sentiment_satisfied How to say

How to say “how are you”

Nɛ a ɖe gbɔn ? is the Fon expression for asking how someone is. Much more than a “how are you”, it opens a whole cultural exchange about health and family.

schedule 4 min
signal_cellular_alt Beginner
1
The question

Nɛ a ɖe gbɔn ?

Nɛ a ɖe gbɔn ?
How are you? (lit. how are you being?)

Variants depending on formality:

Nɛ a ɖe gbɔn ?Standard
Agbé meɖe ?How is life? (poetic)
Àlàfíà wɛ̀ à ?Are you at peace? (formal/to an elder)
2
Answers

Answering according to the situation

Modesty is valued. Avoid an overly direct “very well!”.

Un ɖò ganjiI’m fine
Un ɖò kpɛ́ɖéI’m doing a little (modest)
Mawu ní kpàThanks be to God (religious)
E nyɔ tawunVery well (rare)
Mawu ní kpà
Thanks be to God — standard answer

These words spoken by a native speaker: Parlons Fongbe Academy — 79 video lessons with a native speaker.Discover

3
Follow-up

Asking about the family

After the greeting, asking about the family is a must:

Hɛnnu ɖò ganji à ?Is the family well?
Vǐ lɛ̀ ɖò ganji ?Are the children well?
Asì towe nyɔ́ ?Is your wife well?
Nɔ̀ towe lɛ́ ɖò ganji ?Is your mother well?
psychology

Cultural code

In Fon, forgetting to ask about the family after “how are you” is very rude. It’s the cultural equivalent of skipping the greeting altogether.

Greeting + family = one single ritual

Nɛ a ɖe gbɔn ? + a question about the family = the complete expression in Benin. A social exchange, not empty politeness.

à ≠ ǎ
One tone, and everything changes
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