Difference between revisions of "Amharic phrasebook"

Revision as of 16:28, 9 May 2007

Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. (formal) 

Tena yistilign. ( )

Hello. (informal) 

Seulam. ( )

How are you? 

Dunna noT? ( ?)

How are you (informal, to a man) 

Endemin-neh? ( )

How are you (informal, to a man) 

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. 

. ( )

Thank you (very much). 

(Betam) ahmesugaynalo. ( )

You're welcome. 

. ( )

Yes. 

awo. ( )

No. 

aye; aydelem. ( )

OK. 

ishi ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. ( )

I'm sorry. 

. ( )

Goodbye 

Dehna hun. ( )

Goodbye (informal) 

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English? 

 ? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

 ? ( ?)

Help! 

 ! ( !)

Look out! 

 ! ( !)

Good morning. 

. ( )

Good evening. 

. ( )

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

 ? ( ?)

Problems

Numbers

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

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

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

How much? 

Sint new?

Eating

Bread (Ethiopian) 

injera

Curry 

berbere

Meat (red)

ziga

Chicken 

doro

Vegetable 

alterkek

Spicy 

weT

Mild 

aletcha

Coffee shop 

bunna bet

I am a vegetarian 

Ziga albuelam (literally, "there is no meat")

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority

Learning more