Język Ewe - Ewe language - Eʋegbe

Ewe personal names corresponding to various weekdays

This is one of the Ewe texts collected by us. See below the text for an English translation. Later on we will add the grammatical commentary and audio recordings of the text. Djoubogbe Kossi Afoutou is the author of the text and English translation. Enjoy your lecture!

Ewe version

KƆSIƉAME ŊKEKEWO KPLE EME NYAWO

Le Eʋe dukɔwo mela, ŋkɔ nye dzesiaɖe, eye dzigbe ŋkeke nyena ŋkeke tɔxɛ na Eʋevi ɖesiaɖe klui. Tso Dzoɖa ŋkekedzi vasede Kɔsiɖa ƒe ŋkekedzi la, ŋkeke ɖesiaɖe ɖo dzigbe ƒe ŋkɔ, eye neneŋ ƒe ŋkɔ ɖena amesi tsɔ ŋkɔla ƒe aƒevi nyenye fiana. Dzigbezã alo dzigbe ŋkɔ ateŋ aƒonu kuɖe amesi tsɔ ŋkɔla ƒe tsɔme ŋti. Miele nu ŋlɔge tso neneŋ ƒe ŋkɔ kple eƒe tsɔme nyawo ŋti le enyasio gbɔna la me :

DZOƉA: ŋkeke gbãtɔ - dzoɖaviwo
Emevio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kɔdzo, Kɔdzo, Kɔdzovi, Kɔdzogã, Kudzo, Kudzovi, Kudzogã
Nyɔnuwo : Adzo, Adzovi, Adzogã, Adzowavi, Adzowagã, Adzowa, Adzotɔ.

Dzoɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Dzoɖaviwo nye na amefafa wo, wo me ʋlinaɖo kaba kaba le enuwo ŋti o, vɔ gake to egbɔ be woateŋ a tsidzi hã la, wo buna tame ŋtɔ hafi wo wɔnanu. Dzoɖaviwo me lɔnabe yewoa dzagɔ le amedzi o, eye wo haanu alegbegbe nenye be wo wɔnu davo le amebubu ŋti. Dzoɖaviwo lɔna ame vevie eye wo tsɔnanu doadzidzɔ ɖe woƒe ameveviewo alo woƒe lɔlɔtɔwo ŋti, wo dzina hã be amewo nelɔ yewo abe yewo lɔwo ene, eye ameɖokui tsɔtsɔ savɔ ɖe amebubuta nyena dzoɖavio ƒe agbemenyawo. Lɔlɔ nye nu tɔhɛ na wo. Dzoɖaviwo dzina be yewoa wɔ nugãwo le agbeme eye wo nɔna drɔɛgãwo kukum, wo ga nyena amesiwo nɔna dzikudom edzi edzi eye le eyiyiaɖewo megbe kola, wobe dziku dodoa nu va yina enumake.

BRAƉA: ŋkeke evelia – braɖaviwo
Emevio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kɔmla, Kɔmlavi, Kɔmlagã
Nyɔnuwo : Abra, Abravi, Abragã, Abrewavi, Abrewagã, Abrewa

Braɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Braɖaviwo nyena amesiwo nyananu kuɖe amegbetɔ ƒomea ŋti. Wo ga nyena amesiwo kpɔna dzidzɔ alo wɔna vividodoɖe amehaviwo ŋti. Nublanui kpɔkpɔɖe amehaviwo ŋti nyena enusi hɔna teƒe geɖe le woƒe agbewome. Braɖaviwo ɖoato amewo nyuie, woƒe nugɔmesese nye kpɔɖeŋu eye le nenemanu ke woƒe dziku dodo kaba kaba hã vaname ema. Braɖaviwo nye amesiwo lɔnabe yewoa nye amekplɔlawo alo zimenɔlawo alo amenunɔlawo. Braɖaviwo kpɔna dzidzɔ alegbegbe eye tamesusu nyuie hã nɔna wosi alebe enuenula, wo dzinabe yewoa wɔ nusi dze alo nusi nye nuteƒe la. Braɖaviwo nyena amesiwo nyananu nyuie eye woƒe nusɔsrɔ wɔnawo le suku dzenaedzi nawo nyuie alegbegbebe, edɔwɔwɔ kude agbãle ŋti alo asinu dɔwɔwɔ nye enusi ɖenavi nawo ŋtɔ. Braɖaviwo lɔna enumama kple wohaviwo eye wo ɖona enukomo ɖe wohaviwo ŋti.

KUƉA: ŋkeke etɔlia – kuɖaviwo
Eme vio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kɔku, Kɔkuvi, Kɔkugã
Nyɔnuwo : Aku, Akuvi, Akugã, Akuwa, Akuwavi, Akuwagã, Akutɔ

Kuɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Le kuɖaviwo ƒe dzɔdzɔmekela, woyɔfu kple ʋliʋlidodo kpakple edzitsitsi, eye wonɔ edzitsim le eyiyi geɖewome le wɔnaɖewoŋu. Kuɖaviwo nyena amesiwo dzena agbagba geɖe eye ga sɔ yi edzila, wo nyena amesiwo nye nyateƒe tolawo le ɣeyiyigeɖewo me. Kuɖaviwo ƒe dzitsitsi va nanabe woƒe nuwɔnawo ɖeadzi leƒo na wohaviwo le ɣeyiyiaɖe wo me. Kuɖaviwo ʋuna woƒe dzime na wo haviwo fa, eye wo kuaɖe wohaviwoŋu vevie. Wo dzina hã be, yewoa nye kpɔneŋu le ƒome gbenɔnɔme, vo gake edzi edzi la, nugɔme mase mase nana be wome kpɔna dzidzeme le srɔgbenɔnɔ me o. Kuɖaviwo lɔna alɔnudɔwɔwɔ nyuie. Wo nɔna aza ɖuɖu alo dzidzɔ kpɔkpɔ teƒewo eye wo lɔna atsɔ wɔwɔ ŋtɔ.

YAWOƉA: ŋkeke enelia – yawoɖaviwo
Eme vio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Yawo, Yawovi, Yawogã
Nyɔnuwo : Yawa, Yawavi, Yawagã

Yawoɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Yawoɖaviwo nye amesiwo tsɔna woƒe tame susu alo tagomenya ko sɔ wɔna dɔ, elabena wome ɖoato amebubu aɖeke o, eye yawoɖaviwo ƒe tonu mase mase nana be wo wɔna nusi woɖoɖe dzidzi ko. Yawoɖaviwo ɖenabla wɔna nu kaba kaba kple tamesusu ko be yewo ma ɖoto amebubu o. Wo nyena amesiwo ateŋ anya agbãlɛ nyuie alo ateŋ awɔ asinudɔ nyuie, vɔ toegbɔ be wome ɖoato amewo wola, yawoɖaviwo ƒe nunya alo ŋgɔgbe dede nyena kame tete geɖe le woƒe agbe wome. Vɔ gake yawodaviwo nye amesiwo lɔna ƒome gbe nɔnɔ eye wo wɔna ƒomeme ƒe nyawo nyuie, elabena wo nya alesi woateŋ aƒonu le amedomee. Wo ganyena amesiwo nɔ dziku dom ko eye woƒe fulele tɔgbe meli o.

FIƉA: ŋkeke atɔlia – fiɖaviwo
Eme vio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kofi, Kofivi, Kofigã
Nyɔnuwo : Afi, Afivi, Afigã, Afiwavi, Afiwa, Afiwagã, Afiyo

Fiɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Fiɖaviwo nye vevie dola gãwo, wo lɔna ŋsɛ dɔwɔwɔ aklaɖi tɔɛ eye wo ga nyena kãlɛ wɔlawo kpakple kutri kulawo. Fiɖaviwo ƒe susu wome ʋu nyuie eye wo nyena ŋzɔnɔlagãwo le ƒome alo edume. Vevie dodo nana be fiɖaviwo nyena suku dela nyuie kple asinudɔ wɔla nyuie wo. Wo ɖena susu nyuie wo alegbegbe eye wo lɔna bubu dede amewo ŋti ɖe nɔnɔmenyuie tɔme. Fiɖaviwo lɔna wo srɔwo alegbegbe kpakple woƒe viwo ŋtɔ eye ebe lele na ƒome nyena enu hɔasi le woƒe ŋkume. Vɔkela, fiɖaviwo ʋaaŋu alegbegbe eye wo me nana nu ame ko o, wo nana nu ame kple susu be enua wɔa ɖevi.

MEMLƐƉA: ŋkeke adelia – memlɛɖaviwo
Eme vio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kɔmi, Kɔmivi, Kɔmigã, Kwami, Kwame
Nyɔnuwo : Ami, Amivi, Amigã, Ama, Amevi, Amagã, Ameyo

Memlɛɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Memlɛɖaviwo nye amesiwo nɔanyi kpoo, wo me nye tukaɖa wɔlawo o. Memlɛɖaviwo lɔna adɔme nyuie wɔwɔ, wo wɔna kpekpedeŋu geɖe na amewo eye wo ga sena veve ɖe amewota. Memlɛɖaviwo lɔna ame le nyateƒe kple anukɔaɖe me eye ŋkume nuwɔwɔ me nye nusi doa dzidzɔ na wo o. Memlɛɖaviwo nyena ame fafa wo, wo me doa dɔmedzu kabakaba o, ŋku leleɖe nuŋu nye enusi wo lena vevie ɖe akɔ, wo nye amesiwo hɔ yayra tso Wɔla gbɔ, wo kpɔa ŋgɔgbe yiyi nyuie le enu gede wome eye dzɔgbe nyuie nɔna wo yome esiayi.

KOSIƉA: ŋkeke adrɛlia – kosiɖaviwo
Eme vio tɔna ŋkɔ siawo :
Ŋsuwo : Kɔsi, Kɔsivi, Kɔsigã, Kwasi
Nyɔnuwo : Kɔsiwa, Kɔsiwavi, Kɔsiwagã, Akɔsiwa

Kɔsiɖaviwo ƒe agbeme wɔnawo kple woƒe nunana tso wɔla gbɔ Kɔsiɖaviwo nye gbɔgbɔmeviwo, Mawu tsitsitre le woƒe gbɔgbɔme eye wo ga nye Mawu ƒe dɔtsɔlawo. Kɔsiɖaviwo yɔfu kple ablɔɖenyenye kpakple vovokpɔkpɔ. Wo nye amesiwo kpɔna nublanui na amewo, wo doa vevie nu ŋtɔ eye kutri kuku nye woƒe akpo hɔnu elabe, ne eva vɛme be kɔsiɖaviwo dze anyi la, wo ga fɔna enumake. Kɔsiɖaviwo yɔfu kpakple lɔlɔ eye wo tsɔ woƒe agbeblibo kpakple woƒe ŋsɛwo kãtã lɔna ame. Suku me nyawo doadzidzɔ na kɔsiɖaviwo eye agbãlɛ dɔwɔwɔwo ɖeavi nawo nyuie, elabena woƒe tagbɔ kɔ. Kɔsidaviwo lɔna fiaɖuɖu le nuwo nu, eye le afisiafi si wo le la, wo ɖea woɖokuiwo fia to wɔna geɖewome. Kɔsiɖaviwo nyena amesiwo ɖea susu he wɔanu alo he ɖoa aɖaŋu nyuiwo. Kɔsiɖaviwo maanu kple dzidzɔ tso dzimeke.

Enya siawo tɔ asi enu etɔ dzi le Eʋe dukɔwo me: ŋkɔ sɔsɔ, ŋkuɖoɖo dzigbe ŋkeke dzi kpakle ŋkɔ ɖesiaɖe ƒe emenyawo. Edzi edzi neneŋ ƒe nyawo va vana eme nenema le amewo ƒe agbeme.

English translation

DAYS IN THE WEEK WITH THEIR STEREOTIPES

In Ewe ethnical groups, certain names are symbol or indication connected with the day of birth. Mean while almost every person from Ewe group is named according to the day in the week on which he or she was born. The day in the week on which one person was born is important to that person. And it easy to remember the day in the week on which one person was born, because each day in the week has a specific name, which is connected with Ewe culture. The person using one of those names are easily identify as Ewe ethnical group descendant. That kind of name usually tells some stereotypes. We are going to provide information about the names, their meaning and their stereotype in the coming words:

MONDAY: Day one – Monday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kɔdzo, Kɔdzo, Kɔdzovi, Kɔdzogã, Kudzo, Kudzovi, Kudzogã
Girls: Adzo, Adzovi, Adzogã, Adzowavi, Adzowagã, Adzowa, Adzotɔ.

Life style of Monday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator Monday’s natives are generally shy, they do not hurry much about things, even though they could, they do think over before taken appropriate action according to the situation. They do not like to offend or hurt people and they suffer if it happens that they do hurt or make other people sad. Monday’s natives are people who love very much their partner or their friends and they like to offer gift to their close relations or partner to make them happy, they want people to like or love them the same way they did to them, and they easily can offer their life to save others. Love is very important for them. They like to make great realizations and they do have great dreams, also they are people that quickly become angry and after few time they become happy.

TUESDAY: Day two – Tuesday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kɔmla, Kɔmlavi, Kɔmlagã
Girls: Abra, Abravi, Abragã, Abrewavi, Abrewagã, Abrewa

Life style of Tuesday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator Tuesday’s natives, are people that have a great gift of general over view about humans, they know humans characteristics well. They like to enjoy themselves and their relations. They like to express their feelings to people, and they can use their time or moment doing so. They like to be close and listen to people, their understanding is an example but in the same way they become quickly angry. They like to be leader or chief or responsible for something. They are happy people and they do have very great mind mean while they are rational people and they do things true. The natives of Tuesday are intelligent people, they observe great studying and the have success in professional life. They like to share and welcome people.

WEDNESDAY: Day three – Wednesday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kɔku, Kɔkuvi, Kɔkugã
Girls: Aku, Akuvi, Akugã, Akuwa, Akuwavi, Akuwagã, Akutɔ

Life style of Wednesday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator From the beginning, the natives of Wednesday are full of bravery and spontaneity or quickness and sometimes they do things with spontaneity. They are courageous people and further more they are people who tell true in many circumstances. Their spontaneity some times, in some actions make their relations perplex or unhappy. They really open their heart to relations and they like to be very close to their relations. They usually want to be an example in family’s life, but often, lack of understanding or incomprehension make their family every day life unhappy or perplex. They do manual work very well. They usually like to be part of enjoyment activities mean while they look very good.

THURSDAY: Day four –Thursday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Yawo, Yawovi, Yawogã
Girls: Yawa, Yawavi, Yawagã, Ayawa

Life style of Thursday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator Thursday’s natives are people that use only their knowledge and their mind to do things, simply because they do not listen to advises, and this attitude of avoiding advises make them do things according to their mind or their heart. They do things as fast as possible only to avoid advises. They are people who can easily study or who can easily do manual works, but because of their attitude of avoiding advises their studies or the improvement of their intelligent have limit in their life. But they behave very well in family relations and they take care of family very good because they have master of speech and conversation between people. They can be easily angry and their anger last long.

FRIDAY: Day five – Friday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kofi, Kofivi, Kofigã
Girls: Afi, Afivi, Afigã, Afiwavi, Afiwa, Afiwagã, Afiyo

Life style of Friday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator The natives of Friday are the most courageous people, they work hard, very strong, and they are very determined people. Friday’s natives are open mind people and their very clever people in a family or in a country. Their determination helps them to study and to do manual work very well. They have very good ideas and they respect people in very good conditions. They love their wife and their children very much and taking care of family is the most important thing in their point of view. But, the natives of Friday are very jealous and they do not share with people without reason, they help people when it is needed.

SATURDAY: Day six – Saturday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kɔmi, Kɔmivi, Kɔmigã, Kwami, Kwame
Girls: Ami, Amivi, Amigã, Ama, Amevi, Amagã, Ameyo

Life style of Saturday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator Saturday’s natives are people generally calm and they do not make troubles. They are good in relations with people, they use their time helping people and they are often deeply sorry about bad things that happen to people. They are loyal to people, they love with truth and trust, they tell truth but they don’t like to show themselves or show any kind of self-considerations to people. The Saturday’s natives are in average shy people, they don’t become quickly angry, they watch out everything very carefully and they remember everything very well, they succeed in many things and they are full of blessing from God.

SUNDAY: Day seven – Sunday’s natives
Descendant from Ewe group named as follow:
Boys: Kɔsi, Kɔsivi, Kɔsigã, Kwasi
Girls: Kɔsiwa, Kɔsiwavi, Kɔsiwagã, Akɔsiwa

Life style of Sunday’s natives and their spirit gift from the creator The natives of Sunday are spirit child, God stand in their spirit and they are also people who have a mission of accomplishment. They enjoy in their life freedom and independence. They easily feel compassion or sympathy for people, they usually hold on situations, competition and determination are their strength or power. This explain why, when they fell to succeed, they quickly recovery or still hold the situation under control. They have inside themselves strong love, and they love with all their strength during their whole life. They study very dearly and they have often very successful professional life, because they have very clear and bright mind. They usually have ambition to be leader or chief or manager, and everywhere they are, their attitudes prove their leadership. They think very easily and very much, they have ideas for doing things, and they give very good advises. They are people who open their heart and share their goodness with people.

This work shows three things in Ewe ethnical groups: the naming process, remembrance of the day of birth in the week and the spirit gift or meaning connected with name. Often the description above happens exactly in people’s life.

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