Learning Twi: How Language Changes Your Ghana Experience
- Study Twi Team
- Dec 30, 2025
- 5 min read
For many people in the African diaspora, visiting Ghana is more than a holiday it’s a return. A return to familiar faces, familiar food, and a language you’ve heard your whole life, even if you’ve never fully spoken it. Twi lives in the background of many of our memories: in family conversations, at cultural gatherings, on TV or shouted across a market.
But when you arrive in Ghana, understanding Twi without being able to speak it can feel limiting. You catch the jokes, the side comments, the negotiations yet you can’t always respond. In this conversation, Ayo and Tony, from Expat Life Ghana, reflect on their visits to Ghana, the moments that reshaped how they saw safety, identity, and belonging, and how learning (or not learning) Twi influenced their experiences. Their stories highlight a truth many of us recognise: language isn’t just about communication it’s about connection.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Ghana or thinking about reconnecting with Twi as an adult, these reflections show why learning Twi can transform how Ghana feels and how at home you allow yourself to be.
Visiting Ghana as a Member of the Diaspora
What was your most memorable experience when visiting Ghana and why does it
stand out?
Tony: My most memorable experience was walking with my father-in-law ("Pop") down an alley.
I initially felt nervous seeing some young men there and wanted to turn back. My father
reassured me, saying, "Oh, it's no problem. You don't bother them, they won't bother you." As
we walked past them, just a few feet away, they all stood at attention, saluted us, and said,
"Good evening, good evening, sir, good evening."
This experience truly eased my mind about the safety of Ghana and helped me let my guard
down. It shifted my perspective, preventing me from viewing fellow black men as a threat.
Did you discover anything about Ghana that surprised you on your visit?
Ayo: Having gone back and forth since I was a baby, I think my biggest surprise was how
different living in Ghana felt compared to the mindset of an African American versus an African
in America. The cultural nuances and ways of life presented a distinct contrast.
The Difference Between Vacation Mode and Immersion
If you could give one tip to someone visiting Ghana for the first time, what would it
be?
Ayo: Get out of vacation mode and truly immerse yourself in what it's really like. Be ready to
experience things you weren't expecting – the sheer newness of coming to a country where
everyone looks like you, where you are the majority. It's an empowering experience, so leave
that "American baggage" behind and plug into the local culture.
How has learning or speaking Twi influenced your connection to Ghanaian culture?
Tony: Learning Twi connects you in a unique way. While they might initially see you as a
foreigner, they are more accepting when you're making an effort to learn their culture and
language. When you try to speak their language and even negotiate with them in Twi, you gain
a little more respect. And, of course, you'll know what they're saying when they talk about you!
Why Learning Twi Builds Respect and Belonging
Was speaking Twi important in your family growing up? Why/Why not?
Ayo: I actually didn't speak English when I came back from my first trip to Ghana as a baby. My
mom realized she couldn't understand me, so we stopped speaking local languages in the
house. As an adult, I've wished we had been more immersed in the language growing up, but I
do appreciate that I can still understand a lot of what people are saying around me. My dad
always spoke local languages with people who visited our home, but he didn't just speak one.
He spoke Nigerian languages and Ghanaian languages. So, multiple languages were always
being spoken in our house, depending on who was over or what soccer game he was watching
on TV.
The Challenge of Learning a Tonal Language
For someone considering studying Twi for their visit to Ghana, what personal benefit
or challenge would you share?
Tony: It's a very tonal language, which is quite different from learning English. There has to be
some immersion; you really need to be around other people who know how to speak, enunciate,
and pronounce the language correctly. However, being here and being able to speak Twi when
you go to the market or socialize is such a huge connector to the people around you and the
culture that it's absolutely worth the time and effort.
For example, a man and a woman can have the same name, spelled the same way – Nana –
but you have to say it differently for the man than you would for the lady. So, understanding the
annunciations of the language is really helpful, and you need to be around people to learn that
difference.
Understanding Twi vs Speaking Twi
Have you ever felt judged or left out because you couldn't speak Twi fluently, and
how did you handle it?
Ayo: I'm lucky in that I can still understand Twi pretty well, but not being able to speak back
does limit interactions. Depending on the situation, sometimes it feels like I need a translator or
a friend to help, which can slow down interactions and connections. So, being able to speak
more fluently is definitely an asset.
What are some everyday situations where not speaking Twi has been challenging for
you?
Ayo: (laughs) Getting pulled over by the police! I'm just kidding. But seriously, negotiating in any
situation, whether at the market or trying to get directions in a new area where villagers don't
speak English, can be challenging.
Ghanaian Identity Beyond Language. But Language Still Matters.
How do you navigate your Ghanaian identity when the language isn't a strong skill
for you?
Ayo: My identity isn't rooted only in language; it's rooted in multiple things. However, language
does come into play, especially at cultural events and family gatherings when conversations
move faster than you can keep up. But with that said, the Ghanaian people are so accepting
and welcoming that you would never truly be limited. Many people at social gatherings do a
good mix of Twi and English, so you can often still pick up on the conversation and be part of it.
If you're new to Twi or want to speak it confidently, Study Twi provide lessons and resources in Twi for beginners.
Why Learning Twi as an Adult Is Still Possible
For many in the diaspora, Twi is a language we grew up hearing but were never fully taught to speak. It lives in the background in jokes we understand, conversations we follow, and moments where we feel just one step away from fully participating. Learning Twi as an adult is still possible. As Tony and Ayo’s experiences show, visiting Ghana becomes deeper, safer, and more connected when language enters the picture. Twi doesn’t determine whether you belong but learning it can help you feel more present, more confident, and more at home.
Learning Twi Before Your Next Visit to Ghana
If you’re thinking about reconnecting with Twi whether for an upcoming trip to Ghana or simply to feel closer to the culture you don’t have to aim for perfection. Starting small, listening more closely, and practising consistently can make a real difference. Study Twi exists to support that journey, helping you move from understanding to speaking, at your own pace.
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