Understanding Tone Marks in Ewe with Examples
Understanding tone marks in Ewe language is essential to writing and speaking Ewe. Omitting these diacritics can change the meaning of a sentence. That is why I have written an article explaining the differences between letters and diacritics, to help you start learning Ewe correctly and avoid picking up mistakes.
Tone Marks in Ewe (ŋɔŋlɔ Dzesi tɔxɛwo)
The Ewe language is tonal, meaning that the pitch or tone used when pronouncing a word can completely change its meaning. This makes tone marks (diacritics) essential in writing, as they guide the reader to interpret the correct meaning.
Even sentences that look very similar can communicate entirely different ideas depending on the tone marks.
Consider the following examples:
- Ò: Megblɔ na wò be → I told you that
- O: Megblɔ na wo be → I told them that
- ì: Egblo na mí be → He told us that
- i: Egblo na mi be → He told you that
- è: Èdu nua? → Did you eat?
- e: Edu nua? → Did he eat?
These subtle differences in tone marks are not optional. Omitting or misplacing them can completely change the meaning of what you are trying to communicate.
This is why understanding the distinction between Ewe letters and diacritics is critical for beginners. Mastering tone marks ensures that you read, write, and speak Ewe correctly, avoiding misunderstandings and learning the language the right way from the start.