Akan (Twi)
Akan Diagraphs
Akan Twi Diagraph Lesson
Introduction:
Diagraphs are two successive letters that represent a single sound. For example, the ‘ph’ in diagraph the p and h combine to form the ‘f’ sound in English. Diagraphs can be consonants or vowels. An example of a diagraph made of vowels in the English language is ‘ie’ sound in piece.
Lesson:
There are many diagraphs in the Akan Twi language, some that sound like more common sounds in the English language while many are unique. See the table below for examples.
| Diagraph | Twi Word (English translation) | Pronunciation |
| Gy | Gye (receive) | J as in Jug |
| Hy | Hye (to burn) | Sh as in Shirt |
| Ky | Kye (catch) | Ch as in chat |
| Ny | Nyame (God) | Ñ as in España |
| Nw | Nwunu (cold) | Pronounced like Nyw, or Ñ with rounded lips |
| Dw | Dwene (to think) | Pronounced like Jw, or J with rounded lips |
| Tw | Twi (the dialect) | Pronounced like Chw with rounded lips |
| Hw | Hwe (look) | Simultaneous C and Wh |
| Kw | Kwado (Wendesday born male) | Qu as in Quick |
Listen:
Listen to the Peace Corps Lesson #3 on diagraphs.
Listen and watch LearnAkan.com’s video on diagraphs.
Activity:
- For each diagraph in the above table, find an additional example of a word in Twi that contains that diagraph.
- If helpful, draw your own chart with your additional diagraph examples.
- Practice pronouncing your example and the example given above.
- Once comfortable with practicing each diagraph, record your pronunciation and compare to the audio resources.
- Reflect on your strengths and what you might want to continue working on in the future.
