anaa (Or)

Or: Anaa

Level 2

Put anaa between two choices to say or: tii anaa kɔfe (tea or coffee).

How It Works

Anaa sits between two options:

  • Two nouns: Wopɛ tii anaa kɔfe? (Do you want tea or coffee?)
  • Two time words: ɛnnɛ anaa ɔkyena (today or tomorrow)
  • Two clauses: Mmofra no bɛdi ɛmo anaa wɔbɛdi fufu? (Will the children eat rice, or will they eat fufu?)

Anaa or ne? Ne joins things you take together: tii ne kɔfe (tea and coffee). Anaa gives a choice between them.

Or not. To ask whether something will happen or not, repeat the verb in the negative, in the same tense: Wobɛba anaa woremma? (Will you come or not?). The future negative uses re- and the nasal. See the negative future.

Anaa at the end. The same word at the very end of a question makes a yes-no question: Wobɛba anaa? (Will you come?). See yes-no questions.

Anaasɛ. The longer anaasɛ also means or. It often joins two clauses, and you will see it a lot in writing: Wobɛtena ha anaasɛ wobɛkɔ fie? (Will you stay here, or will you go home?) For whether after a verb like know or ask, see sɛ ... anaa.

Examples (6)

  1. Wopɛ tii anaa kɔfe?

    Do you want tea or coffee?

    Word by Word: You-want tea or coffee?

  2. Mɛba ɛnnɛ anaa ɔkyena.

    I will come today or tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I-will-come today or tomorrow.

  3. Kofi anaa Ama bɛba.

    Kofi or Ama will come.

    Word by Word: Kofi or Ama will-come.

    Only one of them is expected to come.

  4. Mmofra no bɛdi ɛmo anaa wɔbɛdi fufu?

    Will the children eat rice, or will they eat fufu?

    Word by Word: Children the will-eat rice or they-will-eat fufu?

    Anaa can join two whole clauses.

  5. Wobɛba anaa woremma?

    Will you come or not?

    Word by Word: You-will-come or you-will-not-come?

    Both halves are in the future: bɛ- and the future negative re- with the nasal.

  6. Wobɛtena ha anaasɛ wobɛkɔ fie?

    Will you stay here, or will you go home?

    Word by Word: You-will-stay here or you-will-go home?

    Anaasɛ is a longer form of anaa.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ne when you mean or.

    Wopɛ tii ne kɔfe?
    Wopɛ tii anaa kɔfe?

    Ne means and, so the first question asks if you want both tea and coffee. Anaa offers a choice.

  • Mixing tenses in an or-not question.

    Wobɛba anaa womma?
    Wobɛba anaa woremma?

    Womma means you do not come, as a habit. Both halves should be about the future, so use the future negative woremma.

How It Connects

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

anaa (Or)Level 2Or: Anaa

Learn This First

Anaa as or extends anaa in questions.

Words in This Pattern

anaa