Observers are worried

A DICTIONARY OF GHANAIAN
ENGLISH

[DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT]

Roger Blench
Mallam Dendo
8, Guest Road
Cambridge CB1 2AL
United Kingdom
Voice/ Fax. 0044-(0)1223-560687
Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804
E-mail R.Blench@odi.org.uk
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm

Wa, Thursday, 12 January 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ...............................................................................................................................................................i
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................2
Sources..............................................................................................................................................................2
Spelling .............................................................................................................................................................2
Ghanaian /Ghanaian/ West African English.................................................................................................2
West Coast Pidgin (WCP)...............................................................................................................................2
Student slang....................................................................................................................................................2
Missionary English ..........................................................................................................................................3
Borrowings from indigenous Ghanaian languages.......................................................................................3
Scientific names, and trade names .................................................................................................................3
Regional variation ...........................................................................................................................................3
Parts of Speech.................................................................................................................................................4
Abbreviations...................................................................................................................................................4
References.........................................................................................................................................................5

Preface
This dictionary of Ghanaian English was stimulated by preparing a dictionary of Nigerian English and
finding many similarities between the two. Although Ghanaian English is quite well-studied in some other
respects, only one compilation of Ghanaian English exists, by Fr. John Kirby. Valuable though it is, many
words that it contains are not specifically Ghanaian, but are standard British English, forms which may seem
unusual to North Americans, but which are not characteristic of Ghana. It therefore seems useful to prepare
something more scholarly with more attention to the sources of typical words and refer to outside
comparisons, where these exist. Language moves and new expressions have surfaced since the publication of
Kirby, which it seems worthwhile capturing. In its present form, this dictionary is very much a first attempt,
intended for circulation to interested parties, not for publication. Needless to say, the author would be
grateful for all additions and corrections.
Roger Blench
Wa
Thursday, 12 January 2006

Introduction
These notes are intended to raise some issues on sources, interpretation and the definition of Ghanaian
English.
Sources1
One of the most difficult issues in lexicography is documenting usages in a semi-written language. If
dictionaries of indigenous African languages are prepared they usually depend entirely on oral sources and
thus no specific justification is given for entries. However, Ghanaian English is sometimes written,
especially in newspapers and magazines, and thus has some sort of orthographic tradition. Nonetheless,
many of the most picturesque expressions are strictly oral and must still be captured in the present document.
Although previous studies in this direction have tended to cite novels or literary works these are sometimes
unrepresentative of the spoken language. I have therefore used newspaper, notices and overheard speech as
sources. Example sentences not specifically sourced should be treated as based on the authors or his
correspondents experiences.

Spelling
Ghanaian writing of English has some widespread misspellings such as portable for potable and
groupper for grouper. If these seem to have gain wide currency they are included.

Ghanaian /Ghanaian/ West African English

One of the more surprising things about Ghanaian English is the extent to which it has a common lexicon
and grammar with other West African Englishes, notably Nigerian. I have less information about Cameroun,
Sierra Leone and Gambia and would welcome further insights. However, the puzzle is the history of some of
these forms. Do they go back to the early days of colonial presence on the coast or are they more recent
products of the massive migration of Ghanaians to Nigeria during the oil-boom era of the 1970s and 1980s?
Probably both, but only a detailed scanning of earlier sources will provide answers.

West Coast Pidgin (WCP)

I use this slightly ungainly term to cover the generic items that have come into Ghanaian English from the
Pidgin spoken along the West Coast of Africa from Gambia to Cameroun. Ghana has never had a recognised
Pidgin in the same way as Nigeria and Cameroun, but nonetheless, the broken English of the markets
shares many common features, although it is less developed and more prone to relexification from SGE.
Typical terms that come from WCP are pikin (=small child), fit (=be able) and others.

Tropical English
There are numerous terms which may be termed Tropical English; unknown to most speakers of SE, they
are nonetheless not specific to Nigeria, but are nonetheless widely used across the Anglophone tropics. This
is very common in pan-tropical plants, for example oil-palm or yam-mound. I have marked these in the
text as TE.
Student slang
University students are a rich source of rather ephemeral expressions everywhere and Ghana is no exception.
Such expressions are intended to lay down sociolinguistic markers as to the status of the speaker. As a
1

Thanks to Mary-Esther Kropp-Dakubu and Gordana

consequence, these idioms are not widely known outside the University environment and often disappear
quickly. The same is true of schoolchildren.
Missionary English
I have marked some entries ME, Missionary English. Missionaries seem to have been responsible for some
particular usages that were propagated via church materials. These include pejorative terms for traditional
religion such as idol, fetish and juju, but also a series of terms for animals, assimilating indigenous
West African animals to those found in Europe and North America. These include fox for genet (or
jackal?) and rabbit for giant rat. [Many of the early missionaries were of Sierra Leonean rather than
European origin; possibly some of these are due to their interpretations of English words.] Missionary
English terms are sometimes characteristic of West Africa, sometimes part of the worldwide vocabulary of
missionaries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and turn up in the South Seas as much as in Africa.

Borrowings from indigenous Ghanaian languages

As elsewhere, the richest contributions to local English are borrowings from indigenous languages. Ghana
has some fifty indigenous languages, most with only a small number of speakers. However, the major
languages have millions of speakers and cultural borrowings, especially in the area of food and clothing are
extensive. There are also interesting calques, whereby the structure of an expression in an indigenous
language is translated word-for-word into English. The major languages are;
Twi
Ewe
Ga
Hausa Hausa is not technically an indigenous language, since it is spoken as a trade language in northern
towns.
Dagbane
Titles
Ghana has a rich heritage of traditional titles and many of the more common ones are regularly used in
newspapers, for example, Asantehene. I have not listed all of these since they are more resemble proper
names.
Scientific names, and trade names
In the early colonial era, when many new species were coming to scientific attention and the uses of those
known botanically were also being explored, many West African vernacular names were developed, notably
for timbers and for economic grasses. These were used in colonial literature but with a few exceptions never
really entered West African speech and are rarely heard today. For example, the African olive, Canarium
schweinfurthii, is called the bush-candle in older literature. Charming and evocative as this name is, I have
never heard it in current speech and perhaps it was only ever used by forestry officers in the colonial era. I
have entered such forms sparingly, pending further evidence of their context of use. Nonetheless, there are a
great many names for the timbers of Ghanaian trees that are used, although in the specialised context of the
timber trade. Some of these are Ghanaian, used in the West African region and some have become
international trade names. I have adopted the entries from Burkill (1985 ff.).

Regional variation

Parts of Speech
The following table shows the abbreviations used in Column 2 of the dictionary. Some of these assignations
should be regarded as highly provisional.
Abbreviation Full form
a.
a.p.

int.
n.
n.p.

Adjective
Adjectival
phrase
Adverb
Adverbial phrase
Conditional
Conjunction
Demonstrative
Exclamation
Exclamatory
phrase
Interrogative
Noun
Noun phrase

num.
part.
p.n.
p.u.t.

Numeral
Particle
Proper Name
Pre-utterance tag

prep.
pron.
sal.

Preposition
Pronoun
Salutation

adv.
adv.p.
cond.
conj.
dem.
excl.
excl.p.

s.t.

Sentence tag

v.
v.a.
v.c.
v.i.
v.n.

Verb
Verbal auxiliary
Verbal
complement
Intransitive Verb
Verbal Noun

v.p.

Verb phrase

v.t.

Transitive verb

Explanation
Describes a noun
Describes a noun
Qualifies a verb
Qualifies a verb
Expresses the relation between two events
A word used to join two or more nouns, verbs or clauses
Words used to point out something. 'this', 'that' etc.
Greetings or expressions that do not form part of an ordinary sentence
Fixed phrases that form sentences indicating a single idea
Question words
Refers to things, objects etc.
Phrase where a head-noun is joined to other words to form an
expression
Number
Short words added to complete the sentence
A name of a person or object; always capitalised
A tag or exclamation used prior to an utterance to indicate the
underlying sense of the utterance
A word positioning nouns or verbs in time or space
A word that stands for a noun
A word or phrase that stands alone as a greeting or introduces a
dialogue
A word or clause standing at the end of a sentence, that intensifies the
meaning in some way but is unnecessary to the syntax.
Expresses action
An inflected verb that co-occurs with an uninflected main verb
Additional word or words found in phrasal verbs [???]
A verb with no object
A noun formed directly from a verb to express a state of being [only one
type; what of agentives?]
A phrase where a head-noun is joined to other words to form an
expression [head-noun or verb?]
A verb with an object

Abbreviations
AE
Ar.
arch.
BE
CE
der.
dial.
e.g.
euph.

African English
Arabic
archaic
British English
Colonial English
derogatory
dialect
for example
euphemism
4

F.
fem.
hum.
id.
ins.
joc.
lit.
masc.
n.
NE
NGE
neg.
over.
pl.
prov.
refl.
s.
sc. sl.
SE
SGE
st. sl.
t.
TE
v.
w.
WAE
Y.

French
feminine
humorous
ideophone
insulting
jocular
literally
masculine
noun
Nigerian English
Northern Ghanaian English
negative
overused
plural
proverb
reflexive
singular
schoolboy slang
Standard English
Southern Ghanaian English
student slang
transitive
Tropical English
verb
with
West African English
Yoruba

References
Bamgbose, Ayo et al. (ed) New Englishes: a West African perspective. Africa World Press
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families A-D, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families E-I, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 1995. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families J-L, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 1997. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families M-R, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Burkill, H.M. 2000. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, Families S-Z, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Kirby, J.P. 1998. A North Americans guide to Ghanaian English. Takoradi: TICCS.
Kropp Dakubu, M.E. ed. English in Ghana. Accra: Ghana English Studies Association.
Sey, K.A. 1973. Ghanaian English. Ikeja: Macmillan Education
Spencer, John (ed.) 1971. The English language in West Africa. London: Longman.

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
A.

PoS

Explanation

A-1
A.D. one one
Aba!

n.p.
adv.p.
excl.

abinchi
abinga
abolo
abuse
abuse

n.
n.
n.
v.
n.

Accra

p.n.

achumo
add
adinkra
adinkra cloth

n.
v.
n.
n.p.

Adjei!

excl.

adua
adua bie
advise oneself

n.
n.
v.p.

again
agbele kakolu
Aheeehn!

adv.
n.
excl.

ahenema
air condition
airtight
Akosombo

n.
n.
n.
p.n.

akpateshie

n.

akpele
akrantie soup

n.
n.

Akuffo

p.n.

albarka!

excl.

alele
Alfa

n.
p.n.

Allah!
alligator

excl.
n.

all two of us
alomo
also
am
amanee?

a.
n.
a.
pron.
int.

monosodium glutamate
cf. white Maggi
by foot, walking
expression
of
surprise,
? Hausa haba (q.v.)
disbelief, annoyance
food, money
<Hausa
thing, food, money
<Hausa
cassava bread
<Ewe
to insult
insult
it is an abuse it is
an insult
only the Makola area within
Accra
popular street food
<Ga
to give something more
Akan symbols
<Twi
cloth printed with traditional
<Twi
Akan symbols
expression of severe pain or
<Twi
bad news
stately Asante dance
<Twi
kind of bean soup
<Twi
to think through, to have
second thoughts about
any more, any left
food made of cassava
<Ewe
strong agreement: Yes, that's
my point!
broad leather Akan sandals
<Twi
lacy blouse
students' metal storage chest
see chop box
electric power, reference to
hydro dam at A.
home-distilled gin
cf. hot, patash, VC10
unfermented maize porridge
<Ewe
grasscutter soup, cooked with
intestines
small size Club beer, short like
Akuffo Addo
no sale!
Ar. via Hausa God's
blessings
common street food in Tamale
<Ewe
respectful title for Muslim who
reads Arabic
God!
<Hausa
crocodile
true alligators are
only in the Americas
both
sweetheart, girlfriend
even
him, her, it, them, some
asking
the
purpose
of
<Twi

Example

Etymology

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

America film

n.p.

America man
America tin

n.p.
n.p.

ampe
Anansi

p.n.

anything
anything?
Apostolic

quant.
int.
p.n.

aprapransa

n.

Are you sure?

arrest
articulator

excl.p.
v.t.
n.

as for + pron.

part.

as if
ashawo
at
at all
at least
aunty

cond.
n.
prep.
adv.
adv.
sal.

Ayekoo!

excl.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
someone's visit
film produced in USA, usu.
action-drama
person from the USA
one US gallon, USAID relief
oil container

girls' game with jumping and

clapping
Anansi, the trickster spider of
Akan folklore
money, a gift
What is the matter?
general name for Independent
Churches
corn TZ with ingredients
mixed in
I don't believe you!
catch, seize
truck-tractor and trailer, semitruck
in my case, in your case, in his
case etc.
like
prostitute(s)
in (place)
I am living at Wa
really, if ever, if at all possible
surely
term of respect for an older
woman, like madam
well done

Etymology

also oloka

<Twi
<Twi

<Twi

<articulated-lorry

<Yoruba

B.
bad death

n.p.

balance
balance

n.
v.t.

banana
banku

n.
n.

baranzim

n.

barber

n.

certain kinds of anti-social

deaths have no funeral
change from an amount paid
to give change, to complete a
sum of money
fashionable hair-style
fermented maize cooked in
leaves
multi-strand whip used by a
chief's bailiff
shaves hair, does minor
surgery, circumcises
7

<Ewe

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
barber
barbering
salon
basabasa
basaa
Basel-Mission
batakari

PoS
v.
n.

Explanation
to cut hair
barbers shop

a.
a.
p.n.
n.

bathe
bathroom

v.
n.

battery water
baturi

n.p.
p.n.

unorganised, untidy, useless

mess, dirty, confused
Presbyterian Church
long
loose
cotton
Hausa/Muslim over garment
to swim or take a shower
room with open drain for
bathing and urinating
sulphuric acid
white man, foreigner

baya
be

n.
v.

backside, behind
indeclinable; to be

beat

v.t.

attack, overcome, thump,

knock, harass
person who has been to Europe
ask for, request earnestly
ask permission to leave

been-to
n.
beg
v.t.
beg for the v.p.
road
bend
v.
baby-Benz
n.
big big
big man

a.
n.p.

bitter tomato

n.

black
black

a.
n.

black

n.

black

a.

black-andwhites
blackman
palaver
blade
bleach

n.

blood
blow-man
blows
blue blue
bluff

n.
n.
n.
n.
v.

bo!

excl.

n.p.
n.
v.

Example

Etymology

<Twi
<Twi
<Hausa

<Hausa lit. child of

Toure Toure = N.
Africa, the Fezzan
<Hausa
I be; ibi fine, you
be fine too; we all
be fine!

turn
smaller Mercedes-Benz car
e.g. 190)
very big, great, enormous
boss, higher authority, chief,
manager
garden egg, local eggplant,
Solanum incanum
all dark colours
evil,
dire
circumstances,
deadly situation
racially nuanced term for an
African person
darker colouring; not racially
nuanced
candy, esp. peppermint, from
type of striped candy
juju,
witchcraft,
family
problems, etc.
double-edged razor blade
use strong chemicals to lighten
skin colour
strength
fighter, tough
strikes with fist or open hand
popular name for valium
to posture, show off, try to
impress, boast, brag
expression of surprise and
being impressed
8

NE.
ans. The road is
there

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
bo-belt

PoS
n.

bodi boys

n.

body-condom

n.

bo-fruit

n.

bo-styles
bogadiceous
bogah

v.p.
a.
n.

bogah-meat
bogus
boil in oil
bola
Bolga bag

n.
a.
v.p.
n.
n.

bone-shaker

n.

bo!

excl.

bo (styles)

v.

book

v.

book doctor
booklong

n.
a.

bookman
boozed
borrow
bosom

n.
a.
v.
n.

boss

n.

boss-ism

n.

both the two of a.p.

us all
boy
n.
boys quarters

n.p.

branch

v.i.

bread

n.

bread fat
breakfast

n.
n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
red and black medicine
capsule, ampicillin
boys around lorry parks
any very tight clothes on a
young person
round doughnut
be in style, stylish clothing
bogah like
flashy wheeler-dealer, gold
chains, baggy trousers
pork
unreal, false
fry
garbage dump
colourful
straw/twine
handbags from Bolgatanga
old Bedford truck, maame
truck
sound made when shocked or
startled
knows how to (be stylish), live
it up
to mark well, enter in a
register, book, journal
Ph.D.
having knowledge derived
from school, books
ticket seller esp. at lorry parks
be drunk
to lend
fetish
shrine/spirit,
earth
shrine/spirit
as SE but only used if there is
a joking relation with superior
obsolete despotism, too many
orders
both of us, the two of us
any young man up to about 30
years old, a servant (even an
old man) CE. <Hindi bhai
usually a row of small rooms
behind a large house where
house-servants or younger
relatives live
I am going to
to turn aside, to divert to
branch at his house
(when on the way to
somewhere else)
sweetened bread, sugar bread
shortening
heavy starchy meal ca. 10.00
AM
9

Etymology
<Twi
<SE via Hausa
(<boarding ???)
st. sl.
lit. ball-float
bol-flot

also

cf. bogah
<Hamburg
obsolete
<Twi
archaic BE

<Twi lit. beat

<Twi

(see all two )

NE.

NE.
(see tea bread and
butter bread )

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
bring it!

PoS
excl.p.

brokages
broken
English
brother

n.
n.p.

brouni-wawu

n.

brounya

n.

brutal
bu-bra

a.
n.

bugalow

n.

bumping
against it
burnt

v.p.

bush

n.

bush
bushy
bush cat

a.
a.
n.

bush cow

n.

bush man

n.

bush pig
butter bread

n.
n.

by-day boy

n.

by-heart
heart
bye-bye

n.

v.a.

by- a.
v.t.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
the deal is struck, bring the
money etc.
debts
colloquial English, Pidgin
actual brother or male of the
same generation in an
extended family. Applied by
extension to those of a
comparable status in ethnicity
religion, politics etc.
second hand clothing

<Twi
bring

poor man's sandals made from

truck tires
struggling

rustic, uncouth
unkempt, wild, disorderly
civet, genet, wild cat, golden
cat, serval
Cape buffalo, water buffalo,
Syncerus caffer
wild,
unkempt,
rough
mannered, country bumpkin
warthog
bread with margarine but no
sugar added
young man hired by the day
for work
rough, impulsive, without any
common sense
say good-bye to

10

obsolete ? brokerage

<Twi white man is

dead

Christmas present, expected

from Europeans
exciting, fun, enjoyable
draft beer

burnt out, gone out, no longer

functioning
uncultivated land, usually open
savanna

Etymology

pour

and

answer to How is
it?
the thing has burnt
He is going to clear
a bush

AE. In originally
forest areas,
woodland
NE.

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
C.

PoS

Explanation

caffre
caked

n.
v.

can

v.

can . . .

v.a.

boiled maize dough

be congested, be congealed, be
frozen
Can you eat that
to like [in relation to food]
type of food? Do
you like that type
of food?
are you really able to . . .?

canvas
caravan
carpet
catch

n.
n.
n.
v.

caterpillar
cedi
chacha
chamber and
hall
chamber pot
chanji
charge
Charley

n.
n.
n.
n.

chasing
chemical seller
chemical shop

n.
n.p.
n.p.

chemical store

n.p.

chemshi

n.

chensi

n.

chew

v.

chew and pour

n.p.

chewing stick

n.

chieftaincy
dispute

n.

chin-chinga
Chinese

n.
p.n.

Chinese rice

n.p.

n.
n.
n.
p.n.

Example

tennis shoes
nine-seater station wagon
linoleum
affect; colds, fever, illness are
assoc. w. harmattan
bulldozer
unit of currency
gambling
standard compound apartment
of two rooms
pot to urinate in at night
spare, small, loose change
to accuse of a fineable offence
general term for a peer: man,
guy, sport, boy, bloke
pursuing girls
pharmacist
pharmacy (may also stock
veterinary supplies)
pharmacy (may also stock
veterinary supplies)
aluminium or galvanized steel
roofing sheets
pots and pans, also metal
roofing sheets
to cram for exams, eating
kebab or other meat
nickname for method of
revising for exams. Student
chews over his books at the
last minute and pours out the
information in an exam the
next day
traditional toothbrush made of
a cut section of the branch of
certain tree species
the national sport of Ghana,
enjoyed by all ages and more
popular than football
kebab
any East Asian
Chinese food in
usually fried rice

general,
11

Etymology

<Twi
NE

expects a negative
answer

<Twi cowry
?<Hausa
BE obsolete
also Koo

also chemsi
(S.) (see
chemshi )

also
WAE

chemsi,

chewstick.

<Twi kyinkyinga
<e.g.
Japanese,
Korean etc.)

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
Cho-boi!

PoS
excl.

chock

v.

chook

v.t.

chop
chop

n.
v.

chop bar

n.

chop box

n.

chop master

n.

chop money

n.

chop time
cigarette tin
cine

n.
n.
n.

circle
clerk

n.
n.

climb
coalpot
coaltared
collect
come and see!

v.t.
n.
n.
v.t.
excl.p.

come back
coming
comm. centre

n.
I'm
coming!
n.

compound

n.

compound
house
concert

n.

concrete

n.

condemn
confusionist

v.
n.

n.

contact
continental

a.

control

n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
Ga war chant, football chant,
workers chant etc.
to place chocks to stop a
vehicle rolling away
to jab, puncture, penetrate with
a sharp object
food
eat, confiscate, steal, have sex
with
local eating place

Etymology
<Ga

student's chest for personal

items
the one who buys the food and
sets the menu
weekly allowance to wife or
student for food
time to eat
measurement for dry goods
film, movie, movie theatre,
video show, cinema
interchange, roundabout
educated,
literate
person,
official, bureaucrat
to enter into (vehicle)
I will climb this car
steel grill for charcoal cooking
tarred, paved
to take, to pick s.t. up
storyteller in mid-narration:
and listen to this!
nominal reincarnation
to leave with the intent to
come back
booth on the street where
telephone calls and other
business services are available
grounds inside wall of house,
school etc.
rented rooms in house of
square format
any public performance (often
by children)
popular name for gari, rice,
beans and oil mixed
to scrap something
he is just a
s.o. who brings about
confusionist
confusion
to have conversation with;
sexual relations with
describes non-Ghanaian food
of vaguely European type
government-controlled
or
subsidized price

<chap box

12

CE
TE ?<Hindi chapatti

obsolete

NE

NE. archaic BE
(orig. c.-ed price )

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
cook

PoS
v.

cook

v.t.

coppercoloured
corner corner
cornroll

a.p.

counters

n.

country
court court

n.
a.

cover cloth

n.

cowboy

n.

cow head soup

n.

cow meat
crispy
curve

n.
a.
v.

curve curve
custard apple

a.
n.

customs
cut

n.
v.

cut cut

a.

cutlass

n.

a.
n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
to prepare food for a man
implies sexual relations
to
subvert
by
secret
arrangements and planning
light-coloured skin, esp. for
describing women
sly, deceitful, cunning
female hairstyle resembling
raised ridges of a farm

bottle caps, used by children

learning to count
country-man, fellow tribesman
always taking each other to
court
sheet, one sheet per bed on
bottom, own cloth for cover
sheet; plain piece of cloth
worn toga style or wrapped
around the body or knotted at
the neck
boys who take care of the
cows, don't go to school
soup served as snack in pito
bars
beef
crispy
turn
winding
artichoke-shaped fruit, Annona
senegalensis
funeral ~, rites
(wood, cement blocks, fufu,
lotto, a relationship, a path)
chop the tree; cast cement
blocks; eat fufu; stake lotto;
break a relationship; hack a
path
having frayed ends, many
small cuts or cracks
long slashing knife, machete or
machet

13

Etymology

for cornrow

cf. bend,
pass
usu. ~road
AE

branch,

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
D

PoS

Explanation

daa
Damba

adv.
n.

a long time, forever

Day of sub-chiefs and subjects
offering their fealty.

dammit
dash
dash
dawadawa

excl.
n.
v.
n.

day name

n.

deck

n.

dedeede

a.

delay
deliver
deskin

v.i.
v.i.
v.t.

destool

v.t.

dey
dialect
dialects

v.
n.
n.

die

v.

different
different
dirty blows
disting

a.

disappearing
medicine
disco watch
dish

n.

disturb
divine

v.
v.

diviner
do

n.
v.a.

doctor

n.

n.p.
n.

n.
n.

Example

show of empathy
tip, gift, bribe, to tip or bribe
a tip, gift, bribe, to tip or bribe
locust bean tree, Parkia
biglobosa, seeds used for
native condiment in soup
name reflecting the day of
one's birth
video deck or tape cassette
player/recorder
the absolute sweetest, nicest,
etc.
to go slow, take one's time
give birth
to remove from chiefly office
in North
to remove from chiefly office
in South
exist, be there
language
our own language
lose ignition on combustion
engine
different from each other, of
various types
good beating, sound thrashing
substitute for a noun the
speaker cannot immediately
remember
magic which helps drivers to
escape accidents
watch with LCD display
prepared food presented on a
plate
to beg or trouble persistently
contact with unseen world to
discover reason behind a
misfortune, evil etc.
seer
used before a verb to imply I do come
habitual action
Tamale
any expert
watch-doctor
watch-repairer
14

Etymology

<Twi
Mohammed's
birthday;
important
chieftaincy
celebration
Dagomba
Gonja.

v.
for
and

<dasheen
<dasheen
<Hausa
e.g. Fri. = Kofi,
Kwasi,
Kojo,
Kwame etc.
<Twi

dialect
(usu. if another is
present)

cf. soothsayer
cf.
use to
to
NE

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
doko doko

PoS
n.

Don't
bring excl.p.
yourself!
Don't disturb! excl.p.
don't go out

v.p.

don't
mind
him!
don't you want
to . . .?
don't-mindyour-fuckin'father
donkey hours
dowry

excl.p.

dress

n.

drink
drinking
oracle
drinking soup

v.
n.p.

drive away

v.p.

driver's mate

n.

drop
dropping

v.i.
v.

dry season

n.

dua car

n.

dundu

n.

duplicator
durbar

n.
p.n.

dwarf

n.

int.p.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
sweet, sweets, drinks like
Fanta, unfermented pito
stop grand-standing, being
smug, self-important
Don't be troublesome! Shut
up!
leave the house; implies isn't
having any fun
Don't pay any attention to
him, he is nothing!
expecting answer yes!

n.p.

not obc., hoodlum hairstyle

with shaved sides

adv.p.
v.

long time
to
give
a
bridewealth
prestation for
style of dress, male or female
clothing
to breathe smoke, fumes etc.
witch-catching oracle using
poison odum bark
soup prepared in European
fashion
to harass and quarrel with
someone until they go
driver's
assistant,
loads
passengers, takes money
to get out of a vehicle
to take a taxi somewhere off
his fixed route

n.p.

N. = Nov.-Feb.; S. = Dec.Mar., Aug.

lorry with wood superstructure
small drum squeezed under
arm to vary tones
mimeograph, m. machine
ceremonial
gathering
of
dignitaries
fairy, mischievous bush spirit,
sprite

15

Etymology
<Twi

(see charter service

); for the fixed route
simply get in and
say nothing until
you reach your
destination
(Orig.
meant following the
fixed route and
dropping along the
way but has come to
mean the opposite.)
<Twi lit.
car ,

<CE India

wooden

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
E.

PoS

Explanation

earth

n.

earth priest
earth shrine

n.p.
n.p.

ease (oneself)

v.

earth deity, associated with

the earth shrine
custodian of earth shrine
place of contact with local
earth deity
to urinate, to go to the toilet

eat

v.

egushi
elders

n.
n.

emo tuo

n.

enskin

v.

enstool

v.

estates

n.

eto
even
ever

n.
conj.
adv.

Except God!
excl.p.
excuse me to v.p.
say . .
exist
v.

Example

only staples are counted as

food
seeds of Cucumeropsis edulis
senior advisors, authorities in
family and village
glutinous rice in form of balls
to be officially appointed a
chief (North)
to be officially appointed a
chief (South)
Western styled government
housing
mashed yam and palm oil
to make matters worse
to give positive affirmation, I ever went there
i.e. not never
unless through Gods help
pardon me (said before a
criticism, interrupting).
to be living

Etymology

BE obsolete, also
NE
neri , also agusi
(lit. rice guns ) usu.
with groundnut soup
<Twi

<Twi

cf.
Twi
tafrakye

F.
face the wall

n.p.

Fada

p.n.

fair
family
planning
Fante dokono
farewell
farewell
fed up

a.
n.

feel shy
feel to . . .
fetish

v.p.
v.
n.

fetish priest

n.

fever
fill the hole

n.
v.p.

n.
n.
v.
v.

popular name for konkonte,

lapewa, cassava T.Z.
Father, an RC missionary or
any Westerner
light coloured complexion
contraceptives
maize dough in the Fante style
going away party, send-off
to say goodbye to
to be absolutely full, unable to
eat more
to be embarrassed
to feel like
( feel like eating )
to put a spell on, invoke shrine
spirit against
traditional religious specialist,
diviner etc.
malaria
to compensate
16

<Twi

sebe,

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
fine
fine, fine!
finish
finish
finish
fit
follow (s.o.)

PoS
a.
excl.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
v.

Explanation
to be good, happy, peaceful
Everything is very good!
until completed
to use up, run out of something
to destroy, overcome
to be able
to go with, accompany;

follow

v.

to take, ride in a vehicle

fonio

n.

food

n.

for

prep.

for

v.

fos
four eyes

n.
n.

fowl

n.

fox
free range
French

n.
adv.
n.

friend
froy

n.
n.

fonio, a tiny grass seed for

porridge
generic name for all starchy
and grain staples
in, into
put water for this
cup
belonging to, by (can express She
has
two
parenthood)
children for him.
Also Is this thing
for you?
second hand clothing
< SE folks
able to see into the unseen
spirit world, a witch
chicken
NE. arch. SE for the
specific
jackal
ME
defecating in the bush
French speaking countries next
to Ghana
girl-friend/boy-friend
blended dip of oil and pepper,
<Twi mixed
onions, coco yam leaf, garden
eggs
from now on

from
today adv.p.
onward going
from the first adv.p.
beginning
fufu
n.
fula

n.

Fulani

p.n.

full piece

n.

function

n.

funeral

n.

funeral
customs

n.

Example

Etymology

WCP
I will follow you to (for women: love a
man)
your country
they will follow the
bus to Wa

from the beginning

boiled yams pounded to
rubbery mass
dampened, lightly fermented
millet flour cakes
usual Ghanaian name for the
FulBe people, cattle
pastoralists found throughout
West Africa
man's cloth made from 12 yds
cotton print
an
official
occasion,
celebration
mortuary
rites,
grand
remembrance
celebrations
(burial, 1st f., 2nd f.)
mortuary rites, esp. second f.
long after burial
17

WAE. <Twi lit.

white
(N. cf. Hausa fura
< Hausa. NE.

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

PoS

Explanation

gabli

n.

galamsay,
galamsi
gallon

n.
n.

maize and bean boiled cake

with pepper
illegal
small-scale
gold
mining, esp. in the North
plastic container for liquid

garden egg

n.

eggplant, brinjal

gar(r)i

n.

dried, grated cassava

gari foto
gas oil
gas oil
gboyo
general
weakness
get
get

n.
n.
n.
p.u.t.
n.p.

food type
food type
diesel fuel
completely
tiredness, bodyache

v.
v.t.

to take
to have

get up

v.p.

Ghana man
gidi gidi
give

p.n.
a.
v.t.

go
go out

v.a.
v.

go speed
go-come-gocome
Golden Stool

v.
n.p.

to embark upon a task, prepare

to do something
Ghanaian
restless, busy-body
<Twi
to arrange s.t.
he gave me six
oclock he arranged
to meet me at six
oclock
will = future/ongoing tense
implies
a
rendezvous,
entertainment
to drive fast, speedily
deferment, postponement

Example

Etymology

G.

p.n.

<Ewe cf. tubani

Originally the 4-litre

containers for oil,
but now generalised
to any plastic or
other container in
the shape of a jerrycan. NE.
NE. Solanum
incanum. Applies to
local, bitter
varieties, including
inedible types.
WAE. Cassava is
processed in this
way to eliminate the
cyanide in bitter
types. The name and
technology were
brought by the
Portuguese from the
New World

I am suffering from
general weakness
he get plenty money
he has a lot of
money

main royal ancestral shrine of

Asante
18

<French
<Ga
NE.

Pidgin also NE.

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
gong-gong

PoS
n.

gonji
good-bye
got

n.
v.t.
v.a.

grass

n.

grasscutter

n.

greet

v.i./t.

to greet (which is a much

elaborate and formulaic
process in Ghana)

greet the chief

greet
the
funeral
groundnut
groundnut
soup
guinea-corn

v.p.
v.p.

euph. for going to toilet

pay respects, visit with friends
etc. at a funeral
peanut (Arachis hypogaea)
TE
peanut sauce accompanying
staple
sorghum

guitar
guttural

n.
a.

guy
guy name

n.
n.

n.
n.p.
n.

Explanation
Example
hand held, two-note iron
clapperless bell, beaten to alert
people for an announcement
African fiddle
to say good-bye to
the minerals got
has become
finished the
minerals have run
out
thatch or roofing grass; weeds
in general
cane rat, Thryonomys
swinderianus

fiddle
scandalmongering,
to low taste
fashionable, trendy
nickname

it is correct to greet
greeting is
appropriate
behaviour. She
greeted him
implying a formal,
social process

Etymology

<Dagbani
(see farewell )
NE.

also cutting-grass.
WAE. More often
printed than spoken
NE.

WAE. Sorghum
bicolor

appealing those
magazines <SE gutter as in
gutter press
are guttural
NE.

H.
Haba!

excl.

Expression of surprise or
amazement

Hacks

n.

had
hair
half piece

v.
n.
n.p.

hand

n.

mentholated cough drop or

candy
got, achieved, attained
feathers
woman's cloth
6 yds of
traditional cotton print
SE hand, also arm, wing of
bird
19

< Hausa and heard

mainly in the North.
NE. N.B.
Habahaba! was a
common expression
of joking amazement
in the US in the
1940s. Related?
(see old-man )

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
hankete
harmattan

PoS
n.
n.

Hausa onion
have it
head-load

n.p.
excl.p.
n.

head-pad

n.

head-pan

n.

head-tie
head-tax

n.
n.

hear
hear
hell of
hello-hello
friends
help
herbalist

v.
v.t.
a.p.
n.p.

here to stay

adv.p.

highlife

p.n.

Hmmm!

excl.

n.
n.

ho!
excl.
home second a.p.
hand
home use
a.
hook

v.t.

hoot

v.

horrible film
hot
hot
hot

n.p.
a.
a.
n.

house

n.

house name

n.

house of chiefs
house people
How!
How be?

n.
n.p.
excl.
excl.p.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
handkerchief
dry dust-laden desert wind,
November-March
garlic
take it!
basket or basin-load carried on
the head
quoin, circular cloth or fibre
pad, to protect the head when
carrying a basin or similar
pans used for carrying cement
and other building materials on
the head
headscarf
colonial taxation of individual
family heads
to understand, speak
to sense
lot of, much, plenty
good-time friends, short-lived
friendships
small donation, dash
traditional doctor who treats
patients, in principle with plant
remedies, but also other types
of socially approved magical
remedies
said of a child after the namegiving ceremony
Ghanaian
music
with
calypso/Soca beat
N. = sign of disapproval, S. =
sign of worries
expression of contempt
second hand items imported
from Europe
reconditioned, ersatz, imitation
spare parts, etc.
cut grass, weeds etc. with a
cutlass
to embarrass or chase away
with loud shouting
horror film
busy
serious
spirits
family,
family
origins,
genealogy, building
name referring to an ancestor
come back.
regional assembly of chiefs
extended family members
strong disagreement
greetings, How are you?
20

Etymology
WAE

NE

CE

< Hell of a lot of. . .

obsolete
NE

cf. akpateshie, VC10, patash

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
how possible!
hu hu hu . . .
huhudious
humbug

PoS
excl.p.
id.
a.
v.

Hunger idey excl.p.

kill me!
hungry rice
n.
huro
husband

v.
n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
impossible, incredible
sound of shouting, hooting
obsolete, colossal, vast
to harass (sexually), disturb,
annoy
to be very hungry
fonio, semi-domestic grain in
W.
African
Savannah,
Digitaria exilis
to shout at
customer; relationship for
market

Etymology
<Twi

WAE. also fonio,

hunger rice
<Twi

I.
I-am-aware

n.p.

I see!
ibi so ibi so!

excl.p.
excl.p.

ice block

n.

iced kenkey

n.

if
if
in his bottle

conj.
cond.
a.p.

in time
Independent
Churches
India film

adv.
n.

Indian hemp
ingredients

n.
n.

ino be so?
inside

int.p.
prep.

interesting

excl.

iron sheets

n.

n.p.

is that how you excl.p.

are!
it got
v.a.

low-slung trousers worn by

st. sl.
women
I don't really believe you!
It is like that. That is the way it
is!
ice cubes, ice water sold in
plastic bags
cooled water leftover from
making kenkey
when
whenever
drunk
the man was in his
bottle
quickly
churches with charismatic
leaders and healers
Indian films: popular because
romance w/o. sex
marijuana, hashish
all items that go into making
soup or sauce
Isn't it like that?
there, under the surface, deep
down
mild surprise and slight
disagreement
roofing sheets of galvanized
steel or aluminium
reproof for being cheap, a sign
of bad character
it became broke/used up/lost it

21

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
J.

PoS

Explanation

Jato

sal.

<Hausa

join
joke
joker

v.
v.
n.

joking
relations
Jollof rice

n.p.

Joromi

p.n.

Joseph
jot
juju

n.
n.
n.

jujuman

n.

Julie

p.n.

jump

n.

junior
secondary
school
just

n.p.

nickname for any light-skinned

person or albino
to go with
be careful
jovial, affable manner, not
serious
rough
humour,
mock
quarrelling
rice boiled with meat, tomato
and pepper sauce; resembles
paella, pilao/pilaf
with embroidery design esp. in
front of shirts
nickname for cat soup
cigarette
magical manipulation of spirit
world, evil devices
magician, witch doctor, shrine
custodian
any young female, like male
Charley
outdoor
dance
Saturday
afternoons at hotels
junior high

a.

just plain, very, definitely

not only or simply

KVIP
kaba

n.p.
n.

kaba and slit

kabako!
kai!

n.
excl.
excl.

public ventilated pit latrine

cover,
woman's blouse,
Ghanaian cotton print
former style of womens dress
We have a big problem!
showing surprise and annoyed
disagreement
mashed fried plantain and
beans
a little bit
illegal trading or other
activities, graft, corruption
beautiful, serene
part of central Accra for
hardware goods
Muslim holy man or magician
peanut brittle
ackee apple

<Twi

n.p.

Example

Etymology

serious warning

(orig.
from
Jolof/Wolof people
of Senegal)

K.

kakolo
beans
kakra
kalabule

and n.
n.
n.

kama
Katamanto

a.
p.n.

Karamo
karte-cake
kaya apple

n.

kaya-kaya

n.

keep long

v.p.

n.

women load carriers in Accra

market
to be late, a long time away
22

<Twi
<Twi
(Ar. teacher )
<Twi
often confused with
cashew
<Hausa

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
kelewele
kenkey

PoS
n.
n.

kente

n.

Keta-boys

n.

kick
kikiriki
kill

v.
id.
v.

kill-me-quick
kill-me-quick
knickerbocker
knocking

v.p.
v.p.
n.
excl.

Kofi and Ama

collection
koko
kola
koliko
konko
konko bus

n.p.

konkonsa

n.

konkonte
konkrompe
kontombere
kontumire

n.
n.
n.
n.

koraa
korakora

n.p.
n.

kose
kra kra kra
kra
kri kri kri kri
kube-cake
kudi
kuka soup

n.
id.

kulikuli

n.

kwa

n.

n.
n.
n.
n.
n.

id.
n.
n.
n.

kwadu
n.
kwa kwa kwa id.
kwa
Kwaku-Anansi p.n.
Kwasi-Brouni

p.n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
small slices of fried plantain
boiled maize flour in the Ga
style
richly woven colourful cloth in
Asante
small fry, small fish especially
from Keta lagoon
effect of an electric shock
crowing of a rooster
slow jay-walker accusing
passing motorist
hair-style
local gin
popular baggy shorts
sound made before entering a
compound
monthly church collection
done by day-name
porridge, gruel
kola nut, gift, dash, bribe
fried yam or cassava chips
empty tin cans
large passenger truck with
steel superstructure
slander, backbiting, rumours,
idle gossip
T.Z. made with cassava flour
place for old car parts
?
green broadleafed vegetable
made into a stew
not at all, not in the least bit
burnt rice left at the bottom of
the pot after preparing Jolof
rice
fried bean-cakes
sound of crying

Etymology
<Ga
<Ga

sound of someone running

coconut biscuit
money
soup made from dried baobab
leaves
cakes made from the residue of
peanuts after the oil has been
expressed
for nothing, with nothing to
show
banana
sound of laughter

<Twi
<Twi
<Hausa
<Hausa + English

Kwaku the spider, Akan folk

hero
European born on a Sunday (or
any European)

<Twi

23

<Twi

<Twi

see also akpateshie

BE obsolete

<Hausa
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi

<Hausa
<Twi

<Hausa
<Twi
<Twi
<Twi

<Twi

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
kwataa
kwish!

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

PoS
p.u.t.
excl.

Explanation
Example
at all, nothing at all
sound made to chase away
goats

lace

n.

lampo
landlord

n.
n.

cloth in the style broderie

Anglaise, with many gaps.
Imported from Austria and
prestigous because expensive
head tax, income tax
ritual owner, head, father,
grandfather, uncle sr.br.

landowner

n.

langalanga
langalanga

a.
n.

lapewa
laps
lasilasi
last

n.
n.
n.
a.

latrine carrier
lavender
lean

n.
n.
a.

Lebanese

p.n.

leemu
left small

n.
prep.

let

v.

libilibi

n.

lie-lie man
life
light
light soup

n.
n.
n.
n.

like
like

conj.
v.

Etymology
<Hausa cf. koraa

L.

earth
shrine
custodian,
indigenes of a place
lanky, lean and tall
steel bands for binding boxes
used to attach roof to walls
cassava flour porridge
lap, thigh
unreliable character, backbiter
final, referring to price of What is your last
goods
price? The price is
fifty
thousand
cedis, last.
faeces
any perfume, deodorant etc.
thin, especially because of
worries, witchcraft etc.
Arab,
Lebanese,
Syrian,
Palestinian etc.
any citrus fruit
soon, in a little while, just a
little bit more and . . .
expresses polite imperative of let you buy orange
a verb
for me
crooked, not straightforward,
not trustworthy
liar
good times
electrical power
Is there light?
tomato, onion and pepper soup
with a thin texture like
consomm
as if, if
offer of love/sex by a man to a
24

<French limpt

<Hausa
N. <Hausa

cf. night soil

<Hausa

<?

NE
cf. drinking soup

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

like that

a.

like that

adv.p.

like that
line

adv.p.
n.

linguist

n.

linguist staff

n.

lip-shine

n.

lock
locust

v.
n.

lomo
long mouth
Look at it!
look for
Look ooo!
lorry

n.
a.
excl. p.
v.p.
excl.
n.

lorry fare
lorry mate
lorry park

n.
n.
n.

lost

n.

louvre blades

n.

love all!

excl.

low cost

n.p.

low hair

n.p.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
woman
not kind or generous; a bad
person or situation
doing nothing special, no aim
or direction, no help
very strong, bad
route, direction of journey,
what one is doing next
interpreter,
spokesperson
especially attached to chiefs in
southern tradition. Visitors
must speak through the linguist
even when the chief is familiar
with their language
carved wooden stick held by
chiefly linguists
Chapstick,
Vaseline
for
cracked lips
shut off
locust-bean tree

Etymology

cf. dawadawa.
Parkia biglobosa.
N.B. locust as an
insect is usually
cricket
< ? Y.
(insulting)

cow head soup

gossipy, garrulous
There it is. Can't you see it?
to look after, take care of
to mark well, note well
any large motor vehicle, fourlarge truck lorry,
wheel drive, small truck
unlike BE
price of a taxi or bus ride
commercial driver's assistant
place assigned in each town for
long-distance
commercial
transport of people and goods
loss
Management is not
responsible for lost
of possessions
narrow plates of glass to fit
into a mechanical frames in a
window, for ventilation
?
He went to the
love-all canteen.
subsidized
government
housing
hair shaved close to the head,
characteristic of schoolchildren

25

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
M.

PoS

Explanation

maame
Mami-Wata

sal.
p.n.

macho bike

n.p.

Maggi

p.n.

mai gida
make

n.p.
v.

make better
make cheers
make-ups
mammy-truck

v.p.
v.p.
n.
n.

mammywagon
man

n.

man's cloth

n.p.

man's cloth

n.p.

man's soup

n.p.

manager

n.

map box
market

n.p.
n.

masa
master

n.
n.

mate
matter
matter
matter
means
means
meat
medicine

n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.

meet

v.t.

mother, title for mature woman

<Twi
female water deity held
<West Coast Pidgin
responsible for death of
fishermen but also the object
of a cult along the West
African coast
cross-country bicycle, balloon
tires, gears
brand-name used as a generic
for stock-cubes
head of the house
<Hausa
let, should, obligation to do or make you see me in
say something
the morning
perform sacrificial rituals
to propose a toast
make-up, esp. face powder
Bedford truck with wooden
also
mammysuperstructure
wagon, tro-tro
Bedford truck with wooden
also mammy-truck,
superstructure
tro-tro
person
of
a
particular
nationality or tribe
10 or 12 yards of material
cf.
ntoma,
worn like a toga
traditional cloth, full
piece
rectangular cloth of 10-12 yds
worn like toga
bushmeat soup: antelope,
cf. Twi barima
grasscutter etc.
nkwan
titles of respect like boss ,
chief , mastah
glove compartment
archaic BE
good price, many sales, good
business
fried fermented maize cakes
< H.
term of respect, junior
addressing a senior
classmate
spouse
things about a person
I like/love you
case, problems, situation
business, problem, case, issue
means of transport
money
I dont have means
live animals, game, bush meat
chemicals, medicine,
gunpowder, juju, magic
as SE but objects, groups of I met your absence
people and events can also be I went but found
met
you were not there.
I met a meeting I
went there and
found there was a
meeting

n.

Example

26

Etymology

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
mens thing

PoS
n.p.

mercury
message
middle school

n.
v.t.
n.

mighty

n.

mind
mineral
Ministries
misbehave

n.
n.
p.n.
v.i.

Mister white!

excl.

Modin sane!

excl.

moon die
moons
more

adv.p.
n.
comp.

morning
morning
mother

excl.

moto
motorway
mouth

n.
n.
n.

mouth
medicine
my grace

n.

my lord

title

n.

title

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
walking stick, goatskin bag,
shrines, magical objects (esp.
property of a man)
stew with oily layer on top
to send a message
school between primary and
secondary
grand, big, powerful
way of seeing things
soft drink, soda
government office complex
engage in illegal, illicit,
immoral, harmful activity
station boys taunting a
European
beware of jealousy, beware of
witchcraft
end of the month, pay day
months
stronger, bigger, better, etc. by
context
good morning
term of respect for older
woman, mother's sister
motorcycle
bald head/person
edge, opening, face, end

Etymology

sc. sl.
obsolete cf. JSS
used widely and
without ironic intent

<Ga
archaic BE.

common polysemy
in African languages

magical protection against

envy
mistaken for your grace, title
for archbishop
respectful title for bishop or
judge

N.
name

n.

Nananom
napkin
Nasala
nere

p.n.
n.
p.n.
n.

New Year
Nigeria

p.n.
p.n.

Nigeria

a.

nickname for someone having

the same name
? traditional association
baby's nappy
European, non-Black
seeds of the locust tree
New Year holiday season
amphetamines used by farmers
to work harder etc.
Poor quality spare parts and
equipment manufactured in
Nigeria sold in Ghana in with
packaging
labelled
as
27

<Arabic via Hausa

<West
African
French,
originally
Fulfulde nerehi
(roughly Jan. 1 - 15)

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

night-school

n.

nika nika

n.

nkyenkyema
no catch
noko
not correct

n.
v.
n.
a.

not good

a.

not happy
not long
not necessary

a.
adv.p.
a.

not right
not serious

a.p.
a.p.

not well
now-now

a.
adv.

ntoma

n.

nyama nyama

a.

nyombeka

n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Etymology
Example
European or Japanese.
classes in villages after work in
the fields in literacy or other
topics, usually sponsored by
churches or NGOs
mechanical
grain grinding
machine
rickety old car, old banger
<Twi
not to be enough
cf. reach
something (i.e. money )
<Ga
mentally
ill,
retarded,
mongoloid
no money, presence of bad
spirits
to be annoyed with someone
only a short time
to be avoided, not fitting
behaviour, gossiping etc.
mad, strange, handicapped
cf. not correct
of no account, having no
influence
mad, insane, sick with worry
right away, at once
Im coming nownow
cloth of 10 yards worn like a
<Twi
toga, also for sleeping
useless, worthless, bogus,
<Twi
nasty
Mossi corn T.Z. with bean
leaves, pepper and oil

O.
obibini

n.

obolobo
obrouni kokoo

a.
n.

obrouni
tuntum
occasion
odum

n.

off
ogah

v.t.
n.

Ogua
ohene
old lady
old man

p.n.
n.
n.
n.p.

old-man
old timers

n.p.
n.p.

n.
n.

African, coloured black or with

blue dye
big (person)
red-skinned person from over
the horizon
dark-skinned person from over
the horizon
special event or celebration
important commercial timber
tree
to switch off
big man
Cape Coast
Akan chief
mother
honourable title for elder of the
house
Hacks cough drops/candy
highlife and reggae dance
records or band
28

<Twi
<Twi
<Twi

also used in Nigeria.

Source?
<Fante lit. market
<Twi
not wife

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
oloka
Omo

PoS
n.
p.n.

on
one

v.t.
pron.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

one time
only

adv.
part.

Explanation
tin used as a dry measure
brand name of detergent
applied to soap powders as a
generic
to switch on
particular
instance,
case,
situation, thing, often applied
to personal names
bus with individually ticketed
seats
fast service Peugeot passenger
taxi Accra-Kumasi
one at a time, once in a while,
a few, a little
all at once and very quickly
I admire

only

a.

there is only x left

Onyame!

excl.

God!

Osino Graphic

p.n.

osofo

n.

outdoor

v.t.

outdooring

n.

overfloat
overflood

v.
v.

Overseas

p.n.

oware

n.

oyigbo

n.

sweet corn dough from Osino,

Achim
respectful title for priest or
minister
to formally appoint s.o., to The
chief
celebrate the birth of a baby
outdoored
week
name-giving ceremony, also
any formal notification of
appointment
overflow
flood over the edge of s.t.
the
river
overflooded
isolated area n. of Mole, w. of
the White Volta
game in which tokens are
dropped in cups
European, white man

one man one n.p.

seat
one pound one n.p.
pound
one one
adv.

Etymology
also America tin
see: soap powder

Example

on the light
one William was
having the post at
that time

Only your shoes! I

admire your shoes
Only your bag!
Only your bag is
left
<Twi ans. You are
marvellous!
<Twi
was
last

has

<Twi
< Y.

P.
paa

adv.

pains
palaver

v.
n.

palaver sauce

n.

palm nut soup

n.p.

palms
palogo

n.
n.

proper, really, very well, very

good
to be painful to, emotional hurt
argument, trouble, difficulty,
business, talk
sauce made from cocoyam
leaves
soup made from the nuts of the
oil palm
palm wine
night time entertainment with
29

<Twi
< Portuguese
palabra

cf. Twi nsa fufu

<Ga kpanlogo

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

pano

n.

pantaloons
pant

n.
n.

papaapa
Paramount

excl.
p.n.

pass

v.

pass
pass
pass

v.
v.
v.

pass all
pass out

a.
v.p.

patash

n.

paya
pay all

n.
n.

pe

part.

pear
peg

n.
v.t.

Pentecost

p.n.

pepper
pepper sauce

n.
n.

pepper soup

n.p.

perch

v.

performances
petty petty

n.
a.

petrol Shell
pick

n.p.
v.

pick

v.t.

piece

n.

piece piece
pieces
advice
pig meat

adv.p.
of n.p.
n.p.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
drum and dance
bread

Example

long dress/trousers for women

underpants, briefs, panties, she tore her pant
knickers
the best, superlative
high level of traditional
chieftaincy
to be confused; not to know
what to do
to be more than
to pass by
to turn
superlative, the most
graduate from school or
military/police training
alcohol from fermented sugar
cane/palm wine
avocado pear
lottery shop

Etymology
<Twi
Portuguese
obsolete

<Twi
cf.
Paramount
Chief, Paramount
Stool etc.

cf. curve,
branch
WCP

30

bend,

cf. akpateshie, VC10

<English pear

when, . . . then at that exact

<Twi
moment . . .
avocado pear
to secure something as by a
stake in the ground
Pentecostals, any Evangelical
or Independent Ch.
red pepper, chili pepper
hot sauce made with pepper,
onion, tomato
spicy soup served at drinking
cf. light soup
bars
to be somewhere temporarily
we
are
just
perching in this
office for now
rituals, esp. with sacrifices
pointless, worthless, of no these petty petty NE
account,
petty,
trivial, things
unimportant
filling station
to pick up, give a ride in one's
car to someone
to take out, to take away
they have already
picked it they have
already taken it out
12 yards of printed cotton
cloth cut from bolts
into pieces
advice
pork

from

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
pikin

PoS
n.

Explanation
child

pin
pintin
pito
place
plain
play

v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.i.

playmates
please
polish
pomade
pouffe

n.
excl.
v.
n.
n.

poso poso
possible best

a.
n.

post sec

n.

pot

n.

potopoto
powder
praise-singer

n.
n.
n.

pray

v.

Presby
project
proper

p.n.
n.
adv.

prospering
provide

v.i.
v.

Pshaaa!
Pue!

excl.
excl.

pulling bar
punk

n.
a.

punky

a.

put

v.

give a shot/injection to
completely full like a drum
sorghum beer
country of origin
open in plain view
to have a joking relationship
with
each
other
(both
individuals and ethnic groups)
having joking relations
excuse me
to powder one's face
petroleum jelly, Vaseline
stuffed leather hassock, pillow,
or ottoman
old and feeble
best possible, the best that
he/she could do
post secondary school, for
teacher's training etc.
container for serving pito or
palm wine
mashed yam and palm oil
talcum powder
singer and instrumentalist who
goes before powerful people
and proclaims their praises,
recites their ancestry etc.
definition of a Muslim: He
prays.
Presbyterian Church
major problem
really, very well, completely,
thoroughly
to grow fat
to take care of all needs, food,
shelter, expenses
contemptuous disbelief
sounds made in mourning the
death of a loved one
crowbar of a carpenter
youthful hairstyle, shaved
sides and high top
punk-like, modern styles set by
rap singers
to be controlled by the witchcatching shrine

Example

31

Etymology
<
West
Coast
Pidgin,
originally
Portuguese pequeno,
small
<Twi
<Hausa

<BE orig. French

homosexual
<Twi

<Twi
WAE

cf. T. paa

archaic BE
<Twi

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
Q.

PoS

Explanation

Queen Mother

p.n.

in

Queen's
English
query

n.p.

female
senior
elder
matrilineal royal family
Standard English

to

quite

a.

to subject
questioning
very

quite

adv.

well

rain
Rambo

n.
p.n.

lightning
physically strong man

ramp

v.

rastah

n.

rate

n.

rather

adv.

Rawlings park

p.n.

reach

v.i.

reach

v.

red

a.

red-eyes

a.p.

red-eyes

n.

red fish
red-red

n.
n.

reduce
remains

v.
v.

remember
remove

v.
v.i.

reply

v.

to pound or compress gravel

for flooring
hairstyle for women: fine
braids, not dreadlocks
cost of admission to movie,
concert, play etc.
are more likely to..
they rather handle < would rather
the new notes with
care
car park of several blocks in
central Accra
be sufficient, not enough e.g. the money will not cf. not catch
money
reach
arrive at e.g. place, conclusion,
etc.
red and related colours
white people are
often said to be red
sign of danger, hot, envious,
SGE
greedy
serious, no nonsense, angry,
hotly on something
snapper
stew containing palm-oil and
plantain, both reddish in colour
to ask that the price be lowered
to be left
e.g. only . . . are/is
left.
reminds me of
cf. Twi
to come out
the thing will not
remove
to respond to, send or give a

v.

Example

junior

Etymology

reference
is
Queen Victoria
BE

to

It is quite far i.e. it NE

is very far. Also
negative: It is not
quite far
I quite remember
when they came
here

R.

cf. macho man. <

film
character
played by Sylvester
Stallone

32

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian

PoS

Explanation
reply to
to look alike
to pay back, return

resemble
retaliate

v.
v.

retire

v.

rice balls

n.

rice water

n.

rival
roam

n.
v.

roam with

v.

rogues
Roman
rough
rough road
Rwanda boys

n.
p.n.
n.
n.p.
p.n.

Robb

p.n.

rubber

n.

rubber tree
running
diarrhoea
running fever

n.
v.

rice porridge, thin wet rice

congee, rice pudding
co-wife
to be adulterous, going after
men
go about with
that one you
roaming
yesterday
person you
going about
yesterday
ruffians, hooligans, bad boys
Roman Catholic Church
merciless teasing
gravel, unpaved road
name of a gang of hoodlums in
Tamale
brand name of mentholated
petroleum jelly
plastic bag, gallon jug, pail,
tub
tree sp., Funtumia elastica
to have diarrhoea

v.

to have malaria

sabe

v.

to understand

sabesabe

a.

sack
sack
sacred grove

v.t.
n.
n.

sakora
salaminga

a.
p.n.

know it all, pretentious, too

knowledgeable
chase away; also divorce
unit of money, 200 cedis
heavily forested site of earth
shrine, cemetery etc.
bald head, tires etc.
European, Christian

Etymology

Example

e.g. even a favour;

jokingly used by
elites
<Twi

to no longer use, to remove

from active service
coagulated rice shaped in balls

see emo tuo; usually

served
with
groundnut soup

were
with
the
were
with
archaic BE

TM also NE

S.
borrowed from West
Coast
Pidgin,
ultimately
<
Portuguese saber

33

<Hausa
Northern.
follower of
Nazarene
Nasala)
siliminsi)

(Ar.
the
see
(pl.

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
same mother,
same father
sand-winning
say
schnapps

PoS
n.p.

scholarship

n.

school girl

n.

see ourselves
see

v.p.
v.

see
see x later

v.
v.

self

a.

sell

v.t.

sellers

n.

selves
send

pron.
v.t.

send to
senior

v.p.
a.

senior
secondary
school
serious

n.

service

n.

sew

v.t.

sex
shake
sharpsharp
sheep-meat
shepherd
shito
shoe-shineboys
short

v.t.
v.
adv.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.p.

shortshort

adv.

n.p.
v.
n.

a.

v.t.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Etymology
Example
He/she
is
my
real
brother/sister, not cousin.
digging sand for sale
that
Dutch gin: Henneke, Bols etc.
given to chiefs
rich woman paying a boy's
school fees for sex
school girl's hair cut, very
short, no style
to meet again
to understand s.o. is not telling
the truth
to look at
cf. Twi
to meet with s.o. to discuss s.t. I will see you later
private, such as money
follows noun for emphasis
I will go Tamale < itself
self
to speak in a language
unknown to some present
persons moving about selling
things
to discuss together
to ensure that s.o. reaches a I will send him
destination
back to you I will
bring him or ensure
he gets back to you
[no
imperative
sense]
to put under a magical spell
older in family situation thus
senior mother, father, brother,
wife etc.
secondary school
foolish, stupid, ridiculous,
absurd
passenger wishes to go off the
fixed route
to sew, to make up a
commissioned item of clothing
to have sex with
to shake hands with
very quickly, right now
mutton
cowherd followed the cows
fish pepper sauce of Ga people
rascals, street urchins, boys
shining shoes
to not give s.o. enough, to I have shorted you,
cause s.t. to decline
they have shorted
the water
not enough, e.g. the money
packs are each short
34

euph.
cf. dropping, charter

NE

cf. cowboy
<Ga

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
Should
come?
side
signboard
silba-shine
silk cotton
simpa

PoS
I int.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Aren't you going to invite me?

Example

slang

n.

region, place
sign, advertisement, logo
steel wool or Brillo pads
kapok
drum kit made up of bongos
('bingoes') (side drum and base
drum); club sponsoring the
playing of simpa; nontraditional young people's
social dance with simpa band
open
neck
sleeveless
undershirt
female
sibling,
cousin,
girlfriend, friend
fellow female church-member
the chiefly throne, political
power
jealousy
voting for one party for
President and for an MP of
different political affiliation
colloquial expression
it is a slang

slap

v.

to discipline

slaps

n.

sleeping cloth

n.

open-handed blows, esp. as a

correction
man's full cloth

sleeping
money
slim
slippers

n.p.

slit

n.

slowly slowly
small

adv.
n.

small
small

adv.
excl.

small boy

n.p.

small-boys

n.p.

small-chops
small small

n.p.
adv.p.

smash
smock

v.
n.

snap

v.

singlet

n.

sister

n.

sister
skin

n.
n.

skin pain
n.p.
skirt
and n.p.
blouse

a.
n.

small amount given to girl

friend/wife after sex
skinny, thin, fine boned
flip-flops,
thongs,
beachwalkers
woman's long lower Ghanaian
skirt
little by little
tin box use by Dagomba
women to keep their most
important possessions
just a little bit
vocative expression for young
boys 8 to 12
of no account, unimportant
person
young boys from 8-12 years
old
fast food, snacks
a little, a little bit better, little
by little, slowly, carefully
to mash
heavy loose woven cotton shirt
from the North
to take a photo of s.o.
35

Etymology

TE

BE

used with indefinite

article. also in plural
always by senior to
junior
ntoma used as cover
sheet

also Charley-wote

confined
Dagomba area?

to

of food or drink etc.

archaic BE

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
so
sothat

PoS
part.
adv.

so-so
some
some few
some
funny
thing
something
something
something
something
sonn
s!

a.p.
pron.
a.p.
n.p.

Explanation
Etymology
Example
thus, like that
doing s.t. to the extent that s.t. the bus was so
happens
speeding that it hit
the lorry
such and such
NE
so-so amount
any
not a large number of
NE
a strange thing

n.
n.
a.

a great thing
a small dash, gift, help
something about

adv.
conj.

Sorry!

excl.

soup

n.

soursop

n.

spark
spider
has
caught his/her
-foot, -hand)
spoil
spoil

v.t.
v.p.

on and on and on
discourse marker introducing
the next element in a story
to
sympathize
with
someone/something/oneself at
a misfortune without implying
responsibility
generic name for all edible
vegetables cooked as a sauce
green fruit with white flesh and
black seeds
to turn on the ignition
hand or foot is asleep

sponge

n.

squeeze
squeeze eyes

v.t.
v.p.

Sssst!

excl.

star
screwdriver
station boy

n.p.

stay

v.

steel-bender

n.

stew

n.

stinkfish
stool

n.
n.

stool lands

n.p.

story film

n.p.

v.i.
v.t.

n.p.

<Ga
AE

TE

to get broken
to ruin, subvert with bribery,
by backbiting
coarse nylon netting for
bathing
crumple up, crush
sign
of
disagreement,
resistance from a junior
sound made when calling
anyone, esp. a taxi
Phillips screwdriver
load carriers, hoodlums around
lorry parks
to live at/with, reside at/with
I am staying at NE
Tamale I live in
Tamale
works steel rods for reinforced
concrete
dip or sauce of vegetable puree
cf. soup
with oil and pepper
smelly sun-dried fish
Ga momone
seat of power in South, sign of
chief
lands associated southern
chiefship
drama, film with a plot
as opposed to action
36

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian

PoS

Explanation

storey building

n.p.

stranger

n.

building with more than one

floor or story
guest(s), visitor(s)

structure
suffer

n.
v.

sugar-mammy
suman

n.
n.

summer
summer hut
supie

n.
n.
n.

suspecting

v.

susu
swallow

n.
v.

swear

v.

sweet
sweet

a.
v.

sweet bat

n.

sweet head

n.

Example

figure (usually of a woman)

to have difficulties while
striving to get ahead
female version of sugar daddy
talisman,
juju,
magical
protection
hot part of dry season
gazebo, palaver hut
superior, a girl's elder school
mate/friend
expecting
rotating credit associations
fufu and TZ are swallowed
without chewing
to call upon ancestors to judge
a wrongdoing
delicious, savoury, enjoyable
to be pleasant, to have a
savoury taste or experience
fried cake like spherical
doughnut
luck

Etymology
film
NE
many
African
languages
equate
these concepts

<Twi
(Jan., Feb., Mar.)
obsolete
suspecting that you
would come)#
? Yoruba

<sweet batter

T.
T.Z.

n.

taboo
take
take and
take care
take it

v.
v.t.
v.a.
v.
v.p.

take seed
Take time!

v.p.
excl.p.

take time

v.

talia

n.

porridge of millet, sorghum or

maize
to prohibit
to eat
typical serial verb construction
to be careful
to understand something as, to
be
to become pregnant
to take your time, be careful,
take it easy, cool off
take a long time, delay s.t., to
cool off
pasta, spaghetti, noodles

tapper
tea
tea bread
tell lies

n.
n.
n.
v.p.

palm wine tapper

tea, coffee or other hot drink
non-sweetened bread
to lie, distort the truth

37

acronym from Hausa

tuwon zafi

< Italian tagliatelle,

via Hausa

despite
prevalence,
considered
offensive

its
very

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
tey
that's all!
the
their

PoS
excl.
excl.
p.a.
a.

thief
thiefman
thirty-first
December
this our

v.
n.
p.n.

this time
three days

adv.p.
n.p.

tie the rain

v.p.

tie

v.

tiger
tii

n.
n.

tinapa

n.

tipper
toloku boys

n.
n.p.

tomatosi

n.

Explanation
Example
on and on, straight on
it is finished, over
my, his, her
possessive pronoun showing
habitual action
rob or steal from
thief
main market in central Accra,
Makola
humble,
self-deprecating
description
nowadays, these days
It's been a long time since
we've seen each other.
to have magical power over
local rains
to bind up by magic, to prevent
from acting
leopard
drinking chocolate, any hot
drink
tinned meats (corned beef,
mackerel, sardines etc.)
dump truck
truck boys, pulling small carts
for hire
tomatoes

tomorrow
tomorrow self

adv.
adv.

indefinite future
within the course of tomorrow

tongkasi

n.

conservancy worker, grass

cutter long curved blade

to!

excl.

too
too good
too much
torchlight
tot

comp.
adv.
adv.
n.
n.

tough

a.

well then . . . , so if that is the

case then . . .
very, exceedingly
exceedingly good
exceedingly
torch, flashlight
shot glass measure of spirits,
whiskey etc.
heavy, fat

tower bolt
town

n.p.
n.

Traditional
Area
traditional
attire

p.n.

traditional
cloth

n.

a.

n.

bolt for a door or window

place, village, indicator of,
euph. for, ethnic origin
area designated as under the
authority of a traditional ruler
traditional or customary garb
depending on locality for
formal wear on special
occasions
cloth worn toga-style at
funerals,
state
functions,
38

Etymology
cf. Twi, Ga

no distinction

ME
? <tin-opener
BE
<English truck
<Twi
further
abbreviated to ntosi

tomorrow self, they

will finish it
<English
town
council [worker] via
Twi
<Hausa

BE
very
good,
praiseworthy
BE

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

trafficator
travel
trot
trotro
trotro
trunk call

n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.

try
tunabu
tupaya

v.
n.
n.

tutufo
tyre

n.
n.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
formal gatherings
indicator light on car
to go on a journey
to jog
outmoded word for threepence
passenger lorry
long-distance
national
telephone call
to do very well
bell-bottom trousers
any medicine in a capsule,
usually antibiotics
prostitute
catapult, slingshot

Etymology
archaic BE
lit. three, three
<threepenny fare
archaic BE
<Twi obsolete,
<Twi
<Twi

U.
Uganda boys

p.n.

uncle

n.

under

a.

unless

conj.

Unless God!

excl.p.

up to

a.

up and down

n.

use to

v.a.

gang of ruffians and station

boys in Tamale
mother's brother, title for
friend of one's parents
to be under conception,
pregnant
the only choice left is . . .
might as well . . .
if not for God, over to God, in
the hands of God
up to the amount specified or the money is not up
agreed upon
to the money isnt
enough
top and trousers of same
material
precedes verb to indicate he use to go to cf. do
habitual action
Accra

V.
VC-10

n.

vex
vex
vulcanise

v.i.
v.t.
v.t.

vulcaniser

n.

alcohol fermented from sugar

cane or palm wine
to be disturbed, annoyed
to disturb, to annoy
go and vulcanise
to repair a puncture
the tyre
one who repairs tyres

39

cf.
akpateshie,
patash

NE. archaic in SE
but not in West
Africa
NE. archaic SE

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Ghanaian
W.

PoS

Explanation

wace
wagashi

n.
n.

wahala
waist

n.
n.

wakye

n.

beans, cowpeas
Fulani cheese, local thickened
cottage cheese
trouble, difficulties, suffering
lower
back,
common
complaint from farmers
beans, cowpeas

walka walka
want

v.
v.

wanzam
wasawasa

n.
n.

wash film
water

v.p.
n.

watertank
wax (print)

n.
n.p.

We don't want excl.p.

that!
weave-on
n.

wee
What again?
what and what

n.
int.p.
n.p.

when
when!

conj.
excl.

white

n.

white

n.

white Maggi
white-man

n.p.
p.n.

white-man's
groundnut
Whites

n.

Who told you!

excl.p.

Why now?

excl.p.

wicked

a.

win

n.

excl.

Example

to walk and walk, go by foot

to be starting to, to be going
toward
barber, circumciser
yam dried, grated to flour and
boiled to a dough
to develop film
as SE, also pus, bodily fluids,
semen, saliva, juice of fruit
radiator on a car
Dutch/Indonesian wax batik
cotton prints
Heaven forbid!
hairdressing style where
additional hair is added to the
natural one
marijuana, dope, cannabis
What else, what now?
many things, I don't know
what all, this and that
in so far as, since
When will I achieve my
dreams!
white, off-white, yellow, pink,
light blue
victory, innocence, goodness,
happiness
monosodium glutamate
Europeans, red
or whiteskinned foreigners
popular spreading shade tree
from India
Europeans or light-skinned
foreigners, racial slur
I don't agree with what you
said!
Why
should
this
have
happened?
miserly, mean, stingy, not
many friends
illegal mining of gold,
collection of sand, etc.
40

Etymology

<Hausa. also wakye

<Hausa
<Hausa
<Hausa. Uses Twi
spelling
conventions. Also
wace

<Hausa
<Hausa
NE
see also rice water
WAE

? recently imported
from Nigeria (also
weavon)
NE

cf. A-1

NE

cf. sand winner BE

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian

PoS

winter
witchcraft

n.
n.

wofa

n.

wolf
woman's cloth

n.
n.p.

women's
things
wonderful!

n.p.

woo,
woo,
w'ani awu!
work
workaworka
worry

excl.p.

would

v.a.

excl.

n.
v.
v.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
(winning, winners)
rainy season
refers to the witch herself or
her practice
mother's brother, provider,
parent, friend of parent
hyena, Crocuta crocuta
3 parts: top, bottom, baby wrap
6 yard piece of rectangular
cloth for women
cloth, clothing, pots, bowls,
jewellery, cosmetics
strange, extraordinary, absurd,
incredible
Shame on you!

Etymology

<Twi
ME, also NE

WAE
<Twi lit. your eyes
have died

responsibility, task, play

to work and work
to bother someone, to sexually why
are
you
harass a woman, to attack worrying me? Some
(insect)
insects
are
worrying the onion
roots
will
Guests would be
responsible for lost
of keys

X.
Xmas box

n.

Xmas hut

n.

box for donations in offices

and shops at Christmas
Christmas play/party hut built
by children

cf. Twi
apataa

Y.
yaka yaka
yam chips

n.

yam mound

n.

yeiii!

excl.

yei yei yei!

excl.

yellow fever

n.p.

yes!

excl.

yesa!

excl.

yommo

n.

cassava bread
fried finger-sized pieces of
yam
heaped mound of earth in
which yam is grown
surprise
at
having
just
discovered something
in pain, suffering emotionally
or physically
yellow sandals made of heavy
plastic
a response to an either or
question
Yes sir! polite response to
patron/superior
black hair dye used by middleaged men
41

<Ewe

<Twi
<Twi

<Twi

brounya

Ghanaian English Dictionary

Ghanaian
yoo

PoS
excl.

you see!
you will see!

excl.
excl.

your mother!

excl.

Roger Blench

Circulation Draft

Explanation
Example
okay, I have heard you, well
then
So there! Didn't I tell you so!
serious threat, something bad
will happen to you!
grave insult with sexual
connotations

Etymology

obscene

Z.
zana mat

n.p.

zed

n.

zimtiim

n.

zongo

n.

zonkom

n.

mat woven of tall grass used

for fencing
letter Z , also for Zenabu, a
woman's name
Guinness
outskirts
of
town
for
northerners & foreigners
cake made of fried maize and
sugar

<Dagbani
blood+medicine
<Hausa
<Frafra ?

n.
DCE

District Chief Executive

G.N.T.C.
G.P.R.T.U.
G.W.S.C.
J.J.
J.S.S.
N.A.S.P.A.
N.D.C.
Neoplan
O.S.A.
P. & T.
P.-One
S.C.O.A.
S.S.
S.S.N.I.T.
T.U.C.
U.A.C.
U.T.C.
V.R.A.

(TM)
(acron.)
Ghana National Trading Corporation
(acron.) Ghana Private Road Transport Union
(acron.) Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation
(initials of Rawlings) (for: Junior Jesus ) Jerry John Rawlings' nickname
(acron.) junior secondary school
(acron.) National Service Personnel Association
(acron.) N.D.C. has won the election. National Democratic Convention
(TM) He took a N. instead of S.T.C.
a government bus company, manufactured in Gh.
(acron.) government-run local bus line
(acron.) He rang from the P. & T.
post office, telegram office, telephone booth
(abbrev.) Primary School-Class One
(TM)
(acron.)
Multi Stores, French West African Trading Co.
(acron.) senior secondary school
(acron.) Social Security
(acron.) Trade Union Congress
(Workers' Union)
(TM)
(acron.)
United Africa Company
(Unilever)
(TM)
(acron.)
United Trading Company
(TM)
(acron.)
Volta Region Authority
(electricity corporation)

42