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48 Twi Quotes, Proverbs & Sayings + Their Meanings

Ghanaians use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.

Check out these proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Akan beliefs and ways of thinking. 

Below I’ve listed famous Twi quotes, common Twi proverbs and inspiring Twi sayings.

Famous Akan Proverbs, Twi Quotes & Ghanaian Sayings

Below I’ve listed the most famous Twi proverbs as well as some common Twi sayings. These are used often in day to day life.

The list features a range of Ghana proverbs in Twi with an English translation.

  1. Ba nyansafoɔ yebu no bɛ, yɛnnka no asɛm – The wise child is spoken to in proverb, not in mere words.
  1. Tikoro nkɔ agyina – One head does not go into council.

This Twi proverb is similar to the English proverb of ‘two heads are better than one’.

Famous Twi proverb which reads 'one head does not go into council'.
  1. Panyin a ɔtena fie ma mmɔfra we nanka no, yebu nankawefoɔ a ɔka ho – The elder who looks on as the young people he lives with feast on a snake, is considered a snake eater himself.

This Akan proverb is similar to the English proverb of ‘a man is known by the company he keeps’.

  1. Berɛ te sɛ anomaa, woankyere no na otu a, wonhu no bio –  Time is like a bird, if you don’t catch it and it flies away you’ll never see it again.
  1. Obi mmfa ne nsa nnto obi anomu na ɔmmpae n’atifi – You don’t put your finger in someone’s mouth and hit them on the top of their head.

This Twi quote basically means that if you’re at someone’s mercy, it’s foolish to try and hurt them.

  1. Woamma wo yɔnko antwa nkron a, wo nso wontwa du – If you prevent your friend from harvesting nine, you’ll also fail to harvest ten.
  1. Akɔkono de bεtεbεtε na εwe abε – Slow and steady wins the race.
  1. Nsateaa nyinaa nnyɛ pɛ – All fingers are not the same.

This Ghanaian proverb means that people are not the same. Some are weak, some are strong. Some are rich, some are poor. Each one is capable of doing things that others cannot do.

  1. Obi akɔnnɔdeɛ ne odompo nsono – Someone’s delicacy is the intestines of an odompo.

Odompo guts are widely considered to be undesirable so this Akan proverb means that we shouldn’t condemn someone for their preference. It’s similar to the English proverb ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’. 

  1. Ɛpare wo a, wosua nyansa – One should learn from a near miss.
  1. Yɛsoma onyansafoɔ, ɛnyɛ anamɔntenten – We send a wise person, not one with long legs.

Whilst the person with long legs may be able to reach the destination faster, it would be better to send a wise person even if it takes longer.

Famous Akan proverb which reads 'we send a wise person, not one with long legs'.
  1. Prayɛ, sɛ woyi baako a na ebu; wokabomu a emmu – When you remove one broomstick it breaks but when you put them together they do not break.
  1. Owuo atwedeɛ, baakfoɔ mforo – Death’s ladder is not climbed by one person.

This Twi proverb means that death is inevitable for everyone. 

  1. Adeε nyinaa dan osuahunu – Experience is the best teacher.
  1. Berε annuru annuru a, εtra – Procrastination is the thief of time.
  1. Honam panin ne etire – The head is the crown of the human body.
  1. Akɔdaa bɔ εnwa na ɔmmɔ akyekyedeε – The child breaks the shell of a snail but not that of a tortoise.

This Twi quote means that you should only do things within your capacity.

  1. Kwanti yε musuo – The short road is deadly.

This Akan proverb indicates that cheap things are not always good and we shouldn’t take short cuts.

  1. Sε anoɔ patre a εkyεn namɔn – A slipped tongue damages more than a slipped foot.
Famous Twi quote which reads 'a slipped tongue damages more than a slipped foot'.
  1. Aboa aserewa hwε ne kεkseε ho na wanyono ne buo – The silverbird weaves its nest according to its size.

This Ghanaian proverb means that you should do what you can do but not what pleases somebody else.

  1. Anoɔ da hɔ kwa a εkeka nsεm – An idle mouth gossips.
  1. Bεdε teaa mayεyie εne sumina so – The discarded farm basket does not feel appreciated by the ungrateful farmer.

This Twi saying means that if someone helps you, you should try to be grateful to that person.

  1. Tikorɔ nnkɔ agyina – One person does not make or take decisions for the community.
  1. Woto adubɔne a ebi ka wano. Deε odi bɔne no, ewie no bɔne – If you think evil, you will always attract evil. 

Beautiful Twi Quotes & Ghanaian Quotes In Twi + English

Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Twi quotes.

  1. Obi nnom aduro mma ɔyarefoɔ – You do not take medicine to heal another person.
  1. Wusie enni ahoɔden wɔnframa kuro mu – The power of the smoke is at the mercy of the wind.
Famous Ghanaian quote which reads 'the power of the smoke is at the mercy of the wind'.
  1. Ahoɔfε nntua ka – Your beauty doesn’t pay your debt.

This Ghanaian quote means that it is your character rather than your beauty that earns you a place in society.

  1. Tumidie yε εhɔ ne hɔ – It takes moderation to handle power.
  1. Abosomakotrε se ntεm yε, brεbrε nso yε – The chameleon claims that, to be fast is good and to be slow is also good.

This Akan proverb means that whatever you are doing is good as long as it is in good faith. 

  1. Nyansapo wosane no badwemma – Wise knots are loosened by wise men.
  1. Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi – It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.
  1. Nea aba pεn na εsane ba – History repeats itself.
  1. Agorɔ bɛsɔ a, efiri anɔpa – If the festival will be entertaining, it starts from the morning.

This Twi quote means that we can tell how successful a venture will be from its beginning as you can also tell how nice a festival or party is from the start.

  1. Nea wɔnom hɔ no wɔnnware hɔ – One should not bathe in the water others drink.
  1. Obi nnim a, obi kyerɛ – If someone does not know, someone teaches.
  1. Dua baako gye mframa a εbu – If one tree stands in the path of the wind, it falls.
Famous Twi Akan proverb which reads 'if one tree stands in the path of the wind, it falls'.
  1. ​​Anoma anntu a, obua da – If a bird does not fly, it goes to bed hungry.

This Ghanaian proverb means you must take action if you want to make a living.

  1. Ɔkɔtɔ nwo anoma – A crab does not give birth to a bird.

This Twi quote is used to acknowledge the resemblance between a child and his/her parents.

  1. Agya bi wu a, agya bi te ase – When one father dies, another father lives.

This Ghanaian saying references the Akan belief that raising a child is a communal activity. This means that if a child’s father dies, there are other older males who would step up and take responsibility.

  1. Efie biara mmaninsɛm wɔ mu – In every house, there are those who cause trouble.
  1. ​​Awaduwa kyinkyin a onya abɛ wɔ – When the pestle roams about in the mortar, it eventually finds palm nuts to pound.
  1. Hwimhwim adeɛ kɔ srɔsrɔ – Easy come, easy go.
  1. Deε ɔte εfɔm ennsuro ahweaseε – He that is down need not fear a fall.

Best Twi Idioms & Ghanaian Sayings

Below I’ve listed the most well-known Twi idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings. 

  1. To pεtε tuo

The literal meaning of this Twi idiom is ‘to shoot a vulture’ however the true meaning is ‘to work for nothing’ or ‘engage in a fruitless venture’.

  1. N’ano yε toro

The literal meaning of this Akan idiom is ‘his or her mouth is slippery’. The true meaning is ‘he or she can’t keep a secret’.

Famous Twi idiom which reads 'his/her mouth is slippery' meaning 'he/she can't keep a secret'.
  1. Adeε atɔ n’ani

The literal meaning of this Ghanaian idiom is ‘something has fallen into his/her eyes’. This idiom is used to mean that ‘he/she is bereaved’.

  1. Ne safoa ayera

This Twi expression literally means ‘his/her key is lost’ however it is used to say that ‘he/she has gone crazy’.

  1. Bɔ ano so twεdeε

This Akan idiom literally means ‘to punch your own mouth’ however it is used to say that someone is eating e.g. ‘I’m punching my own mouth’ = ‘I’m eating’.

Check out the videos below which feature a range of famous Twi quotes and well-known Twi sayings & proverbs.

Thanks for reading this post on the best Twi quotes about life, famous Ghanaian sayings and fascinating Ghanaian proverbs in Twi and English.

These Twi quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Ghanaians beliefs and language.

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