Ewe is a member of the Volta-Niger branch of Niger-Congo languages. It is spoken by about 3 million in the Volta Region of south-east Ghana, and also in southwest Togo and in parts of Benin. It is recognised as a national language in Ghana, where English is the official language, and in Togo, where French is the official language.
Ewe is also known as Ebwe, Efe, Ehwe, Eibe, Eue, Eve, Gbe, Krepe, Krepi, Popo and Vhe. Ewe is closely related Gbe languages, such as Fon, Gen, Phla, Phera and Aja.
The Ewe people believe that their ancestors came from Ketu, a town in Benin, and migrated to the southeast of Ghana. Some of the Ewe also settled in Togo.
Diedrich Hermann Westermann (1875-1956), a German missionary linguist, published dictionaries and grammars for Ewe and related languages. Other linguists have worked on various aspects of Ewe.
Wodzi amegbetɔwo katã ablɔɖeviwoe eye wodzena bubu kple gomekpɔkpɔ sɔsɔe. Susu kple dzitsinya le wo dometɔ ɖesiaɖe si eyata wodze be woanɔ anyi le ɖekawɔwɔ blibo me.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about the Ewe language
Basic Ewe for Foreign Students (PDF)