mepa wo kyɛw
In Twi, "I beg you" is expressed as mepa wo kyɛw.
This phrase serves two purposes: it can be used as a formal way to say "please" when making a request, or it can be used to express a sincere plea or act of begging.
Which one should you use?
The phrase changes depending on whom you are addressing. mepa wo kyɛw is used when you are speaking to a single person. If you want to address more than one person, or if you wish to show higher respect to a single person, you use mepa mo kyɛw.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase mepa wo kyɛw is the singular form used for one person, while the plural or respectful form is mepa mo kyɛw, where wo (you) is replaced by mo (you all).
Did you know?
- The word kyɛw in mepa wo kyɛw refers to the act of pulling or drawing something, suggesting that the speaker is metaphorically pulling at the listener's heart or compassion.
- Twi lacks a single word that translates exactly to the English 'please', forcing speakers to use the phrase mepa wo kyɛw to cover everything from a casual request to a desperate prayer.
- While mepa mo kyɛw is the plural form, using it for a single person is a common way to show extreme deference to elders or chiefs, effectively treating the individual as a person of great importance.
Examples in context
- Mepa wo kyɛw, kɔ ma me.Please, go for me.
- Mepa wo kyɛw, boa me.I beg you, help me.
- Mepa wo kyɛw, hwɛ me.I beg you, look at me.
Example conversation
Kofi is asking Adwoa for a pen.
- KofiAdwoa, mepa wo kyɛw, ma me pen.Adwoa, I beg you, give me a pen.
- AdwoaMe nni bi se saa, Kofi.I don't have one, Kofi.
- KofiMepa wo kyɛw, hwehwɛ bi ma me.I beg you, look for one for me.
- AdwoaKyerɛ me kwan no, mɛyɛ no.Show me the way, I will do it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mepa wo kyɛw, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
