Oromo is a language spoken in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Pronunciation guide

Map of Oromo language varieties and dialects

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Akkam. ( )

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

akkam jirta? ( )

Fine, thank you.

nagaa,galatoomaa. ( )

What is your name?

maqaan kee eenyu? ( )

My name is ___koo___ .

_maqaa____ . ( __dha___ .)

Nice to meet you.

walbaruu keenyatti gammadeera. ( )

Please.

maaloo ( )

Thank you.

galatoomaa ( )

You're welcome.

homaa miti ( )

Yes.

Eeyyee ( )

No.

Lakki ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

dhiifama ( )

I'm sorry.

Ani ..dha Dhiifama ( )

Goodbye

nagaatti ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

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

afaan oromoo dubbachuu hin danda'u [gaarii]. ( )

Do you speak English?

Afaan Ingilizii ni dubbatta? ( )

Is there someone here who speaks English?

asitti namni Afaan Oromoo dubbatu jiraa? ( )

Help!

gargaaruu! ( )

Look out!

ala ilaalaa! ( )

Good morning.

akkam bulte. ( )

Good evening.

akkam ooltan. ( )

Good night.

halkan gaarii. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

naaf hin galu. ( )

Where is the toilet?

 ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. (na dhiisi .)

Don't touch me!

 ! (na hin tuqinaa !)

I'll call the police.

. (Poolisii nan bilbila .)

Police!

 ! ( poolisii!)

Stop! Thief!

 ! ! (dhaabuu ! hattuu!)

I need your help.

. ( gargaarsa keessan barbaada.)

It's an emergency.

. (yeroo muddamaati .)

I'm lost.

. (Ani badeera .)

I lost my bag.

. (boorsaa koo dhabe .)

I lost my wallet.

. (boorsaa koo dhabe .)

I'm sick.

. ( Dhukkubseen jira.)

I've been injured.

. (ani miidhameera .)

I need a doctor.

. (doktora na barbaachisa .)

Can I use your phone?

 ? (bilbila keessan fayyadamuu nan danda'aa ?)

Numbers

1

(tokko )

2

(lama )

3

( sadii)

4

(afur )

5

(shan )

6

(ja'a )

7

(torba )

8

(saddeet )

9

(sagal )

10

(kudhan )

11

( kudha tokko)

12

(kudha lama )

13

(kudha sadii )

14

( )

15

( )

16

( )

17

( )

18

( )

19

( )

20

( )

21

( )

22

( )

23

( )

30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

( )

90

( )

100

( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

(kuma tokko )

2,000

(kuma lama )

1,000,000

( miliyoona tokko)

1,000,000,000

(biiliyoona tokko )

1,000,000,000,000

(tiriiliyoona tokko )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

(walakkaa )

less

(gad bu'aa )

more

(caalaa )

Time

now

(amma )

later

(booda )

before

( dura)

morning

(ganama )

afternoon

(dura )

evening

(galgala )

night

( halkan)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

(sa'aatii tokko ganama )

two o'clock AM

( sa'aatii lama ganama)

noon

( waaree)

one o'clock PM

(galgala sa'aatii tokkoo )

two o'clock PM

(galgala sa'aatii lama )

midnight

(halkan walakkaa )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

(daqiiqaa )

_____ hour(s)

( sa'a)

_____ day(s)

(guyyaa )

_____ week(s)

(torbee )

_____ month(s)

(ji'a )

_____ year(s)

(waggaa )

Days

today

(har'a )

yesterday

(kaleessa )

tomorrow

( boor)

this week

(torban kana keessa )

last week

(torban darbe )

next week

(torban dhufu )

Sunday

(wiixata )

Monday

(isniina )

Tuesday

(kibxata )

Wednesday

(roobii )

Thursday

(kamisa )

Friday

(jimaata )

Saturday

(dilbata )

Months

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

( )

white

( )

grey/gray

( )

red

( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

(meeqa ticket to )

One ticket to _____, please.

(tikkeettii tokko gara, maaloo. )

Where does this train/bus go?

(baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa deema )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

(baaburri/otoobisii eessa deema )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

(baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa seena )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

(akkamittan bira ga'a )

...the train station?

( buufata baaburaa?)

...the bus station?

(buufata konkolaataa? )

...the airport?

(buufata buufata xiyyaaraa? )

...downtown?

(magaalaa guddoo? )

...the youth hostel?

( hospitaala dargaggootaa?)

...the _____ hotel?

(-icha __hoteela? )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

(hospitaala )

...restaurants?

(mana nyaataa )

...bars?

(barruulee )

...sites to see?

(marsariitiiwwan ilaaluuf )

Can you show me on the map?

( kaartaa irratti natti agarsiisuu dandeessu)

street

( daandii)

Turn left.

(gara bitaatti garagali )

Turn right.

(gara mirgaatti garagali )

left

( bitaa)

right

(sirii )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

(kabaa )

south

(kibba )

east

(baha )

west

(dhihaatti )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

(taaksii )

Take me to _____, please.

(gara na geessi,maaloo. )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

(achi na geessi,maaloo )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

(Kutaawwan jiran qabduu? )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

(Kutaan tokko nama tokkoof/nama lamaaf meeqa? )

Does the room come with...

(Kutaan sun waliin dhufaa? )

...bedsheets?

(siree siree? )

...a bathroom?

( mana fincaanii?)

...a telephone?

(bilbila tokko? )

...a TV?

(televijiinii tokko )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

(Ciree/irbaata ni dabalamaa? )

What time is breakfast/supper?

(Ciree/irbaata sa'aatii meeqatti? )

Please clean my room.

(Mee kutaa koo qulqulleessi. )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

(Doolaara Ameerikaa/Awustiraaliyaa/Kaanaadaa ni fudhattuu? )

Do you accept British pounds?

(Paawundii Biriteen ni fudhattuu? )

Do you accept euros?

(Yuuroo ni fudhattuu? )

Do you accept credit cards?

(Kaardii liqii ni fudhattaa? )

Can you change money for me?

(Maallaqa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa? )

Where can I get money changed?

(Maallaqa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a? )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

(Cheekiin imaltootaa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa? )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

(Cheekiin imaltootaa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a? )

What is the exchange rate?

(Sadarkaan sharafa alaa maali? )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

(Maashiniin kaffaltii ofumaan (ATM) eessa jira? )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

(bishaan )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

(soodaa )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

(qaalii )

cheap

(rakasa )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

(Na gowwoomsaa jirta. )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

(shaampoo ilkaanii )

...a toothbrush.

( buruushiin ilkaanii)

...tampons.

. (tampons jedhaman )

...soap.

(saamuunaa )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

(saffisa daangeessuu )

gas (petrol) station

(gaazii )

petrol

(boba’aa )

diesel

(diizilaa )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )