da
/dá/
The Twi verb for "sleep" is da. Wiktionary also lists deda.
Meaning: to rest in state of reduced consciousness (verb)
Ways to say it
| Twi | IPA |
|---|---|
| da | /dá/ (habitual) /dà/ (present) |
| deda |
The verb refers to the act of resting in a state of reduced consciousness.
Which one should you use?
The form da is the root form, while deda is another way to express the verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
The root form da is used to express both the infinitive "to sleep" and the imperative command "sleep!"
How do you pronounce it?
/dá/
When do people say it?
To wish someone "sleep well" or to say "goodnight", you can use the common phrase da yie.
Did you know?
- Because da can mean 'to lie' or 'to be placed', the Twi language uses the same root word to describe how a town is situated or 'lies' on a piece of land.
- The word da can serve as a polite euphemism for death, framing the end of life as an eternal sleep.
- In Twi, the concept of 'spending the night' at a location is expressed using the same root as the verb for sleeping.
Examples in context
- Mepɛ sɛ me da.I want to sleep.
- Wo bɛ da nnɛ?Will you sleep tonight?
Example conversation
Adwoa and Kwame are talking in the evening.
- AdwoaKwame, wo pɛ da?Kwame, do you want to sleep?
- KwameAane, me pɛ da.Yes, I want to sleep.
- AdwoaKɛ da a.Go to sleep then.
- KwameDa yie, Adwoa.Sleep well, Adwoa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep” translations and entries da, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
