Amharic phrasebook

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Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice

Just for the sake of being "friendly," please do not use the informal greetings with the elderly, dignitaries or generally with people who are not your friends. Respect for elderly and people with authority is paramount in Ethiopia. Therefore, in order not to give your acquaintance a wrong impression of yourself, make sure you adjust your behaviour according to the circumstances.

Hello. (formal): Tena yistilign. (ጤና ይስጥልኝ )
Hello. (informal): Selam. (ሰላም )
Hello. (informal between friends): Halo. ( )
How are you? (respectful to elder): Dehina newot? ( ደህና ነዎት?)
How are you (informal, to a man): Endemin-neh? ( )
How are you (informal, to a woman): Endemin-nesh? ( )
Fine, thank you.: Dunna ñuey. ( )
What is your name? (to a man): Simeh man naw? ( ?)
What is your name? (to a woman): Simish man naw? ( ?)
My name is ______ .: Sime ______ yibalal. ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: . ( )
Please.: Ebakih. (to a man)
Please.: Ebakish. (to a woman)
Thank you (very much).: (Betam) ahmesugenalew. ( )
You're welcome.: Minem Aydelem. (meaning 'no problem' )
Yes.: awo. ( )
No.: aye; aydelem. ( )
OK.: ishi ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): Yiqirta. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Yiqirta. ( )
I'm sorry.: Yiqirta. ( )
Goodbye: Dehna hun. (to a man)
Goodbye: Dehna hugni. (to a woman)
Goodbye (informal): Ciao. (Taken from Italian)
I can't speak name of language [well].: [ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: Englizegna tichilaleh? (to a man)
Do you speak English?: Englizegna tichiyalesh? (to a woman)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Englizegna michel sew aleh? ( ?)
Help!: ! ( !)
Look out!: ! ( !)
Good morning.: Dehna aderk (to a young man): Dehna aderu (Elderly man/ more formal)
Good morning.: Dehna adersh (to a woman):Dehna aderu (Elderly woman/ more formal)
Good morning.: Dehna aderachu ( more than one person)
Good evening.: . ( )
Good night.: Dehna eder. (pronounced Denadur)
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: Algebagnem. ( )
Where is the toilet?: Metatebiya bet yet new? ( ?)

Problems

Numbers

0 = Zero
1 = And
2 = Hoolet
3 = Sost
4 = Arat
5 = Amest
6 = Sidist
7 = Sebat
8 = Sement
9 = ZeTegn
10 = Aser
11 = Asra-and
12 = Asra-hoolet
20 = Haya
21 = Haya-and
30 = Selasa
40 = Arba
50 = Hamsa
60 = Silsa
70 = Seba
80 = Semanya
90 = ZeTena
100 = Meto
200 = Hoolet-meto
300 = Sost-meto
1000 = Shee
2000 = Hoolet-shee

Time

Clock time

The day starts at 1 se'at ke tewatu(o'clock in the morning) = 7am
2 se'at = 8am
3 se'at = 9am
4 se'at = 10am
5 se'at = 11am
6 se'at = 12pm
7 se'at = 1pm
8 se'at = 2pm
9 se'at = 3pm
10 se'at = 4pm
11 se'at = 5pm
12 se'at = 6pm
1 se'at ke'mishitu (o'clock in the evening) = 7pm
2 se'at = 8pm
3 se'at = 9pm
4 se'at = 10pm
5 se'at = 11pm
6 se'at ke'lelitu (o'clock in the night) = 12am
7 se'at = 1am
8 se'at = 2am
9 se'at = 3am
10 se'at = 4am
11 se'at = 5am
12 se'at = 6am

Duration

Days

Sunday = Ehood
Monday = Segno
Tuesday = Maksegno
Wednesday = Erob
Thursday = Hamoos
Friday = Arb
Saturday = Qdame

Months

September = Meskerem
October = Tikimt
November = Hidar
December = Tahisas
January = Tir
February = Yekatit
March = Megabit
April = Miyaziya
May = Ginbot
June = Senay
July = Hamle
August = Nehasie

Writing time and date

Colors

Black = Tiqoor
White = NeCH
Red = Qey
Blue = Semayawi
Green = Arengwade
Yellow = BiCHa
Brown = Buna'aynet/Buna'ma
Purple = WeynTej
Pink = Rose
Orange = Bertukan
Baby blue = Wuhama semayawi
Dark blue = DemaQ semayawi

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Right = Qegn
Left = G'ra
Straight ahead = QeTita menged
Opposite = TeQarani/Feet'lefeet
Adjacent = ATegeb/Gon
Turn left = wede g'ra taTef(to a guy)/taTefi(to a girl)/taTefu (to more than one person or to an elderly)
Turn right = wede Qegn taTef(to a guy)/taTefi(to a girl)/taTefu (to more than one person or to an elderly)

Taxi

Lodging

Money

How much?: Sint new?

Eating

Bread (Ethiopian): dabo
Curry: wet
Meat (red): siga
Chicken: doro
Vegetable: ataklt
Spicy: qmemama
Mild: aletcha
Coffee shop: bunna bet
I am a vegetarian: Siga albuelam (literally, "I don't eat meat")