wo ho te sɛn?
The English phrase "how are you?" is translated into Twi as wo ho te sɛn?
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their health or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, wo ho te sɛn? means "how is your body?" The components are wo (your), ho (body), te (be/stay) and sɛn (how).
Which one should you use?
While wo ho te sɛn? specifically asks about a person's well-being, Ɛte sɛn? is a more general way to ask "How is it?" or "How are things?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Ashanti region of Ghana, wo ho te sɛn? is commonly used. In Fante-speaking regions of Ghana, you can use Ɛte sɛn? to say "how are you?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person, change the possessive pronoun wo (your, singular) to mo (your, plural) to form Mo ho te sɛn?
When do people say it?
The standard response to wo ho te sɛn? is Me ho yɛ, which means "I am well" (literally: "My body is well").
Did you know?
- When asking wo ho te sɛn?, it is customary in many Ghanaian cultures to use the right hand for any accompanying gestures or handshakes, as the left hand is traditionally considered unclean.
- Twi is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used to say wo ho te sɛn? can change the meaning of the words. A wrong tone might make the phrase unrecognizable to a native speaker.
- In Ghana, greeting is considered a social obligation. Skipping the greeting wo ho te sɛn? or its equivalents can be seen as a sign of disrespect or a lack of upbringing.
Examples in context
- Nana, wo ho te sɛn?Nana, how are you?
- Madam, ɛte sɛn?Madam, how are things today?
- Wo ho te sɛn?How are you?
- Maakye, wo ho te sɛn?Good morning, how are you?
