ashanti

ashanti — noun

1. someone belonging to a large ethnic group whose homeland lies in the central and

1.名詞C2
釋義

someone belonging to a large ethnic group whose homeland lies in the central and southern parts of Ghana, historically known for a powerful kingdom centred on the city of Kumasi.

例句

Kofi grew up in Kumasi and is proud to be Ashanti.

predicative use: be + Ashanti for ethnic identity

The Ashanti once ruled a powerful kingdom across what is now central Ghana.

the Ashanti as a collective plural subject

同義詞
  • Asante

    spelling preferred in Ghanaian academic and official writing

文法句型

the Ashanti

an Ashanti

用法筆記

Often appears with the definite article (the Ashanti) when referring to the people as a whole; the same form serves as both singular and plural, and is also used attributively before a noun like chief, queen, or kingdom.

常見錯誤

She speaks Ashanti and lives in Kumasi.' (when meaning ethnic identity)
She is Ashanti and lives in Kumasi.
💡the verb 'speak' shifts the meaning to the language sense; use 'be' for ethnic identity.

2. a major variety of the Akan language family, used as a first or second tongue by

2.名詞C2
釋義

a major variety of the Akan language family, used as a first or second tongue by millions of people across central Ghana, especially in and around the city of Kumasi.

例句

Ama learned Ashanti from her grandmother before she started school in Accra.

object of learn for a language name

The radio station broadcasts the morning news in Ashanti and English.

in Ashanti for medium of communication

同義詞
  • Asante Twi

    linguistically precise label used in language studies

  • Twi

    broader cover term that also includes Akuapem; less specific

文法句型

speak Ashanti

in Ashanti

用法筆記

Treated as uncountable, like other language names; never use a plural form or an indefinite article ('an Ashanti' would be sense 1, the person, not the language). Distinguish from sense 1 by the verb that follows: 'speak / learn / write' point to the language.

常見錯誤

He can speak two Ashantis fluently.
He can speak Ashanti fluently.
💡language names are uncountable and take no plural.