Twi is a variety of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana by several million people, mainly of the Akan people. It is a common name of the Akan literary dialects of Asante, Akuapem and Bono Effectively, it is a synonym for 'Akan' that is not used by the Fante people. It is not a linguistic grouping, as Akuapem Twi is more closely related to Fante dialect than it is to Asante Twi. Twi generally subsumes the following Akan dialects: Ahafo, Akuapem, Akyem, Asante, Asen, Bono, Dankyira and Kwawu, which have about 4.4 million speakers in southern and central Ghana.

Etymology

The name "Twi" is derived from the name of a Bono king, Nana Baffuor Twi.