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Amharic phrasebook

From Wikitravel

Contents

• [+] Pronunciation guide
  • Vowels
  • Consonants
  • Common diphthongs
• [+] Phrase list
  • Basics
  • Problems
  • Numbers
  • [+] Time
    • Clock time
    • Duration
    • Days
    • Months
    • Writing time and date
  • Colors
  • [+] Transportation
    • Bus and train
    • Directions
    • Taxi
  • Lodging
  • Money
  • Eating
  • Bars
  • Shopping
  • Driving
  • Authority

Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] Vowels

[edit] Consonants

[edit] Common diphthongs

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] 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. 

Danar adek (to a man)

Good morning. 

Danar adesh (to a woman)

Good evening. 

. ( )

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

Algebagnem. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

Metatebiya bet 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 = Tikimt

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

Purple = WeynTej

Pink = Rose

Orange = Bertukan

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

[edit] Directions

[edit] Taxi

[edit] Lodging

[edit] Money

How much? 

Sint new?

[edit] 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")

[edit] Bars

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[edit] Shopping

[edit] Driving

[edit] Authority

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