Names for God

Level 6

Everyday Twi says Nyame or Onyame: Onyame nhyira wo (God bless you). Onyankopɔn and Ɔdomankoma belong to prayer, praise and formal speech.

How It Works

1. The everyday name: Nyame, Onyame
Nyame and Onyame are the same name, with or without the prefix o-. This is the name in everyday blessings, sayings and proverbs:

  • Onyame nhyira wo. (God bless you.)
  • Sɛ Onyame pɛ a (God willing, literally if God wants)
  • Gye Nyame (Except God), also the name of a famous Adinkra symbol

2. Onyankopɔn
Onyankopɔn is often explained as the Great God. It is the usual name in the Twi Bible, in church and in prayer: Mfitiaseɛ no Onyankopɔn bɔɔ ɔsoro ne asase (In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth). In libation, God is called Onyankopɔn Kwame, because God is linked with Saturday.

3. Ɔdomankoma
Ɔdomankoma praises God as the Creator. It belongs to praise, drum poetry and wise sayings, such as the old paradox Ɔdomankoma bɔɔ Owuo, na Owuo kum no (The Creator made Death, and Death killed him).

4. Praise names
God has many more appellations: Tweduampɔn (the Dependable One), Ɔbɔadeɛ (the Creator) and Brɛkyirihunuadeɛ (the One who sees everything).

5. In church
Christians also call God Awurade (Lord). See Church and Bible Language.

6. Grammar notes
These are names, so they normally come without the article no. In a blessing, a noun subject such as Onyame is followed by the optative verb with no subject prefix: Onyame nhyira wo, Onyame mmoa wo (May God help you). In Sɛ Onyame pɛ a, the condition closes with a, as every sɛ ... a clause does.

Examples (6)

  1. Onyame nhyira wo.

    May God bless you.

    Word by Word: God let-bless you

    The everyday blessing, with the optative nasal.

  2. Gye Nyame.

    Except God.

    Nothing happens except by God; also the name of an Adinkra symbol.

  3. Sɛ Onyame pɛ a, mɛba ɔkyena.

    God willing, I will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: if God wants, I-will-come tomorrow

  4. Mfitiaseɛ no Onyankopɔn bɔɔ ɔsoro ne asase.

    In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    Genesis 1:1 in the Asante Bible.

  5. Ɔdomankoma bɔɔ Owuo, na Owuo kum no.

    The Creator made Death, and Death killed him.

    An old saying about the mystery of death.

  6. Obi nkyerɛ abofra Nyame.

    Nobody shows a child God.

    Word by Word: somebody not-show child God

    A proverb: some things everyone already knows.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the closing a in God willing.

    Sɛ Onyame pɛ, mɛba ɔkyena.
    Sɛ Onyame pɛ a, mɛba ɔkyena.

    An if-clause that starts with sɛ closes with a. Without it, the condition is not finished.

How It Connects

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

Names for GodLevel 6

Words in This Pattern

Onyankopɔn