wɔse (They Say)

Reportedly: Wɔse

Level 5

Put wɔse before news you heard from others: Wɔse ɔbɛba ɔkyena (They say he is coming tomorrow).

How It Works

1. The pattern
Wɔse + a full statement. The statement keeps its own tense, whatever time the news is about.

  • Wɔse ɔbɛba ɔkyena. (They say he is coming tomorrow.)
  • Wɔse Kofi aware. (Word is that Kofi has got married.)
  • Wɔse ɔbaa ha nnɛra. (Apparently she came here yesterday.)

2. Hearsay or real people?
When wɔ- refers to people already mentioned, wɔse is an ordinary they say or they claim: Wɔse wɔyɛ anyansafoɔ (They claim to be wise). Only when nobody in particular is meant does it become hearsay.

3. Other ways to report hearsay
Wɔka sɛ and Nkurɔfoɔ ka sɛ (people say that) mean much the same; after ka you need sɛ. Mate sɛ (I have heard that) makes it your own report: Mate sɛ wɔatɔ fie foforɔ (I have heard that they have bought a new house).

4. Showing doubt
Wɔse only says where the news came from. To say how likely it is, add ebia (maybe), or react with Ampa? (Really?).

5. Spelling
Some writers, especially in Akuapem, spell it wose, which looks the same as wose (you say). Context tells you which one is meant.

Examples (6)

  1. Wɔse ɔbɛba ɔkyena.

    They say he is coming tomorrow.

    Word by Word: they-say he-will-come tomorrow

  2. Wɔse nsuo bɛtɔ nnɛ.

    They say it will rain today.

    Word by Word: they-say water will-fall today

  3. Wɔse Kofi aware.

    Word is that Kofi has got married.

    The news itself is in the perfect: aware, has married.

  4. Wɔse ɔbaa ha nnɛra.

    Apparently she came here yesterday.

    Wɔse stays the same; the past is shown on the reported verb.

  5. Mate sɛ wɔatɔ fie foforɔ.

    I have heard that they have bought a new house.

    Mate sɛ reports what you heard yourself. Unlike se, te needs sɛ.

  6. Nkurɔfoɔ ka sɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ.

    People say it is true.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing sɛ (with ɛ) instead of se (say).

    Wɔsɛ ɔbɛba ɔkyena.
    Wɔse ɔbɛba ɔkyena.

    Se with e is the verb say. Sɛ with ɛ is a different word, meaning that, if or be fitting, so wɔsɛ does not mean they say. Tone is not written, so the vowel letter is what shows the difference.

  • Using ka without sɛ.

    Wɔka ɔbɛba ɔkyena.
    Wɔka sɛ ɔbɛba ɔkyena.

    Ka needs sɛ before a statement. Only se takes the statement directly.

How It Connects

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

wɔse (They Say)Level 5Reportedly: Wɔse

Learn This First

Reportedly uses impersonal wɔ- with se.

Words in This Pattern

se