paa

Very, Really: Paa

Level 2

Add paa at the end to make it stronger: Ɛyɛ dɛ paa. (It is really nice.) Medɔ wo paa. (I love you very much.)

How It Works

1. After a description
Paa follows the word that says what something is like: Ɛyɛ dɛ paa (It is really nice), Ntoma yi yɛ fɛ paa (This cloth is very beautiful). With a quality verb such as ware (be tall), it follows the verb: Kofi ware paa (Kofi is very tall). See Describing With yɛ.

2. After an action
With a verb that has an object, paa comes after the object: Medɔ wo paa (I love you very much), Saa abofra yi nim adeɛ paa (This child is very clever).

3. In thanks
Medaase paa and Meda wo ase paa both mean thank you very much.

4. Paa and pa
Pa, with one a, is an adjective meaning good: onipa pa (a good person). Paa means very. They can go together: Ɔyɛ onipa pa paa (He is a very good person). In careful writing, paa is often spelled pa ara: Me ho yɛ pa ara (I am very well).

5. Even stronger
For extra force you will hear papaapa: Ne ho yɛ fɛ papaapa (She is very, very beautiful).

6. Other strong words
Paa is not the same as dodo, which means too or too much: Ɛyɛ den dodo (It is too hard). Ankasa also means really, and after a noun or pronoun it means oneself: ɔno ankasa (he himself).

Examples (6)

  1. Ɛyɛ dɛ paa.

    It is really nice.

    Word by Word: it-is sweet very

    Dɛ means sweet or pleasant; paa makes it stronger.

  2. Medɔ wo paa.

    I love you very much.

    Paa comes after the object wo.

  3. Medaase paa!

    Thank you very much!

  4. Kofi ware paa.

    Kofi is very tall.

    Ware (be tall) is a verb, so paa follows it directly.

  5. Ntoma yi yɛ fɛ paa.

    This cloth is very beautiful.

  6. Saa abofra yi nim adeɛ paa.

    This child is very clever.

    Word by Word: this child this knows thing very

    Nim adeɛ (know things) means to be clever.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting paa between the verb and its object.

    Medɔ paa wo.
    Medɔ wo paa.

    Paa comes after the object, at the end of the verb phrase.

  • Using paa (very) when you mean he is a good person.

    Ɔyɛ onipa paa.
    Ɔyɛ onipa pa.

    Pa, with one a, means good and describes the noun. Paa only makes something stronger.

How It Connects

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

paaLevel 2Very, Really: Paa

Learn This First

Paa strengthens a verb or describing word.

Words in This Pattern

paa