akyi / anim
Behind and in Front: Akyi, Anim
Say the thing, then akyi or anim: fie no akyi is behind the house; sukuu no anim is in front of the school.
How It Works
1. The pattern
Noun + akyi (behind) or anim (in front of).
- fie no akyi (behind the house)
- sukuu no anim (in front of the school)
2. With people
They start with a vowel, so the possessives shorten, as in Short Possessives Before Vowels:
- m'akyi (behind me), w'akyi (behind you), n'akyi (behind him or her)
- m'anim (in front of me), w'anim (in front of you), n'anim (in front of him or her)
3. Body words
These are also ordinary nouns: akyi is a person's back and anim is the face. N'anim can mean his face or in front of him; context decides.
4. Related forms
With no noun before it, akyire means at the back or behind: Ɔwɔ akyire (He is at the back). After an event, akyi means after: see After: noun + akyi.
Examples (5)
- Kaa no wɔ fie no akyi.
The car is behind the house.
Word by Word: car the be.at house the back
- Ɔgyina sukuu no anim.
He is standing in front of the school.
Word by Word: he.stands school the front
- Gyina m'akyi.
Stand behind me.
Word by Word: stand my back
- Hwɛ w'akyi!
Look behind you!
Word by Word: look your back
- Ɔtenaa m'anim.
She sat in front of me.
Word by Word: she.sat my front
Tenaa is the past of tena (sit) before another word.
Common Mistakes
Putting akyi before the person, like English behind me.
Gyina akyi me.Gyina m'akyi.Akyi is a noun that follows its owner: m'akyi is literally my back.
Putting anim before the place.
Ɔgyina anim sukuu no.Ɔgyina sukuu no anim.Anim follows the noun it belongs to: sukuu no anim, the school's front.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Akyi and anim are location nouns, often after a shortened possessive.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice akyi / anim in Bubblegum
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