hwee
Nothing, Anything: Hwee
Hwee means nothing or not anything. It sits after a negative verb: Menni hwee (I have nothing).
How It Works
1. The pattern
Negative verb + hwee. Hwee takes the place where the object would go.
- Menni hwee. (I have nothing.)
- Manhunu hwee. (I did not see anything.)
- Merenka hwee. (I will not say anything.)
2. The verb must be negative
Hwee does not work with a positive verb. Use the negative form of the tense you need: the negative nasal for the present, a- + N- for the past, and re- + N- for the future. For have, the negative is nni, so I have nothing is Menni hwee.
3. Nothing at all
Add koraa to make it stronger: Ɔnni hwee koraa (He has nothing at all).
4. Ɛnyɛ hwee
The everyday phrase Ɛnyɛ hwee (it is nothing) answers thanks or an apology: no problem, it does not matter.
5. Words to keep apart
- Biribi is something, in a positive sentence: Mehunuu biribi (I saw something). See Someone, Something, Somewhere.
- For nobody, Twi uses obi or obiara with a negative verb. See Nobody and Nothing With Negatives.
Examples (6)
- Menni hwee.
I have nothing.
Word by Word: I-not-have nothing
Nni is the negative of wɔ (have). Hwee sits where the object goes.
- Manhunu hwee.
I did not see anything.
Word by Word: I-did-not-see nothing
Man- is me + a- + the negative nasal: the negative past.
- Merenka hwee.
I will not say anything.
Meren- is the negative future. Hwee follows the verb.
- Wanni hwee nnɛ.
He did not eat anything today.
Word by Word: he-did-not-eat nothing today
Wanni is the negative past of di (eat): ɔ + a- + the negative nasal.
- Ɔnni hwee koraa.
He has nothing at all.
Koraa after hwee makes it stronger: nothing at all.
- Ɛnyɛ hwee.
It is nothing. No problem.
Word by Word: it-is-not nothing
A common reply to thanks or to an apology.
Common Mistakes
Using hwee with a positive verb, the way English says I have nothing.
Mewɔ hwee.Menni hwee.Hwee only works after a negative verb. The negative of wɔ (have) is nni, so I have nothing is Menni hwee.
Using the positive past with hwee.
Mehunuu hwee.Manhunu hwee.The verb has to be negative. The negative past of hunu (see) is manhunu, so I did not see anything is Manhunu hwee.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hwee needs a negative verb.
Related Patterns
- obiara + Negative (Nobody)Nobody and Nothing with Negatives
The same idea for people: obi or obiara with a negative verb means nobody.
Level 3 - obi / biribi / baabiSomeone, Something, Somewhere
Biribi (something) is the positive partner of hwee.
Level 2 - koraaAt All: Koraa
Hwee koraa means nothing at all.
Level 3 - nni (Not Have)Not Have: Nni
Menni hwee (I have nothing) uses the negative of have.
Level 1 - a-N- (Negative Past)Did Not: A- + N-
The negative past is the usual verb form before hwee in stories.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice hwee in Bubblegum
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