mepa wo kyɛw

Please: Mepa Wo Kyɛw

Level 1

Mepa wo kyɛw means please. It also means excuse me when you need someone's attention.

How It Works

Word by word, Me-pa wo kyɛw is I beg you. Kyɛw is also the word for a hat, and the phrase is often explained as taking off your hat to someone.

  • Mepa wo kyɛw: please (to one person).
  • Mepa mo kyɛw: please (to several people).
  • Mepaakyɛw: the quick, everyday spoken form.

Where it goes. Put it at the start or at the end of the request. The request is usually a bare verb command, and Mepa wo kyɛw makes it polite:

  • Mepa wo kyɛw, ka bio. (Please say it again.)
  • Boa me, mepa wo kyɛw. (Help me, please.)

For a group, use mo in both places: Mepa mo kyɛw, montena ase (Please sit down, everyone). See commands to a group.

Excuse me. Mepa wo kyɛw also opens a question to a stranger: Mepa wo kyɛw, agyananbea no wɔ he? (Excuse me, where is the toilet?).

For a stronger, more urgent plea, use mesrɛ wo (I beg you).

Examples (6)

  1. Mepa wo kyɛw, ma me nsuo.

    Please give me water.

    Word by Word: I-beg you, give me water.

    The request is a plain command; Mepa wo kyɛw makes it polite.

  2. Mepa wo kyɛw, kyerɛ me kwan no.

    Please show me the way.

    Word by Word: I-beg you, show me path the.

  3. Boa me, mepa wo kyɛw.

    Help me, please.

    Word by Word: Help me, I-beg you.

    Mepa wo kyɛw can also come at the end.

  4. Mepa mo kyɛw, montena ase.

    Please sit down, everyone.

    Word by Word: I-beg you(pl), you(pl)-sit down.

    Mo is used both in the please and in the command.

  5. Mepa wo kyɛw, agyananbea no wɔ he?

    Excuse me, where is the toilet?

    Word by Word: I-beg you, toilet the is-at where?

    Here it means excuse me.

  6. Mepaakyɛw, ka bio.

    Please say it again.

    Word by Word: Please, say again.

    Mepaakyɛw is the quick spoken form.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the person at the end.

    Mepa kyɛw wo.
    Mepa wo kyɛw.

    Pa ... kyɛw wraps around the person. Wo or mo always goes between pa and kyɛw.

  • Writing pɛ (want) instead of pa.

    Mepɛ wo kyɛw, ma me nsuo.
    Mepa wo kyɛw, ma me nsuo.

    Pɛ means want or like, so mepɛ wo kyɛw sounds like I like your hat. The begging verb is pa.

How It Connects

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

mepa wo kyɛwLevel 1Please: Mepa Wo Kyɛw

Words in This Pattern

mepaw kyɛwpa kyɛw