Imagine yourself strolling through the vibrant markets of southeastern Ghana, where the air is thick with the aroma of spices and the melody of unfamiliar words. You're in Dangme territory, where language isn't just a means of communication—it's a dance of sounds that tells the story of a people.
Dangme, one of Ghana's hidden linguistic gems, is more than just a language. It's a key that unlocks doors to warm smiles, hearty laughter, and friendships that transcend cultural boundaries. So, let's embark on a mini linguistic adventure and learn some phrases that will make you sound like a local in no time!
GREETINGS IN DANGME
| ENGLISH | DANGME |
| Greetings | Ngami |
| Good evening | I taa mo ama (singular)
I taa nye ama (plural) |
| Good morning | I nga mo (singular)
I nga nye (plural) |
| Good afternoon | I haa mo (singular)
I haa nye (plural) |
| How are you? | Ke o ngɛ kɛ? |
| How are you today? | Ke o ngɛ kɛ muɔnɔ? |
| I am fine | I ngɛ saminya |
| Have a good day! | Hi si saminya! |
| I am doing great! | I ngɛ saminya! |
| Hi/Hello | Hee-e! |
| Nice to meet you | Mo heee-e! |
| See you soon | Lɛ ke pee o |
| See you later | Lɛ bɛ kpa-mio |
| See you tomorrow | Wa ma kpe hwo |
LOVE WORDS IN DANGME
| ENGLISH | DANGME |
| Love Language | Suɔmi gbi |
| I love you | I suɔ mo |
| I miss you | I hɛ ngɛ jaa o he |
| I love you so much | I suɔ mo waa |
| I want to see you | I ngɛ la mana mo |
| I love you with all my heart | I suɔ mo kɛ ye tsui kla |
| I love you too | A mi hu I suɔ mo |
| I like you | I buajor o he |
| You are beautiful | O he ngɛ feu |
| My love | I suɔlɔ |
| My beautiful wife | Ye yo ke a he feu |
| I miss you so much, my darling | I hɛ ngɛ jaa ngɛ o he waa, I suɔlɔ |
| I need you | I hia mo |
| You will miss me | O hɛ ma jaa I he |
| Goodbye, my love | Byebye, I suɔlɔ |
| I will marry you | I ma ngɔ mo |
| I want some space | I ngɛ ɖeka la |
| I need your love | I mgɛ o suɔmi la |
| You are mine | I nɔ ji mo |
DIRECTIONS IN DANGME
| ENGLISH | DANGME |
| Where are you? | Jije o ngɛ? |
| Where did you go? | Jije o ho? |
| Where do you live? | Jeji o si he? |
| Where are you going? | Jije o yaa? |
| Where were you? | Je o ho? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATION IN DANGME
| ENGLISH | DANGME |
| How much? | E nyemɛ? |
| How are you feeling? | Ke o hɛmi ngɛ kɛ? |
| How have you been? | Ke ngɛ mo pe kɛ? |
| What is your name? | Meni ji o biɛ? |
| What are you doing? | Mɛnɔ o ngɛ pee? |
| What are you cooking | Meni o ngɛ yee? |
| Are you okay, dear? | O ngɛ saminya lo, a nyemi? |
| When are you coming? | Meni bɛ o ma ba? |
| How was your night/day? | Kɛ o nyɔm/muɔnɔ ya lekɛ? |
| How are you doing? | Ke o ngɛ kɛ? |
| How is your family? | Ke o weku o ngɛ kɛ? |
| How was your day? | Kɛ muɔnɔ ya lekɛ? |
| What is wrong? | Meni ji nyagba? |
| What do you mean? | O ke meni? |
| How's the weather over there? | Ke jemi ngɛ ke ngɛ lejon? |
| Have you gone to church? | O ya sɔlemi lo? |
| What is this? | Meni ji nɔ? |
| What's going on? | Meni ngɛ nɔ yaa? |
| Are you listening? | O ngɛ nu-u lo? |
| Have you heard? | O nu lo? |
| Can I go home? | Ma nye ma ho wemi ya? |
| Can I ask something? | Ma nye bi mo noko? |
| How is everything? | ke nɔfɛnɔ ngɛ ya kɛ? |
| What’s your phone number? | Meni ji o tɛtɛfon nɔmaa? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN DANGME
| ENGLISH | DANGME |
| Happy birthday | Jeha ya ma na mo |
| Thank you | Mo tsumi |
| I am sorry | I kpa mo pɛ |
| You are welcome! | Mo hee-e! |
| Me too! | Ami hu o! |
| God bless you | Mau nɛjɔ mo |
| May God protect you | Mau nɛye o nɔ |
| She is happy | Yo ɔ buajɔmi |
| Please help me | I kpa mo pɛ, ye bua mi |
| I don't know | I li o |
| I will come tomorrow | I ma ba hwɔ |
| Come here! | Ba hiɔ! |
| Feel at home | Ke buajɔmi nɛ hisi |
| Be blessed! | A jɔɔ mo! |
| I am coming soon | I ma ba piɔ |
| Excuse me | I kpa pɛ |
| Leave me alone | Gmɛ I he |
| It is okay | E hi |
| I am going home | I ya wemi |
| I don't want | I la we |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Suɔmi ngɛ fɛu |
| Let me try | Ma kaa heɛ |
| Welcome home! | Mo heee-e! |
| I reached home safely | I ya su wemi ngɛ hejɔmi |
| God is good | Mau hi |
| I don't understand | I nui sisi |
| We are happy to see you | Wa bua jɔ ka wa na mo |
| I have it | I ngɛ e ko |
| Rest in peace | Ya wɔ ngɛ tuɛ mijɔmi |
| I don't have money | I be sika |
| I am done | I gbenya |
| I am going to the shop | I ya ni jua hɛ o |
| Happy New Year | Jeha nɛ ya ba na wɔ |
| Bad manners | Suban yaya |
| Stop using your phone | Kpa o tɛtɛfɔn heɛ mi |
| I need a favour, please | I hia yemi kɛ buami |
| I haven't seen you for ages | I na mo kɛ pe jeha babao |
| Great to see you again | I bua jɔ kaa wa kpe ekohu |
| I really appreciate it | E sa ye hemi saminya |
| You made my day | O wo mi buajɔmi muɔnɔ |
| No problem | Nyagba be |
| Where are you? | Jije o ngɛ? |
| Where did you go? | Jije o ho? |
| Have you eaten it yet? | O ye niyeni mo lo? |
| Come let me take you home | Ba nɛ ma wo mo ke ya wemi |
| You are very drunk | O deda waa |
| Can we have our meeting today? | Wa ma nye pe wa kpe ɔ muɔnɔ lo? |
| Clean my shoe, please | I kpa pɛ, tsu I tokota he |
| The sun is scorching | Pu ɔ ngɛ tso |
| I'm going | I yaa |
| John is going to market | Yohane yaa juami |
| Kabutey is a farmer | Kabutey lɛ ngmɔ hulu |
| Samuel is working with a machine | Samuel ngɛ nitsu kɛ klama |
| Kelvin is in the canoe | Kelvin ngɛ hlɛmi |
Keep pushing forward! Mastering a language takes consistent practice, but it can be enjoyable. To boost your Adara skills, try learning five new words daily from the Dangme dictionary. Every little bit helps!
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