Formerly called: Ashanti. a language of S Ghana: one of the two chief dialects of Akan Compare Fanti
a member of the Negroid people who speak this language
What does twi- mean? Twi- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “two” or “twice.” It appears in some older, mostly obsolete and rare terms. Twi- ultimately comes from the Old English twi-, closely related to two, twelve, twice, twin, and even twig. The Latin counterpart to twi- is bi- and the Greek is di-. Twi- isn’t productive in English today, with two, twin, and twice variously combined with words to do the former work of twi-. Combining forms derived from other languages, such as bi- or di-, are widely used, especially in technical terms.
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German zwie- ( Old High German zwi- ), Latin bi-, Greek di-. See two
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He does not speak Twi and said he has struggled to make friends and feels socially anxious.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2025
In the Twi language, “Maame” means both “mother” and “woman.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 8, 2023
“Maame,” Maddie explains, has many meanings in her family’s native Twi, but to her, “woman” is its most important connotation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2022
Ten of the new additions are in Africa, including Lingala, Twi and Tigrinya.
From BBC ● May 11, 2022
I can still remember some Twi: Eti sen?
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Where it were friendship's schism, Were not his Lucius long with us to tarry, To separate these twi- Lights, the Dioscuri; And keep the one half from his Harry.
From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald
Singing "Home, Sweet home," we swept, and scrubbed, and dusted up the place, Then smoked out on the doorstep in the twi- light's tender grace.
From 'Hello, Soldier!' Khaki Verse by Dyson, Edward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
