English Mixed Into Twi

Level 5

English word, Twi frame: me boss no (my boss), Ma try (I have tried it), Mɛ call wo (I will call you).

How It Works

1. English nouns in Twi phrases
An English noun follows Twi noun-phrase order: possessive first, then the noun, then no, bi or biara. me boss no (my boss), me phone no (my phone), side road biara (any side road). Place words still follow the noun: outer lane no so (on the outer lane). See My, Your, His and Her.

2. English verbs with Twi prefixes
An English verb takes the same prefixes as a Twi verb: ma- for the perfect (Ma try, I have tried it) and mɛ- or bɛ- for the future (Mɛ call wo, I will call you). See Perfect a- and Future bɛ-. Researchers recording Twi talk radio noted forms such as ma withdraw (I have withdrawn) and ɔbɛtumi a maintain (it can maintain).

3. English phrases at the start
Speakers also open a Twi sentence with an English phrase such as Obviously or For the sake of argument, then carry on in Twi.

4. Where you hear it
Mixing is normal in cities, on talk radio and TV, and among friends and colleagues, and you will meet it in Radio and News Twi. Speeches from a platform or pulpit, Proverbs: ɛbɛ, libation and elders' speech usually stay in Twi, and mixing there can sound careless.

5. Writing it
People usually write the English word in English spelling with the Twi prefix before it, often with a space: Ma try, Mɛ call wo. Keep the Twi parts in Twi spelling.

Examples (6)

  1. Me boss no kaa sɛ yɛnkɔ fie.

    My boss said we should go home.

    Boss takes the Twi possessive me and the article no. Sɛ yɛnkɔ is a reported suggestion, as in Telling Someone To Do Something.

  2. Ma try aduane no, ɛyɛ dɛ paa.

    I have tried the food, and it is really tasty.

    Ma- is me + the perfect a-, attached to the English verb try.

  3. Mɛ call wo anwummerɛ.

    I will call you in the evening.

    Mɛ- is the future for me, as in Mɛba (I will come).

  4. Sɛ side road biara nni hɔ a, monfa outer lane no so.

    If there is no side road, use the outer lane.

    From a Twi radio report. The English nouns sit inside the Twi sɛ ... a frame and take biara, no and so.

  5. Me phone no adum.

    My phone is off.

    Dum means go out, like a light or a fire.

  6. Ɛyɛ penalty!

    It's a penalty!

    Heard in football talk: an English noun after the Twi verb yɛ.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the Twi tense prefix off an English verb (intended: I will call you in the evening).

    Me call wo anwummerɛ.
    Mɛ call wo anwummerɛ.

    The English verb brings no tense of its own. Without bɛ- the sentence is the plain present, I call you in the evenings, so add the future mɛ- just as with a Twi verb.

How It Connects

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

English Mixed Into TwiLevel 5

Learn This First

Mixing English builds on loanwords.