Tsi
Water
Usage
Use it to ask for water or to look for it
Grammar Note
tsi is “water”. It is also a verb (to grow; to put out), so context decides.
Nuɖuɖu
Food
Usage
Refers to food in general
Grammar Note
A verbal noun formed by reduplication from ɖu nu “to eat”.
Ga
Money
Usage
Means money. ga also means clock and metal; the time question is Ga nenie ƒo?
Grammar Note
ga is a homograph (money, metal, clock). Currency names follow the spelling on signs.
Atike
Medicine
Usage
Use it for medicine at a pharmacy or clinic
Grammar Note
atike is “medicine”; it can also mean “poison”, so the context matters.
Safui
Key
Usage
Use it to ask for a room key
Grammar Note
safui is “key”; it also appears in the scriptural “key of David”.
Tikiti
Ticket
Usage
Refers to a ticket for transport or an event
Grammar Note
A loanword from English “ticket”, spelled with Ewe letters.
Telefon
Phone
Usage
Refers to a telephone
Grammar Note
A loanword from English “telephone”.
Kɔdzi
Hospital
Usage
Use it when asking for a hospital
Grammar Note
atikewɔƒe (“place where medicine is made”) also means hospital.
Kpovitɔ
Police officer
Usage
Use it to call for or refer to a police officer
Grammar Note
The plural is kpovitɔwo.
Nudzraƒe
Shop
Usage
Refers to a shop
Grammar Note
Composed: nu “thing” + dzra “sell” + ƒe “place”; a place-noun built with -ƒe. Not yet checked by a native speaker.
Xɔ
Room / house
Usage
Refers to a room or a house
Grammar Note
xɔ is also the verb “to receive”. The letter x is a velar fricative, never “ks”.
Mɔ
Road
Usage
Use it when asking about a road or path
Grammar Note
mɔ is “road” or “path”.
Ƒome
Family
Usage
Refers to family
Grammar Note
Starts with ƒ (f with hook); do not replace it with f.
Ŋkɔ
Name
Usage
Use it to say or ask a name
Grammar Note
ŋ is one letter; it is not written n or ng.
Ta
Head
Usage
Use it to point to the head, for example with pain
Grammar Note
ta also means “chapter”.
Ŋku
Eye
Usage
Use it to talk about the eyes
Grammar Note
The plural is ŋkuwo.
Aɖu
Tooth
Usage
Use it to talk about a toothache
Grammar Note
The ɖ in aɖu is a different letter from d.
Dɔme
Stomach / belly
Usage
Use it to talk about the belly
Grammar Note
dɔ alone can mean illness, work or hunger; here dɔme is used as one word.
Dzime
Back
Usage
Use it to talk about the back
Grammar Note
megbe is a different word meaning “behind”.
Afɔ
Leg / foot
Usage
Use it to talk about the foot or leg
Grammar Note
The plural is afɔwo.
Asi
Hand
Usage
Refers to the hand
Grammar Note
asi is a homograph: hand, market, wife.
Akɔta
Chest
Usage
Use it to talk about the chest
Grammar Note
In scripture it also appears for the fold of a garment.
To
Ear
Usage
Use it to talk about the ear
Grammar Note
to is also “mountain” and “mortar”.
Kɔ
Neck
Usage
Use it to talk about the neck
Grammar Note
Scripture uses it for ornaments worn on the neck. ɔ is a different letter from o.
Klo
Knee
Usage
Use it to talk about the knee
Grammar Note
klo is the usual word for knee.
Asibidɛ
Finger
Usage
Use it to talk about a finger injury
Grammar Note
Contains asi “hand”. The final ɛ is a different letter from e.
Ŋutigbalẽ
Skin
Usage
Use it to talk about skin
Grammar Note
ẽ is a nasal vowel written as the single letter U+1EBD.
Abɔ
Arm
Usage
Use it to talk about the arm
Grammar Note
abɔ also means the foreleg of an animal.
Ŋɔti
Nose
Usage
Use it to talk about the nose
Grammar Note
Contains two special letters, ŋ and ɔ.
Abɔta
Shoulder
Usage
Use it to talk about the shoulder
Grammar Note
Contains abɔ “arm”.
Yameʋudzeƒe
Airport
Usage
Use it to ask for the airport
Grammar Note
yameʋu “aircraft” + dze “land” + ƒe “place”. ʋ is a different letter from v.
Atikedzraƒe
Pharmacy
Usage
Use it to ask where to buy medicine
Grammar Note
A compound: atike + dzra + ƒe.
More Ewe phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Culture & Etiquette
- Festivals & Events
- Language Learning
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Time & Dates
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences