Language/Twi/Vocabulary/Clothes

Twi Vocabulary - Clothes

Hi Twi learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will learn useful vocabulary related to clothes in Twi. Clothing is an essential part of our daily lives, and it can also reveal a lot about our culture and history. Therefore, it is essential to learn the names of different clothing items in Twi to communicate efficiently with Twi speakers and also understand their culture.

To improve your Twi vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Basic Vocabulary

Let's start with some basic vocabulary related to clothing.

Twi	Pronunciation	English
nsowan	ənsɔwa᷆n	shirt
anote	anɔtɛ	dress
ntop	ntõp	shorts
nsikum	ənsikum	pants
asokpo	asɔkpɔ	skirt
gyatabrɛ	dʒatabraᴐ	hat/cap
nkɔtɔ	ŋkɔtɔ	shoes
nwinini	ənwi᷆ni	socks

Here are some examples of how to use these words in a conversation:

• Person 1: Wo ho nsikum foforo no? (Do you have new pants?)
• Person 2: Yɛpɛ. Mepɛ anɔtɛ bi nso. (Yes. I also want a new dress.)

Traditional Clothing

Twi people have a unique culture, and traditional clothing plays an essential role in it. Traditional Twi clothing is colorful and vibrant, and it portrays the rich history of the community.

Here is some vocabulary related to traditional Twi clothing:

Twi	Pronunciation	English
kaba	kaba	traditional blouse
slit	slit	traditional skirt
batakari	batakari	smock
adinkra cloth	adinkra klos	adinkra cloth

In Twi culture, the kente cloth is also popular. It is a colorful cloth made of interwoven silk and cotton, and it is worn during important occasions such as weddings, festivals, and other ceremonies.

• Person 1: Wo de kaba nie? (Do you have a traditional blouse?)
• Person 2: Mepɛ kaba a nso ma wo. (I also want to give you a traditional blouse.)

Seasons and Clothing

The seasons can also greatly affect the type of clothing we wear. For example, in Twi, during the rainy season, people tend to wear thicker fabrics to protect themselves from the cold.

Twi	Pronunciation	English
ahinan	ahinaᴐn	rainy season
ahumaso	ahumasɔ	dry season
asimmɔn	asimmɔ̃n	harmattan season

• Person 1: Wo yɛ asimmɔn adwuma a na wote montie abrabɔ? (Do you work in the harmattan season? Do you wear warm clothes?)
• Person 2: Yoo, mepɛ nsowan a wɔahyia so. (Yes, I wear a shirt that covers my neck.)

Western Clothing

In addition to traditional clothing, Twi people also wear western clothing introduced by European colonization. Here are some common western clothing items in Twi:

Twi	Pronunciation	English
jinns	dʒinns	jeans
t-shirt	tiishɛti	t-shirt
jumper	gyempera	sweater

• Person 1: Wo de jumper hɔ na woabɔ nso tworɔ? (Do you have a sweater that matches your trousers?)
• Person 2: Mebɛtwere jinns a wonsa frɛ me wɔ ɔman no so. (I will wear jeans that match my shirt.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, clothing plays an essential role in Twi culture and daily life. By learning the Twi vocabulary for essential clothing items, you will better understand the culture and communicate more effectively with Twi speakers. Don't hesitate to practice and ask questions to improve further.

Remember, to improve your Twi vocabulary, you can also check the Polyglot Club website, and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Twi Vocabulary → Leisure Time Vocabulary, Common Foods, Count to 10 & How to Say Hello and Greetings.

Other Lessons

• Days of the Week
• Feelings and Emotions
• Greetings
• Akan Calendar
• Fruits
• Health
• Days of the week
• Count to 10
• Colors

Sources

• Twi Translation of "wear" | English-Twi Dictionary | Twi-English ...
• Twi Names of Some Domestic Items | LEARNAKAN