Adinkra Alphabet

Category: Ghanaian Proverbs

  • Fire and Gunpowder

    Adinkra
    firE and gunpowdEr do not slEEp togEthEr.
    English
    Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together.

  • Work

    Adinkra
    it is no shamE at all to work for monEy.
    English
    It is no shame at all to work for money.

  • Seeds

    Adinkra
    if all sEEds that fall wErE to grow, thEn no onE Could follow thE path undEr thE trEEs.
    English
    If all seeds that fall were to grow, then no one could follow the path under the trees.

  • Lizard

    Adinkra
    ckoCtre a chwe noC hoC soC noC, oNini danEC apcnQECreni.
    Akan (Twi)
    Okotre a ohwe no ho so no, onyini dane aponkyereni.
    English
    A lizard that knows how to hide grows to become a crocodile.

  • Money

    Adinkra
    sika ye nam sECn sECkan.
    Akan (Twi)
    Sika ye nam sen sekan.
    English
    Money is sharper than a sword.

  • Woman and Flower

    Adinkra
    cbaa ye nhwiren wc aCfiQifuo; nEC kunoC ye nEC ban.
    English
    A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.

  • Antelope

    Adinkra
    thE antElopE says that if you stay at onE spot in thE forEst for far too long, you will bEcomE thirsty.
    English
    The antelope says that if you stay at one spot in the forest for far too long, you will become thirsty.

  • Knife

    Adinkra
    a knifE doEs not know who is its mastEr.
    English
    A knife does not know who is its master.