SIMON & SCHUSTERS

PIMSLEUR

twi

reading booklet

Travelers should always check with their

nation's State Department for current
advisories on local conditions before
traveling abroad.

Graphic Design: Maia Kennedy

and Recorded Program 1971-2009 Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Reading Booklet 1971-2009 Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Pimsleur is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio,
a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Mfg. in USA.
All rights reserved.

acknowledgments

TWI
Voices
English-Speaking Instructor . . . . . Dr. Paul Pimsleur
Female Twi Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Agyei
Male Twi Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew C. Denteh

Course Writer
Dr. Paul Pimsleur

iii

For more information, call

1-800-831-5497 or visit us at
www.Pimsleur.com

table of contents
Reading Lessons
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Unit Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unit Five . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unit Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unit Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unit Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3
4
5
6
7

Glossary: Twi to English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Glossary: English to Twi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

twi
Introduction
Twi, also called Ashanti Twi, is spoken in
Ghana by about 15 million people. It is one of three
mutually intelligible dialects of the Akan language.
This course was originally published in a limited
edition by Dr. Paul Pimsleur for use by the Peace
Corps and the U.S. Department of Education. It is
now available for the first time on CD.
After completing the ten Units, you will have a
highly practical 125-word vocabulary that was
selected to help you meet many situations you will
encounter in Ghana. You will have a rudimentary
command of Twi grammar, and you will know
how to read (i.e., sound out) written Twi. With this
knowledge, you will be able to obtain food and
lodging, make purchases, and engage in simple
social contacts. Of course, 125 words will not make
you a fluent speaker of Twi, but it will establish
you as a person who has made an effort to meet his
foreign hosts halfway.
The recorded portion of the reading materials for
this course will be found at the end of each unit.
You can do the readings as it is most convenient
for you. They can be done individually with each
respective unit or at a more appropriate time after

twi
Introduction (continued)
the unit. Instructions on how to proceed with the
readings are contained in the audio portion of
the course.

twi
Unit Two
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Ghana
Amrika
Amrikani, Ghanani
mey
e/
Mey Amrikani.
o/
O/
woy
Woy Amrikani.
Woy Amrikani anaa?
a / aa
Aane.
Aane, mey Amrikani.
Wo nso?
Dabi.
Meny Amrikani.
Meny Amrikani, mey Ghanani.
Wote Twi anaa?
Aane, mete Twi.
Wo nso?
Wo nso wote Twi anaa?
Dabi, dabi. Mente Twi.

twi
Unit Three (No Readings)
Unit Four (No Readings)
Unit Five
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Mey Ghanani.
Yfr wo sn?
Yfr me Kofi.
Mey tikyani.
Maakye oo!
Owura, maakye.
Mepa wo kyw.
ka
Ka bio.
Mepa wo kyw, b k.
awuraa
Awuraa, Bank w he?
Owura, w h.
Hotel w ha?
Dabi Hotel nni ha.
w Kumasi.
Yoo, meda a se.
Meda ase pii.
Mepa wo kyw, meek.
Baabae oo!
4

ky

ka / ka

twi
Unit Six
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Mepa wo kyw.
Ankaa.
Ankaa yei.
Ankaa yei sn?
Sidi, psewa
Psewa biako.
Mpsewa mmienu.
Ankaa yei mpsewa mminsa.
Awuraa, meda ase pii.
Owura nna ase.
Awuraa, mepa wo kyw.
Tiafi w he?
Owura, w h.
Posu fese w ha?
Dabi, posu fese nni ha.
Yoo, meda ase.

twi
Unit Seven
At a beer bar. (W bia bar.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Customer:
Barman:
Customer:
Barman:
Customer:
Barman:

Maakye.
Yaa sn.
Mepa wo kyw, ma me bia.
Gye bia.
gy
y. Gye wo sika.
Owura, meda ase. Bra bio.

Unit Eight (No Readings)

Unit Nine (No Readings)

twi
Unit Ten
1. Person A: Wow sika sn? Sidi?
2. Person B: Dabi, mew mpsewa nw twe.
Wote ase?
3. A: Dabi, mente ase. Wose sn?
4. B: Mese menni sika pii w ha?
5. A: Wook he?
6. B: Mek Nkran. Wo nso ?
7. A: Aane, Nkran y f. Me nso meek h.
8. B: Yoo. Me ne wook.

twi
Glossary: Twi to English
aane
Accra
adamfo
aduane
akwaaba
Amrikani
Amma
anaa
anaa
ankaa
Asanteni
awuraa
baabae oo
baae
bank
Beach
benkum
bia
biako
Bob
Borfo
b k
b s
bs st p
bra bio

Unit 2: yes
Unit 8: Accra
Unit 8: friend
Unit 8: food
Unit 1: welcome
Unit 2: American person
Unit 5: a name (girl born on Sat.)
Unit 1: question word
Unit 8: or
Unit 6: orange
Unit 3: Asante person
Unit 4: miss; madam
Unit 3: bye-bye; good-bye
Unit 3: bye
Unit 4: bank
Unit 10: Beach (Labadi Beach)
Unit 9: left (opposite of right)
Unit 8: beer
Unit 6: one
Unit 6: Bob
Unit 1: English language
Unit 3: slowly
Unit 2: bus
Unit 4: bus stop
Unit 7: come again
8

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
Brown
chewing gum
chocolate
coffee
chopbar

Unit 6:
Unit 9:
Unit 9:
Unit 8:
Unit 4:

Brown
chewing gum
chocolate
coffee
chopbar (restaurant of
local food)
coka cola
Unit 7: Coca Cola
coke
Unit 7: Coke
Continental Hotel Unit 6: Continental Hotel
dabi
Unit 1: no
den
Unit 10: what
d
Unit 9: sweet
di
Unit 8: eat
du
Unit 10: ten
; w he?
Unit 4: it; Where is it?
ny hwee!
Unit 2: Its nothing! (Its no matter!)
s n
Unit 1: response to greetings
y.
Unit 7: It is all right. (Its enough)
y nnan.
Unit 9: It is four.
Fanteni
Unit 3: Fante person
f
Unit 10: beautiful
fufu; fufuo
Unit 8: fufu; fufuo
Germanni
Unit 2: German person
gye
Unit 7: here! (i.e. take it)
ha
Unit 4: here (i.e. this place)
9

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
he?
hello
ho y f
hotel
h
ice cream
ka bio
kaa
kakra
Kofi
Koforidua
k
K so
kp
kube
Kumase
Labadi Beach
maaha
maadwo
maakye
maakye oo
maame
madamfo
Mary

Unit 4: where?
Unit 6: hello
Unit 10: beautiful / handsome
Unit 4: hotel
Unit 4: there
Unit 9: ice cream
Unit 3: say it again
Unit 10: car
Unit 3: a little
Unit 5: a name (boy born on Fri.)
Unit 4: Koforidua
Unit 9: go
Unit 7: Go ahead.
Unit 9: cup
Unit 10: coconut
Unit 4: Kumasi
Unit 10: Labadi Beach
Unit 10: good afternoon
Unit 10: good evening
Unit 3: good morning
Unit 1: good morning (with oo to
help voice carry)
Unit 8: mother
Unit 8: my friend
Unit 5: Mary
10

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
1.
me
Me
2. ho y.
Me
3. nso.
Meda
4. ase.
Meda
5. ase pii.
meek
6. (merek)
mek
7.
memp
8.
menk
9.
Menni
10. sika.
mennom
...
11.
menom
12.
Mensa
13.
mente
14.
Mente
15. ase.
meny
16.
mepa wo kyw
17.
mep
18.
mese
19.
Mete ase.
20.
mew
mey
mmienu
mminsa
mpsewa

Unit 1: I
Unit 2: I am fine.
Unit 2: I too.
Unit 3: I thank you.
Unit 3: I thank you very much.
Unit 5: I am going
Unit 9: I go
Unit 10: I dont like
Unit 9: I dont go
Unit 10: I dont have money.
Unit 8: I dont drink ...
Unit 8: I drink
Unit 6: Mensa
Unit 1: I dont speak (I dont hear)
Unit 10: I dont understand.
Unit 2: I am not
Unit 1: please; excuse me
Unit 10: I like
Unit 10: I say
Unit 10: I understand.
Unit 10: I have (i.e. I possess)
Unit 2: I am
Unit 6: two
Unit 6: three
Unit 6: pesewas
11

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
Nana
Nancy
ne
newspaper
nifa
Nkran (Accra)
nkron
Nna ase.
nnan
nni ha, etc.
nnum
nom
nsia
nso
nson
nwtwe
paa
Peter Brown
p
psewa
pii
pii
posufeso
restaurant
Saa!

Unit 5: chiefs title

Unit 5: Nancy
Unit 9: and (to join single words)
Unit 6: newspaper
Unit 9: right (opposite of left)
Unit 8: Accra
Unit 9: nine
Unit 6: Dont mention it.
Unit 7: four
Unit 4: is / are not here
Unit 7: five
Unit 8: drink
Unit 8: six
Unit 8: also
Unit 8: seven
Unit 9: eight
Unit 10: very much
Unit 6: Peter Brown
Unit 10: like (i.e. to be fond of)
Unit 6: pesewa
Unit 3: much
Unit 10: many
Unit 4: post office
Unit 9: restaurant
Unit 7: Is that so! Is that right!
12

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
se (mese)
Sn?
Sn?
sidi
sika
sini
sukuu
tena ase
Thomas
tiafi
tii
Trade Fair
Twi
Twini
wadamfo
wo
wo
Wo ho te sn?
wo nso
Wo nso ?
wok
wonk
wonom
wonte

Unit 10: say (I say)

Unit 5: How?
Unit 6: How much?
Unit 6: cedi
Unit 7: money
Unit 4: movie; cinema
Unit 8: school
Unit 3: sit down
Unit 6: Thomas
Unit 4: bathroom
Unit 8: tea
Unit 10: Trade Fair
Unit 1: Twi language
Unit 3: Twi person
Unit 8: your friend
Unit 1: you
Unit 7: your
Unit 2: How are you?
Unit 2: you too
Unit 3: And you?
Unit 9: you go
Unit 9: you dont go
Unit 8: you drink
Unit 1: you dont speak
(Lit. you dont hear)
13

twi
Glossary: Twi to English (continued)
wony
Wook he?
Wose sn?
wote
wote ase
woy
w
w he ...?
w h
Yaa, s n.
yei
yei y ...
Yei y den?
y
y d
y f
y sn?
Yfr wo sn?
Yoo.

Unit 2: you are not

Unit 8: Where are you going?
Unit 10: What do you say?
Unit 1: you speak (Lit. you
hear)
Unit 10: you understand
Unit 2: you are
Unit 10: have (i.e. to possess)
Unit 4: Where is ...?
Unit 4: is there
Unit 1: (a response to greetings)
Unit 6: this
Unit 10: this is ...
Unit 10: What is this?
Unit 2: is / am (the verb to be)
Unit 9: is sweet
Unit 10: is beautiful
Unit 9: is how much / is how
many?
Unit 5: What is your name?
Unit 4: O.K.

14

twi
Glossary: English to Twi
Accra
Unit 8: Nkran
also
Unit 2: nso
American person
Unit 2: Amrikani
Amma (girl born on Sat.) Unit 5: Amma
and (joining single words) Unit 9: ne
Asante person
Unit 3: Asanteni
bank
Unit 4: bank
bathroom
Unit 4: tiafi
Beach (Labadi)
Unit 10: Beach (Labadi)
beautiful
Unit 10: f
beer
Unit 8: bia
Bob
Unit 6: Bob
Brown
Unit 6: Brown
bus
Unit 2: bs
bus stop
Unit 4: bs stp
bye
Unit 3: baae
bye-bye; good-bye
Unit 3: baabae oo
car
Unit 10: kaa
Cedi
Unit 6: Sidi
chewing gum
Unit 9: chewing gum
chiefs title
Unit 5: Nana
chocolate
Unit 9: chocolate
chopbar
Unit 4: chopbar
cinema (movie)
Unit 4: sini
Coca Cola
Unit 7: Coka Cola
15

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
coconut
coffee
Coke
come again
Continental Hotel
cup
Dont mention it.
drink (to drink)
eat
eight
Excuse me.
English language
Fante person
five
food
four
friend
fufu (kind of food)
German person
go
go on (go ahead)
good afternoon
goodbye
good evening

Unit 10: kube

Unit 8: coffee
Unit 7: Coke
Unit 7: bra bio
Unit 6: Continental Hotel
Unit 9: k p
Unit 6: Nna ase.
Unit 8: nom
Unit 8: di
Unit 9: nw twe
Unit 1: Mepa wo kyw.
Unit 1: Bor fo
Unit 3: Fanteni
Unit 7: nnum
Unit 8: aduane
Unit 7: nnan
Unit 8: adamfo
Unit 8: fufu / fufuo
Unit 2: Germanni
Unit 9: k
Unit 7: k so
Unit 7: maaha
Unit 3: baabae oo
Unit 3: maadwo
16

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
good morning
(distant)
good morning
(close)
have (to possess)
Hello.
here (this place)
here (get it; take it)
hotel
How?
How are you?
How are you
called?
How do you say?
How much?
How much is ...
I
I am
I am fine.
I am going
I am not
I dont drink ...
I dont go
I dont have money.

Unit 1: maakye oo
Unit 3: maakye (Owura, etc.)
Unit 10: w
Unit 6: Hello.
Unit 4: ha
Unit 7: gye
Unit 4: hotel
Unit 5: Sn?
Unit 2: Wo ho te sn?
Unit 5: See, What is your

name?
Unit 10: See, What do you

say?
Unit 6: Sn?
Unit 9: ... y sn?
Unit 1: me
Unit 2: mey
Unit 2: Me ho y.
Unit 5: meek
Unit 2: meny
Unit 8: mennom ...
Unit 9: menk
Unit 10: Menni sika.
17

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
I dont hear / speak
I dont like
I dont understand.
I drink
I go
I have (I possess)
I like
I say
I thank you.
I thank you very much.
I too
I understand.
ice cream
is (the verb to be)
is beautiful
is beautiful / handsome
(of persons)
is how much?
is not here
is sweet
Is that so!
is there
is where?
It (It is there.)
Its all right / enough.

Unit 1: mente
Unit 10: memp
Unit 10: Mente ase.
Unit 8: menom
Unit 9: mek
Unit 10: mew
Unit 10: mep
Unit 10: mese
Unit 3: Meda ase.
Unit 3: Meda ase pii.
Unit 2: me nso
Unit 10: Mete ase.
Unit 9: ice cream
Unit 2: y
Unit 10: y f
Unit 10: ho y f
Unit 9:
Unit 4:
Unit 9:
Unit 7:
Unit 4:
Unit 4:
Unit 4:
Unit 7:
18

y sn?
nni ha
y d
Saa!
w h
w he?
(w h )
y.

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
Its four, etc.
Unit 9: y nnan, etc.
Its no matter.
Unit 2: ny hwee.
Kofi (boy born on Friday) Unit 5: Kofi
Koforidua
Unit 4: Koforidua
Kumasi
Unit 4: Kumase
Labadi Beach
Unit 10: Labadi Beach
left (opposite of right) Unit 9: benkum
like (to be fond of)
Unit 10: p
little
Unit 3: kakra
lot (a lot, a lot of)
Unit 3: pii
madam
Unit 4: awuraa
many
Unit 10: pii
Mary
Unit 5: Mary
Mensa
Unit 6: Mensa
miss (young lady)
Unit 4: awuraa
money
Unit 7: sika
mother
Unit 8: maame
movie (cinema)
Unit 4: sini
much
Unit 3: pii
my friend
Unit 8: madamfo
Nancy
Unit 5: Nancy
newspaper
Unit 6: newspaper
nine
Unit 9: nkron
no
Unit 1: dabi
O.K.
Unit 4: Yoo.
19

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
one
or
orange
pesewa
pesawas
Peter Brown
please
question word
response to greetings
restaurant
right (opposite of left)
say (I say)
say it again
school
seven
sit down
six
slowly
sweet
tea
ten
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
there

Unit 6: biako
Unit 8: anaa
Unit 8: ankaa (other places:

akutu)
Unit 6: psewa
Unit 6: mpsewa
Unit 6: Peter Brown
Unit 1: mepa wo kyw
Unit 1: anaa
Unit 1: Yaa, s n.
Unit 9: restaurant
Unit 9: nifa
Unit 10: se (mese ...)
Unit 3: ka bio
Unit 8: sukuu
Unit 8: nson
Unit 3: tena ase
Unit 8: nsia
Unit 9: bk
Unit 9: d
Unit 8: tii
Unit 10: du
Unit 3: Meda ase.
Unit 3: Meda ase pii.
Unit 4: h
20

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
this
this is ...
this is what
Thomas
three
Trade Fair
Twi (language)
Twi person
two
understand (perceive)
very much
welcome
what
What do you say?

Unit 6: yei
Unit 10: yei y ...
Unit 10: See, What is this?
Unit 6: Thomas
Unit 6: mminsa
Unit 10: Trade Fair
Unit 1: Twi
Unit 3: Twini
Unit 6: mmienu
Unit 10: te ase
Unit 10: pii/ii ...; paa
Unit 1: akwaaba
Unit 10: den
Unit 10: Wose sn?

(Wose den?)
What is this?
Unit 10: Yei y den?
What is your name?
Unit 5: Yfr wo sn?
Where (is where?)
Unit 4: He? (w he?)
Where are you going? Unit 8: Wook he?
yes
Unit 2: aane
you (and you? Unit 3) Unit 1: wo (wo nso ?)
you are ... (verb to be) Unit 2: woy (are: y
You are going where?
Unit 8: Wo ok he?
(Literal)
you are not
Unit 2: wony
21

twi
Glossary: English to Twi (continued)
you dont go
you dont speak
(Lit.: you dont hear)
you drink
you go
you say what?

Unit 9: wonk
Unit 1: wonte
Unit 8: wonom
Unit 9: wok
Unit 10: See, What do you

say?
Unit 1: wote

you speak
(Literal: you hear)
you too
Unit 2: wo nso
you understand
Unit 10: wote ase
your (e.g., your mother) Unit 7: wo (wo maame)
your friend
Unit 8: wadamfo

22