he (Where)
Where: He
He means where. It goes where a place name would go: Worekɔ he? (Where are you going?).
How It Works
He takes the same slot as a place word, so the verb before it shows what kind of place question you are asking:
- Wowɔ he? Where are you? (wɔ, be at)
- Worekɔ he? Where are you going? (kɔ, go, with no word for to)
- Wofiri he? Where are you from? (firi, come from)
- Wote he? Where do you live? (te, live)
To ask where something is, name the thing first and use wɔ: Agyananbea no wɔ he? (Where is the toilet?).
Ɛhe first, with na. At the front of the question the word is ɛhe, and na follows it: Ɛhe na worekɔ? (Where are you going?), Ɛhe na wofiri? (Where are you from?). Both orders mean the same thing.
You will also hear hefa or ɛhefa (which side, where): Wofiri hefa?
Answers often use ha (here) or hɔ (there): Mewɔ ha (I am here).
Examples (6)
- Wowɔ he?
Where are you?
Word by Word: You-are-at where?
- Worekɔ he?
Where are you going?
Word by Word: You-are-going where?
Kɔ takes he directly, the same way it takes a place name.
- Ɛhe na worekɔ?
Where are you going?
Word by Word: Where na you-are-going?
At the front, the word is ɛhe and na follows it.
- Wofiri he?
Where are you from?
Word by Word: You-come-from where?
- Agyananbea no wɔ he?
Where is the toilet?
Word by Word: Toilet the is-at where?
The thing comes first, then wɔ he.
- Wote he?
Where do you live?
Word by Word: You-live where?
Common Mistakes
Using yɛ for where someone is.
Woyɛ he?Wowɔ he?Yɛ says what someone is or is like. Being in a place always uses wɔ.
Adding wɔ after kɔ.
Worekɔ wɔ he?Worekɔ he?Kɔ (go) takes the place directly, with no word for to or at. Its answer works the same way: Merekɔ Kumase.
Putting ɛhe first without na.
Ɛhe worekɔ?Ɛhe na worekɔ?When ɛhe comes first, na must follow it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Where-questions usually use wɔ.
Related Patterns
- kɔ + PlaceGoing Somewhere: Kɔ
Kɔ takes he directly, just like a place name.
Level 1 - firi (Come From)Coming from: Firi
Wofiri he? asks where someone is from.
Level 1 - te (Live)Living Somewhere: Te
Wote he? asks where someone lives.
Level 1 - Question Word + naQuestion Words with Na
Explains the na after a fronted ɛhe.
Level 2 - ha / hɔHere and There
Here and there, common answers to where.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice he (Where) in Bubblegum
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