aane / daabi
Yes and No: Aane and Daabi
Aane means yes and daabi means no.
How It Works
- Aane: yes.
- Daabi: no. It is sometimes spelled dabi. Do not mix it up with da bi (one day), which is two words.
Answering in full. After aane or daabi, repeat the verb from the question:
- Wobɛba anaa? Aane, mɛba. (Will you come? Yes, I will come.)
- Kofi wɔ fie anaa? Daabi, ɔnni fie. (Is Kofi at home? No, he is not at home.)
The verb after daabi is negative too. Twi makes a verb negative inside the verb itself, with the negative prefix N- (pɛ becomes mempɛ), or with a separate negative verb such as nni. Daabi never goes inside a sentence to mean not.
No, thank you. To turn down an offer politely, add thanks: Daabi, medaase.
Other varieties. Akuapem speakers say yiw for yes, and Fante speakers say nyew. You will hear these, but this course uses aane. See Asante, Akuapem and Fante.
Examples (5)
- Wobɛba anaa? — Aane, mɛba.
Will you come? — Yes, I will come.
Word by Word: You-will-come or? — Yes, I-will-come.
The answer repeats the verb after aane.
- Wopɛ nsuo anaa? — Daabi, medaase.
Do you want water? — No, thank you.
Word by Word: You-want water or? — No, I-thank.
Adding medaase makes the no polite.
- Kofi wɔ fie anaa? — Daabi, ɔnni fie.
Is Kofi at home? — No, he is not at home.
Word by Word: Kofi is-at home or? — No, he-is-not-at home.
Nni is the negative of wɔ (be at).
- Wote Twi? — Aane, kakra.
Do you understand Twi? — Yes, a little.
Word by Word: You-hear Twi? — Yes, a-little.
- Wopɛ paanoo anaa? — Daabi, mempɛ.
Do you want bread? — No, I do not want it.
Word by Word: You-want bread or? — No, I-not-want.
Pɛ takes the negative prefix and becomes mempɛ; the nasal is written m before p.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the verb positive after daabi.
Daabi, mepɛ.Daabi, mempɛ.Daabi does not make the verb negative. The verb needs its own negative prefix: me- + N- + pɛ = mempɛ.
Using daabi as the word not.
Me daabi pɛ.Mempɛ.Daabi only answers a question. Inside a sentence, not is the nasal prefix on the verb.
Related Patterns
- anaa (Question)Yes-No Questions
Yes-no questions are the questions aane and daabi answer.
Level 1 - N- (Negative)Negative Prefix N-
Makes the verb negative in an answer after daabi.
Level 1 - Asante, Akuapem and Fante
Akuapem says yiw and Fante says nyew for yes.
Level 1 - meda wo aseThank You: Meda Wo Ase
Daabi, medaase means No, thank you.
Level 1 - nni (Not Be At)Not Be at: Nni
The negative of wɔ, often heard after daabi.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice aane / daabi in Bubblegum
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