ete sen?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Twi as ete sen?
ete sen? is a versatile greeting used to ask how someone is doing. It can function as a general "how's it going?" or "what's up?" among friends and peers, but it is also appropriate for use in semi-formal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ete sen? literally translates to "how is it?" in English.
Which one should you use?
While ete sen? is a general way to ask how things are going, the phrase Wo ho te sɛn? is used when you want to ask how a person is specifically regarding their own well-being.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard Twi orthography, the phrase is often written as ɛte sɛn?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you ete sen?, a common and natural response is Ɛyɛ, which means "It is good".
Did you know?
- In Ghanaian culture, greetings are not just polite but mandatory. Skipping a greeting like ete sen? when entering a room or meeting someone can be perceived as a serious sign of disrespect or hostility.
- It is common to pair ete sen? with a handshake where the right hand is used, as using the left hand to greet someone is considered a significant cultural taboo.
- Twi is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used to say ete sen? can change the meaning of the words. A wrong tone might make the greeting unrecognizable to a native speaker.
Example conversation
Kofi and Adwoa meet on the street.
- KofiAkwaaba, Adwoa, ete sen?Welcome, Adwoa, how are you?
- AdwoaMe ho ye, Kofi.I am fine, Kofi.
- KofiEye, me nso me ho ye.That's good, I am also fine.
- AdwoaYentoo baabi.Let's go somewhere.
