Amharic phrasebook
From Wikitravel
Contents
Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia
[edit] Pronunciation guide
[edit] Vowels
[edit] Consonants
[edit] Common diphthongs
[edit] Phrase list
[edit] Basics
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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. ( )
- Hello. (informal)
- Seulam. ( )
- How are you? (respectful to elder)
- Dunna noT? ( ?)
- 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.
- Danar adek (to a man)
- Good morning.
- Danar adesh (to a woman)
- Good evening.
- . ( )
- Good night.
- . ( )
- Good night (to sleep)
- . ( )
- I don't understand.
- Algebagnem. ( )
- Where is the toilet?
- Metatebiya bet yet new? ( ?)
[edit] Problems
[edit] 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
[edit] Time
[edit] 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
[edit] Duration
[edit] Days
- Sunday = Ehood
- Monday = Segno
- Tuesday = Maksegno
- Wednesday = Erob
- Thursday = Hamoos
- Friday = Arb
- Saturday = Qdame
[edit] 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
[edit] Writing time and date
[edit] Colors
- Black = Tiqoor
- White = NeCH
- Red = Qey
- Blue = Semayawi
- Green = Arengwade
- Yellow = BiCHa
- Brown = Buna'aynet
- Purple = WeynTej
- Pink = Rose
- Orange = Bertukan
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Bus and train
[edit] Directions
[edit] Taxi
[edit] Lodging
[edit] Money
- How much?
- Sint new?
[edit] 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")
[edit] Bars
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[edit] Shopping
[edit] Driving
[edit] Authority
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