ meyare. (I will not go because I am sick.)
  • Yaa resua Twi ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkɔ Ghana. (Yaa is learning Twi because she wants to go to Ghana.)

2. Answering why
Adɛn nti na woamma? (Why did you not come?) Ɛfiri sɛ na menni berɛ. (Because I did not have time.)

3. Other words for because

  • ɛsiane sɛ means the same and is used the same way.
  • ɛfi sɛ is a shorter form.
  • efisɛ is the Akuapem form, common in print. See Akuapem Forms in Print.

4. Reason first
When the reason comes first, the main clause often starts with enti: Ɛsiane sɛ asuafoɔ no nni Twi nwoma enti, ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ no yɛɛ bi maa wɔn (Because the students have no Twi books, the teacher made some for them). See So, Therefore: enti.

5. Keep sɛ
Without sɛ, ɛfiri is the verb come from: Ɛfiri Kumase (It comes from Kumasi). See Coming From: firi.

Examples (5)

  1. Merenkɔ ɛfiri sɛ meyare.

    I will not go because I am sick.

    Word by Word: I-NEG.FUT-go it-come.from that I-be.sick

  2. Ɔkɔɔ ayaresabea ɛfiri sɛ ɔyare.

    He went to the hospital because he is sick.

    The reason keeps the present state ɔyare.

  3. Yaa resua Twi ɛfiri sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔkɔ Ghana.

    Yaa is learning Twi because she wants to go to Ghana.

  4. Ɛfiri sɛ na menni berɛ.

    Because I did not have time.

    An answer to Adɛn nti na woamma? (Why did you not come?). Na places the state in the past.

  5. Osuiɛ, ɛfiri sɛ na ne werɛ aho.

    She cried because she was sad.

    Word by Word: she-cry-PAST, it-come.from that PAST her mind PERF-dry

    Ne werɛ aho (her mind has dried) is an expression for being sad.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting ɛfiri sɛ in front of the result instead of the reason.

    Meyare ɛfiri sɛ merenkɔ.
    Merenkɔ ɛfiri sɛ meyare.

    The intended meaning is I will not go because I am sick. The incorrect sentence means I am sick because I will not go. Ɛfiri sɛ goes in front of the reason.

  • Leaving out sɛ.

    Merenkɔ ɛfiri meyare.
    Merenkɔ ɛfiri sɛ meyare.

    Ɛfiri alone is the verb it comes from. You need sɛ to introduce the reason clause.

Words in This Pattern

ɛfiri sɛɛsiane sɛɛfisɛ