Difference between revisions of "Amharic phrasebook"

Latest revision as of 15:34, 17 June 2013

Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] Vowels

[edit] Consonants

[edit] Common diphthongs

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] 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.

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. ( _____ .)

Pleased to meet you. 

siletewaweqin dess bilognal . (ስለተዋወቅን ደስ ብሎኛል)

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. Do you have a minute 

Yiqirta, anda gazay ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Yiqirta. ( )

I'm sorry. 

Yiqirta. ( )

I don't understand. 

Algebinem.

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/alew?

Help! 

'erdata! ( erdu'y )

I'm sick. 

AhMOINyal. tam'malhu

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. 

. ( melkam meshe't ( for one and more than one persons )

Good night. 

Dehna dur.(to a man)

Good night. 

Dehna duree (to a woman)

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

Algebagnem. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

Shintabet 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 = miktiki

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/Buna'ma

Purple = WeynTej

Pink = Rose

Orange = Bertukan

Baby blue = Wuhama semayawi

Dark blue = DemaQ semayawi

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

[edit] Directions

Right = qew'n

Left = m'era

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)

[edit] Taxi

______________ meh hed felegukin

[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")

coffee with milk 

Buna b'Wetet

[edit] Bars

chfera bet

[edit] Shopping

SOOK

[edit] Driving

[edit] Authority