nkyɛn (Beside)

Beside: Nkyɛn

Level 3

Tena me nkyɛn means Sit beside me. After a person, nkyɛn also means at their place: Mekɔ me maame nkyɛn (I am going to my mother's).

How It Works

1. Beside
Owner + nkyɛn:

  • Tena me nkyɛn. (Sit beside me.)
  • Kofi gyinaa Ama nkyɛn. (Kofi stood beside Ama.)

2. To or at someone's place
A person is not a place, so verbs of going, coming and living add nkyɛn:

  • Mekɔ me maame nkyɛn. (I am going to my mother's.) See kɔ + place.
  • Bra me nkyɛn. (Come to me.)
  • Ɔte ne nana nkyɛn. (She lives with her grandmother.)
  • Mefiri me papa nkyɛn. (I am coming from my father's.) See firi.

3. Where something is
With wɔ, nkyɛn says who has something with them: Nwoma no wɔ Kofi nkyɛn (The book is with Kofi).

4. Other positions
For other sides, use akyi and anim (behind, in front). For between two people or things, use ntam.

Examples (6)

  1. Tena me nkyɛn.

    Sit beside me.

    Word by Word: sit my side

  2. Mekɔ me maame nkyɛn.

    I am going to my mother's.

    Word by Word: I-go my mother side

  3. Bra me nkyɛn.

    Come to me.

    Word by Word: come my side

  4. Ɔte ne nana nkyɛn.

    She lives with her grandmother.

    Word by Word: she-lives her grandparent side

  5. Kofi gyinaa Ama nkyɛn.

    Kofi stood beside Ama.

    Word by Word: Kofi stood Ama side

  6. Nwoma no wɔ Kofi nkyɛn.

    The book is with Kofi.

    Word by Word: book the is-at Kofi side

Common Mistakes

  • Going to a person without nkyɛn.

    Merekɔ me maame.
    Merekɔ me maame nkyɛn.

    Kɔ takes a place directly, but a person is not a place. Add nkyɛn: to my mother's side.

  • Putting nkyɛn before its owner, like English beside me.

    Tena nkyɛn me.
    Tena me nkyɛn.

    Nkyɛn is a location noun, so the owner comes first: me nkyɛn (my side).

How It Connects

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

nkyɛn (Beside)Level 3Beside: Nkyɛn

Learn This First

Nkyɛn is a location noun.

Words in This Pattern

nkyɛnnkyɛnnkyɛn