Ete sɛn?
everyday, Ghana
Asante Twi has no single word for hello. People greet with Ete sɛn?, "how are you?", or use Maakye in the morning, Maaha in the afternoon and Maadwo in the evening.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Twi | Note |
|---|---|
| Ete sɛn? | everyday, Ghana |
| Maakye | morning |
| Maaha | afternoon |
| Maadwo | evening |
The standard answer to Ete sɛn? is Me ho yɛ, "I am fine". After that you may add Na wo nso?, "and you?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
When you enter a home or meet an elder in Ghana, greeting properly is expected. It is polite to greet before asking for anything.
When do people say it?
Greetings are important in Asante culture. In a group, greeting from the right side is the custom.
Did you know?
- Asante Twi is spoken around Kumasi in Ghana and is the best known form of the Akan language.
Examples in context
- Maakye, ete sɛn?Good morning, how are you?
- Me ho yɛ, na wo nso?I am fine, and you?
- Maadwo, Nana.Good evening, Nana.
Example conversation
Kofi greets Auntie Ama in the morning at her shop in Kumasi.
- KofiMaakye, Auntie.Good morning, Auntie.
- Auntie AmaMaakye, Kofi. Ete sɛn?Good morning, Kofi. How are you?
- KofiMe ho yɛ.I am fine.
