Amharic phrasebook

Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia

Phrase list

Basics

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.

. ( )

Good evening.

. ( )

Good night.

. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

Algebagnem. ( )

Where is the toilet?

Metatebiya bet yet new? ( ?)

Time

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

Days

Sunday = Ehood

Monday = Segno

Tuesday = Maksegno

Wednesday = Erob

Thursday = Hamoos

Friday = Arb

Saturday = Qdame

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

Money

How much?

Sint new?

Eating

Bread (Ethiopian)

injera

Curry

berbere

Meat (red)

siga

Chicken

doro

Vegetable

aterkek

Spicy

weT

Mild

aletcha

Coffee shop

bunna bet

I am a vegetarian

Siga albuelam (literally, "I don't eat meat")

Learning more

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