ny / nw

NY and NW

Level 1

ny is one sound, like the ny in canyon: nya (get). nw is the same sound with rounded lips: nwoma (book).

How It Works

  • ny, like the ny in canyon or the ñ in Spanish España: nya (get), nyinaa (all), Nyame (God), nyansa (wisdom).
  • nw, the ny sound with rounded lips: nwoma (book), nwunu (cold), nwansena (housefly).

Say nya as one syllable. If you split it into ni-a or drop the y, the word is lost: na means and, not get.

A spelling difference. Akuapem and many printed books write nh in some words where Asante writes nw, so the Asante nwoma (book) appears as nhoma. Each is correct in its own variety. See Akuapem forms in print.

Ny turns up in some of the most common words, so it is worth getting right early: Nyame nhyira wo (God bless you), yɛn nyinaa (all of us). See nyinaa.

For the other two-letter sounds, see ky gy hy and tw dw hw kw.

Examples (5)

  1. Manya adwuma foforɔ.

    I have found a new job.

    Word by Word: I-have-got work new.

    Nya (get) begins with the single sound ny. Ma- is me (I) plus a- (have).

  2. Me nwoma no wɔ he?

    Where is my book?

    Word by Word: My book the is-at where?

    Nw is ny said with rounded lips. Akuapem writes this word nhoma.

  3. Nyame nhyira wo.

    May God bless you.

    Word by Word: God let-bless you.

    A common blessing. Nyame (God) begins with ny.

  4. Nsuo no yɛ nwunu.

    The water is cold.

    Word by Word: Water the is cold.

    Nwunu (cold) begins with nw.

  5. Nnipa no nyinaa aba.

    All the people have come.

    Word by Word: People the all have-come.

    Nyinaa (all) begins with ny and comes after the noun it describes.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the y from ny.

    Mana adwuma foforɔ.
    Manya adwuma foforɔ.

    Nya (get) begins with the single sound ny. Without the y the verb is lost, and the sentence no longer says I have found a new job.

How It Connects

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

ny / nwLevel 1NY and NW

Learn This First

Ny and nw follow the pattern of ky and gy, and nw adds rounding like tw and dw.