eyi / ɛno

This One and That One

Level 1

Eyi = this one, ɛno = that one. They replace a noun: Eyi yɛ fɛ (This one is pretty), Mepɛ ɛno (I want that one).

How It Works

Eyi: this one

  • Eyi yɛ dɛn? (What is this?)
  • Eyi ne me nua. (This is my sibling.) See ne (identity).

In everyday Asante speech eyi is often said wei or yei: Wei yɛ sɛn? (How much is this?). In writing, use eyi.

Ɛno: that one, it
Ɛno points to something farther away or to something already talked about: Mepɛ ɛno (I want that one). It is also the stand-alone word for it when you mean a thing: Ɛno na mepɛ (That is what I want).
For a person, the stand-alone word is ɔno (he, she), one of the full pronouns.

More than one
For several things, eyi becomes eyinom (these ones). Ɛno can stay the same or become ɛnonom (those ones).

Not before a noun
Eyi and ɛno never go in front of a noun. For this book, say nwoma yi. For that book, say saa nwoma no: see saa ... no.

Set phrases with ɛno

  • Ɛno nti (so, because of that): see enti.
  • Ɛno akyi (after that): see akyi.

Examples (6)

  1. Eyi yɛ fɛ.

    This one is pretty.

    Word by Word: this-one is pretty

  2. Mepɛ ɛno.

    I want that one.

    Word by Word: I-want that-one

  3. Eyi ne me nua.

    This is my sibling.

    Word by Word: this-one is my sibling

    Ne presents or identifies someone, so it fits introductions.

  4. Eyi yɛ dɛn?

    What is this?

    Word by Word: this-one is what

  5. Ɛno nyɛ me dea.

    That is not mine.

    Word by Word: that-one is-not my one

    Nyɛ is the negative of yɛ, and me dea means mine.

  6. Yɛfrɛ eyi sɛn wɔ Twi mu?

    What is this called in Twi?

    Word by Word: we-call this-one how at Twi inside

    A useful question for learners: eyi is the object of frɛ (call).

Common Mistakes

  • Putting eyi in front of a noun to mean this book.

    Mepɛ eyi nwoma.
    Mepɛ nwoma yi.

    Eyi stands alone. With a noun, put yi after the noun: nwoma yi.

  • Using ɔno for a thing.

    Mepɛ ɔno.
    Mepɛ ɛno.

    The sentence is meant to say I want that one about a thing. Ɔno means he or she, so it points to a person. For a thing, the stand-alone word is ɛno.

How It Connects

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

eyi / ɛnoLevel 1This One and That One

Learn This First

The pronouns eyi and ɛno build on yi after a noun.

Words in This Pattern

eyiɛno