How to Say “Hello” in Top Ghanaian Languages
Ghanaian languages such as Twi, Ga, Ewe, are the most common in Ghana, but English remains the official language of the country, as well as is one of the most widely spoken languages by locals.
Whether you are planning to visit Ghana or meet with some business contacts while on your trip, learning how to say hello in the Ghanaian local language may be useful and fun.
Not only that, knowing more languages in Ghana these days can even open up job opportunities that are not available to those who know only one language.
In this article, we will show you how to say hello in some of the most popular Ghanaian languages and dialects.
Akan
Akan is one of the most widely spoken languages in Ghana. In the Akan language which is popularly known as Twi, hello can be said as “ete-sen” or “akwaaba”
Ewe
Ewe is spoken by approximately 2 million people in the Volta Region of Ghana. In Ewe, hello can be said as ‘’Leke efor ah” or “Neefon”
Ga
The Ga language is widely spoken by the people of the Greater Accra Region. In Ga, hello can be said as, “Te-tenn” or “Ojekoo”.
Hausa
In Hausa, the word hello is “Salaam”. When you greet in Salaam, you repeat with salaam again in a response. Hello in Hausa can also be said as, “Saanu”.
Dagaare
Dagaare is spoken in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Hello in Dagaare can be said as “Antire”
Dagomba
Dagomba is spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana. Hello in Dagomba can be said as, “Dasiba”.
Nzema
Nzema is spoken in the Western Region of Ghana. Hello in Nzema can be said as, ‘’Nwae”.
Gonja
Gonja is spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana. Hello in Gonja can be said as, ‘’Angsuma’’.
How do Ghanaians greet
Ghanaians greet each other with the akwaaba or ete-sen. This is one of the most common ways that Ghanaians greet each other. However, there are many other ways to greet someone depending on the region they come from. The general greeting in Ghana that everyone is familiar with is the handshake.
What do you do when you don’t understand someone’s greetings?
You simply smile and nod your head. The person will understand and know that you don’t understand what he/she said.
Conclusion
Ghana is a country full of diverse cultures and ethnicities, which is why it should come as no surprise that there are many ways to say Hello.