-hene (Chief Of)

Chief of: -hene

Level 5

Place or group + -hene = its chief: Asante + -hene gives Asantehene (King of Asante).

How It Works

1. Place + -hene
The name of a town, state or people comes first, then -hene:

  • Asantehene (King of Asante)
  • Okyenhene (King of Akyem Abuakwa, the state called Okyeman)
  • Dormaahene (the chief of Dormaa)

English says King of Asante, with the place last. Twi puts the place first, as in Possession by Placement.

2. Ɔmanhene and amanhene
Ɔmanhene (ɔman, state, + -hene) is a paramount chief, the ruler of a whole traditional area. The plural changes the first prefix to a-: amanhene, as in Plurals With a-. In Asante, the amanhene serve under the Asantehene.

3. Offices and groups
-Hene can also name the head of an office or group. Akyeamehene is the chief linguist, the head of the akyeame (see Speaking Through the Ɔkyeame). Nkɔsoɔhene, often written Nkosuohene, is a development chief, an honorary title for someone who helps a town grow.

4. Queen mothers: -hemaa
The female title uses -hemaa, related to ɔhemmaa (queen mother): Asantehemaa is the Queen Mother of Asante.

5. Titles in use
A -hene title can stand before the ruler's name: Asantehene Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II. For Otumfoɔ and Nana, see Royal Titles: Otumfoɔ, Nana. The same ɔhene appears in the compound ahemfie (palace).

Examples (6)

  1. Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II ne Asantehene.

    Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II is the Asantehene.

    Ne identifies him with the title, as in Ɔno ne ɔhene no (He is the chief).

  2. Ɔmanhene no aba.

    The paramount chief has arrived.

    Ɔman (state) + -hene.

  3. Amanhene no nyinaa ahyia wɔ Manhyia.

    All the paramount chiefs have gathered at Manhyia.

    Amanhene is the plural of ɔmanhene. Manhyia is the Asantehene's palace in Kumasi.

  4. Akyeamehene no na ɔkasaeɛ.

    It was the chief linguist who spoke.

    Akyeame (linguists) + -hene: the head of the linguists.

  5. Nkɔsoɔhene no boa kuro no.

    The development chief helps the town.

    Nkɔsoɔ (development, progress) + -hene.

  6. Asantehemaa no nso bɛba.

    The Queen Mother of Asante will come too.

    The female title uses -hemaa.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting ɔhene before the place, following English King of Asante.

    Ɔhene Asante bɛba.
    Asantehene bɛba.

    Twi puts the place first and joins it to -hene, just as the owner comes first in Kofi fie (Kofi's house). Ɔhene Asante does not mean the King of Asante.

How It Connects

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-hene (Chief Of)Level 5Chief of: -hene

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Chief of is a kind of compound.

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Words in This Pattern

ɔhene