ampa

Really, True: Ampa

Level 3

Ampa means true or really: Ampa? (Really?), Ɛyɛ ampa (It is true).

How It Works

1. Reacting: Ampa?
Said with a rising voice, Ampa? means Really? Is that true? It shows interest or surprise.

2. Saying something is true
Ampa is not a verb, so it needs yɛ: Ɛyɛ ampa (It is true). The negative uses nyɛ: Ɛnyɛ ampa (It is not true).

3. Truly, at the start
At the start of a sentence, ampa means truly or honestly: Ampa, mennim (Honestly, I do not know).

4. Strong agreement: Ampa ara
Adding ara makes Ampa ara!, which means Exactly! So true!

5. Ampa and nokorɛ
Nokorɛ is the noun truth. You tell the truth with nokorɛ: Ɔkaa nokorɛ (She told the truth). Ampa is the everyday word for reacting and agreeing.

Examples (6)

  1. Ampa?

    Really?

    Said with a rising voice to show surprise.

  2. Ɛyɛ ampa.

    It is true.

  3. Ɛnyɛ ampa.

    It is not true.

  4. Ampa, mennim.

    Honestly, I do not know.

    Word by Word: truly, I-not-know

  5. Ampa ara!

    That is so true!

    Ara makes the agreement stronger.

  6. Wo nsɛm no yɛ ampa.

    What you said is true.

    Word by Word: your words the are true

Common Mistakes

  • Using ampa as a verb.

    Ɛampa.
    Ɛyɛ ampa.

    Ampa is not a verb, so it cannot take the prefix ɛ-. Put yɛ before it: Ɛyɛ ampa.