Wolayttattuwa (Wolaytta language) is spoken in Ethiopia by the Wolaitans. It is the first language of the vast majority of people in the Southern Ethiopia region of Ethiopia.

Phrase list

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.

Basics

Hello.

Saroo.

How are you?

Ayi malee?

Fine, thank you

Lo'o, galataysi.

What is your name?

Ne sunttau oonee?

My name is ______ .

Ta sunttay___

Nice to meet you.

Gayttidoogan ufayttaas.

Please.

Hayyanaa,

Thank you.

Galataysi.

You're welcome.

Metoy baawa.

Yes.

Ee.

No.

Chii, Akkay.

Excuse me. Atto ga.

I'm sorry.

Tawu atto ga.

Goodbye

Saruwan

Where are you from? (country of origin)

Awu biittappe yaadii?

I can't speak Wolayttattuwa (Wolaytta language).

Wolayttattuwa haasayaa danddaykke. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

Ne Inggilizettuwa haasayay?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Hagan Inggilizettuwa haasayi eriya asi de'ii? ( ?)

Help!

Maaddarkkii!

Good morning.

Saro aqadii?

Good afternoon.

Saro pee'adii?

Good evening.

Saro aqa.

Good night.

Lo'o qamma gido.

I understand.

Akeekaas, Geliis, Qoncciis.

I don't understand.

Tawu qonccibeenna.

Where is the toilet?

Sheeshsha keettay awugaara de'ii?

Problems

Leave me alone.

Buzo daana koyyaysi.

Don't touch me!

Tana bochchoppa.

I'll call the police.

Ta Xaaciya/ Polisiya xeegana.

Police!

Xaaciyawu!, Polisiyawu!

Stop! Thief!

Eqqa! Kaysuwa!

I need your help.

Ne maadoy tawu koshshees.

It's an emergency.

Ellello sohuwa.

I'm lost.

Tawu ogee bayyiis.

I lost my bag.

Ta borssay bayyiis.

I lost my wallet.

Ta kiisiya borssay bayyiis.

I'm sick.

Taani sakettaysi.

I've been injured.

Taani qohettaasi.

I need a doctor.

Taayyoo Aakimiya koshshees.

Can I use your phone?

Ne cagaa/ silkkiya go'ettana danddayiyanaa?

Numbers

1

Issuwa

2

Naa"a

3

Heezza

4

Oydda

5

Ichchasha

6

Usuppuna

7

Laappuna

8

Hosppuna

9

Uddufuna

10

Tamma

11

Tammanne isiino

12

Tammanne naa"a

13

Tammanne heezza

14

Tammanne oydda

15

Tammanne ichchasha

16

Tammanne usuppuna

17

Tammanne laappuna

18

Tammanne hosppuna

19

Tammanne uddufuna

20

Laatama

21

Laatamanne isiino

22

Laatamanne naa"a

23

Laatamanne heezza

30

Hasttama

31

Hasttamanne isiino

40

Oytama

50

Ishatama

60

Usuppun tamma

70

Laappun tamma

80

Hosppun tamma

90

Uddufun tamma

100

Xeeta

200

Naa"u xeeta

300

Heezzu xeeta

1,000

Sha'a

2,000

Naa"u Sha'a

1,000,000

Miilooniya

1,000,000,000

Biilooniya

1,000,000,000,000

Tiriilooniya

half

baggaa

less

guuttaa

more

daruwa

Time

now

ha'i

later

simmidi

before

kase

morning

guuraa

afternoon

gallassaa

evening

omarssaa

night

qammaa

Clock time

one o'clock AM

gallassappe issi saate

two o'clock AM

gallassappe naa"u saate

noon

poo'uwa

one o'clock PM

qammaappe issi saate

two o'clock PM

qammaappe naa"u saate

midnight

bilahe

Duration

_____ minute(s)

_____ daqiiqaa/ta

_____ hour(s)

saatiya/ta

_____ day(s)

_____ gallassaa/ta

_____ week(s)

_____ giyaa/ta, saaminttaa/ta

_____ month(s)

_____ aginaa/ta

_____ year(s)

_____ layttaa/ta

Days

today

hachchi

yesterday

zino ( )

tomorrow

wontto ( )

this week

ha saaminttan

last week

aadhdhida saaminttan

next week

kaalliya saaminttan

Sunday

Woggaa

Monday

Sagga

Tuesday

Ciishsha

Wednesday

Woliila

Thursday

Shaaga

Friday

Bizza

Saturday

Qeeraa

Months

January

Shachchiya

February

Longgiya

March

Bullaalaa

April

Gabbaa

May

Laaboshaa

June

Guuliya

July

Caljjuwa

August

Kuushshaa

September

Gifaataa

October

Gooluwa

November

Baraataa

December

Duubbalaa

Colors

black

Karetta

white

bootta

gray

giraacaa

red

zo"o

blue

salo mera

yellow

adil"e ciishsha mera

green

maata mera

orange

loome mera

purple

( )

brown

tukke mera

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

______tiikkeetee woysu biree?

One ticket to _____, please.

Issi tiikkeetiya___, hayyanaa

Where does this train/bus go?

Ha baaburee/kaamee awa bii?

Where is the train/bus to _____?

____biya baaburee/kaamee awugaara de'ii?

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

Ha baaburee/kaamee awan eqqii?

When does the train/bus for _____?

____baaburee/kaamee awude de'ii?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

Ha baaburee/kaamee ____ awude gakkii?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

Taani ___ waana demmiyanaa

...the train station?

Baaburee eqqiyosaa?

...the bus station?

kaamee eqqiyosaa?

...the airport?

Horoophphilliya man"iyaa?

...downtown?

giddo ambbaa

...the youth hostel?

Yelagatu uuteeliya

...the _____ hotel?

_____ uteeliya

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

Amerkkaa/Kanaada/Awusttraaliya/Inggilize Qontsila

Where are there a lot of...

Ha cora ____ awan de'iyoonaa?

...hotels?

Uuteeleta

...restaurants?

Quma keettata

...bars?

Ushsha keettata

...sites to see?

Be'iyobata

Can you show me on the map?

Karttan bessana danddayay?

street

Ogiya

Turn left.

Haddirssi simma

Turn right.

Ushachchi simma

left

haddirssa

right

ushachcha

straight ahead

sitti gaada ba

towards the _____

____kko

past the _____

____ppe snttaara

before the _____

____ppe haara

Watch for the _____.

___xella

intersection

kentterettuwa

north

huupessa

south

tohossa

east

arshsho

west

arggo

uphill

deriya liiphiya

downhill

deriya xaphuwa

Taxi

Taxi!

Taksiya

Take me to _____, please.

Tana ___ efuutee

How much does it cost to get to _____?

___baanawu woysu bira koshshii?

Take me there, please.

Tana hegawu efarkki hayyanaa

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

shemppiyo kifileti de'iyonaa?

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

issi asawu/naa"u asawu kifile woysee?

Does the room come with...

Kifiliyan ____de'ii?

...bedsheets?

ansoolati?

...a bathroom?

meecettiyosay?

...a telephone?

silkkee?

...a TV?

televizhiinee?

May I see the room first?

koyrottada kifileta be'ana danddayiyanaa?

Do you have anything quieter?

Ellelliyabi de'i?

...bigger?

dariyagee shin?

...cleaner?

geeyyiyagee shin?

...cheaper?

hiraysiyagee shin?

OK, I'll take it.

ero, taani a ekkana.

I will stay for _____ night(s).

taani ___ qammaa(ta) takkana de'aysi

Can you suggest another hotel?

hara uuteeliya bessana danddayayi?

Do you have a safe?

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

Qan"ee/kawoy gujettii?

What time is breakfast/supper?

Qan"iya/kawuwa miyo saatee woysaanee?

Please clean my room.

Hayyanaa ta kifiliya geeshsha.

Can you wake me at _____?

____saatiyan tana denttuutee?

I want to check out.

Kiyana koyyaysi.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Amerkkaa/Awutomaatikiya/Kanaadaa/doolaareta ekkay?

Do you accept British pounds?

Inggilize pawunddiya ekkay?

Do you accept euros?

Yuuruwa ekkay?

Do you accept credit cards?

Karddiyan qanxxana danddayiyanaa?

Can you change money for me?

Tawu miishshaa laammana danddayay?

Where can I get money changed?

Miishshaa awan laammana danddayiyanaa?

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

Tawu manddariyageetu cheekkiya laammana danddayay?

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

Taani manddariyageetu cheekkiya awan laammana danddayiyanaa?

What is the exchange rate?

Issoy Woysan laamottii?

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

Eeti Emmee awan de'ii?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

Hayyanaa issi asawu/naa"u asatussi xarpheezzaa.

Can I look at the menu, please?

Meenuu/Kattaa qonccissuwa be'ana danddayiyanaa?

Can I look in the kitchen?

Kushshiinaa be'ana danddayiyanaa?

Is there a house specialty?

Haso dumma kattay de'ii?

Is there a local specialty?

Wogaa kattay de'ii?

I'm a vegetarian.

taani ataakilttiya dosaysi

I don't eat pork.

Gudunttaa ashuwa miikke.

I don't eat beef.

Ashuwa miikke.

I only eat kosher food.

Kooshere katta xallan maysi

Guuttaa gujjana danddayay? (Guutta zaytiya/oyssaa/cabbaa)

fixed-price meal

ekettida gatee de'iyo kattaa

a la carte

issi laa karttiya

breakfast

Qan"iya

lunch

laaxaa

supper

kawuwa

I want _____.

___koyyaysi.

I want a dish containing _____.

_____ oyqqida kattaa koyyaysi.

chicken

kuttuwa ashuwa

beef

mehiya ashuwa

fish

moliya

ham

haamiya

sausage

suuseejjiya

cheese

pilaa

eggs

phuuphulliya

salad

salaaxaa

(fresh) vegetables

(ooratta) ataakiltteta

(fresh) fruit

(ooratta) mittaa ayfeta

bread

daabbuwa

toast

tosttiya

pasta

pasttaa

spaghetti

Ispaageetii

rice

ruuziya

beans

ataraa

Hamburger

berggeriya

Orange

loomiya

Apple

appiliya

Banana

muuziya

Pineapple

ananaasiya

Grapes

woyniya

May I have a glass of _____?

Issi burccukko ___ de'anee?

May I have a cup of _____?

Issi siine ___ de'anee?

May I have a bottle of _____?

Issi xaaramuse ___ de'anee?

coffee

tukkiya

tea (drink)

shayiya

milk

maattaa

juice

juusiya

(bubbly) water

(still) water

beer

biiraa

wine

woyniya eessaa

May I have some _____?

Amarida___ de'anee?

salt

maxiniya

black pepper

karetta bambbariya

butter

oyssaa

Excuse me, waiter? Atotettaa, mokkana danddayay?

I'm finished.

kallaasi

It was delicious.

Mal"ees.

Please clear the plates.

hayyanaa sayneta qucca.

The check, please.

hayyanaa, darasaa

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

Alkkooliya ushshaa haggaazaa immay?

Is there table service?

Xarpheezzaa haggaazay de'ii?

A beer/two beers, please.

Hayyanaa, issi biiraa/naa"u biirata

A glass of red/white wine, please.

Hayyanaa, issi burccukko zo"o/bootta woyniya

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

Hayyanaa, dollozuwa/xaaramusiya

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

( )

whiskey

wuskkiya

vodka

vodikaa

rum

( )

water

haattaa

club soda

( )

tonic water

toonike haattaa

orange juice

loomiya juusiya

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

hayyanaa, issuwa gujja.

Another round, please.

hayyanaa, harantto yuushuwa.

When is closing time?

Awude gorddettii

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

Hagee ta likkiyan de'ii?

How much is this?

Hagee woqqee?

That's too expensive.

Keehippe al"iis.

Would you take _____?

___ekkuutee?

expensive

al"o

cheap

hirayso

I can't afford it.

Giigissana danddayikke.

I don't want it.

Taani hegaa koyyikke.

You're cheating me.

Tana balettaydda daasa.

I'm not interested.

Koyyabeykke.

OK, I'll take it.

Ero, ta ekkana.

Can I have a bag?

Borssaa oyqqana danddayiyanaa?

Do you ship (overseas)?

Wolwoluwa laaggay?

I need...

Taani__ koyyaysi

...toothpaste.

achchaa saamunaa

...a toothbrush.

Miiquwa

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

samuna

...shampoo.

shamppuwa

...pain reliever

( )

...cold medicine.

Oshinchchaa xaliya

...stomach medicine.

... Uluwa xaliya

...a razor.

Mulaacaa

...an umbrella.

Yanxxila

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

Maatafaa

...batteries.

Baatiraa

...writing paper.

Woraqataa

...a pen.

Biiriya

...English-language books.

Inggilizetto doonaa maxaafata

...English-language magazines.

Inggilizetto doonaa matseeteta.

...an English-language newspaper.

Inggilizetto doonaa gaazeexaa.

...an English-English dictionary.

Inggilizetto-Inggilizetto qaalaa kochchaa.

Driving

I want to rent a car.

Taani kaamiya keraa koyyaas

Can I get insurance?

Anshshuuranssiya demmana danddayiyanaa?

stop (on a street sign)

essa

one way

ogee baawa

yield

( )

no parking

essiyosi baawa

speed limit

salttuwa

gas (petrol) station

Binzziliya duuqqiyosaa

petrol

Binzzziliya

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

Taani issu balaakka polabeykke.

It was a misunderstanding.

Hagee gelibeenna

Where are you taking me?

Tana awu efaydda de'ay?

Am I under arrest?

Taani qashuwan de'iyanaa?

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

Taani Amerkkaa/Awusttraliya/Inggilize/Kanaadaa biittawa.

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

Taani Amerkkaa/Awusttraliya/Inggilize/Kanaadaa imbbaasiya Zakkara gudaa haasayissana koyyaysi.

I want to talk to a lawyer.

Seeraa eranchchaa haasayssana koyyaysi.

Can I just pay a fine now?

Taani ha'i miishshaa qanxxana danddayiyanaa?