[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/kwa/)

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# kwa

noun (Kwa — a language group); fragment (kwa)

«kwa» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Kwa is a large family of languages spoken in West Africa, in countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria; Akan (Twi), Ewe and Fon are Kwa languages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#m1)
2. (Swahili) «Kwa» is a common little word meaning «for», «to», «with» or «by», as in «kwa heri» (goodbye). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#m2)
3. As a fragment, «kwa» may be part of a longer word or a sound effect, like a duck's or frog's call; it is not an English word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#m3)

### In the lessons

In geography and language lessons Kwa languages show how many languages are spoken in West Africa. Children may meet Swahili «kwa heri» in songs and lessons about East Africa. In English texts it is never a normal word on its own. Phrases: «the Kwa languages», «kwa heri» (Swahili, goodbye).

### Examples

- Twi and Ewe belong to the Kwa languages of West Africa. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x1)
- Millions of people in Ghana speak a Kwa language. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x2)
- «Kwa heri!» means «Goodbye!» in Swahili. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x3)
- Linguists group Ewe and Fon in the Kwa family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x4)
- The comic showed a frog going «kwa kwa». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x5)
- Kwa is not an English word; it is a name for a language group. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/#x6)

### Note

Capital «Kwa» for the language family. Said «kwah». Not English: a name from African linguistics, or a Swahili word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «kwa» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/kwa/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«kwa» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kwa.html) on Mova free.