Amharic for Visitors – Ethos Tours
Greetings
- Hello! – selam (tena jistilign)
- How are you – Dehina newot?
- How are you(m) – Endemin–neh?
- How are you(f) – Endemin–nesh?
- Fine – Dehna negn.
- Please(m) – Ebakih.
- Please(f) – Ebakish.
- Good morning! – indemin aderatschu
- Good afternoon! – indemin walatschu
- Good evening! – indemin ameschatschu
- Good night! – dehna ideru
- Good bye! – dehna hunu
Introducing Yourself
- My name is… – …ibalalew
- I’m from… – jemetahut ke… new
- I’m… years old – idmeje … new
- I’m married – baletidar negn
- I’m not married – baletidar ajdelehum
- What is your name?(m) – Simeh man naw?
- What is your name?(f) – Simish man naw?
- Pleased to meet you – siletewaweqin dess bilognal
- you(m) – ante
- you(f) – antschi
- you – irso
- he – issu
- you – issua
- Wife – Meest
- Husband – Bal
- Daughter – Se’t lidj
- Son – Wend lidj
- Mother – Innate
- Father – Abbat
- Friend – Gwadegna
Comprehension
- I don’t speak… – …alinagerim.
- I don’t understand…(m/f) – … algebagnim
- Do you speak…?(m/f) – …jinageralu?
- Does anyone speak…? – …tenagari ale?
- English – inglisegna
- French – ferenssajigna
- German – Djermenigna
- Just a moment please – and afta jikojugn
Important Vocabulary
- yes – aw
- no – aj
- maybe – min albat
- Ok – ischi
- Thank you! – ameseginalew
- How much? – Sint new?
- You’re welcome! – minim ajdel
- Excuse me… – jikirta…
- I’m sorry – betam asnalew
- I have… – …alegn
- I don’t have… – …jelegnm
- We have… – …alen
- We don’t have… – …jelenim
- There is… – …ale
- There is no… – …jelem
- Where is the toilet? – Shint bietu yet new?
- Help! – erdu’y
- I’m sick. – Amognal. tam’malhu
Services Providers
- Bank – Bank biet
- Post office – Posta biet
- Hotel – Hotel
- Bus – Awtobis
- Bus station – Awtobus tabia
- Plane – Awroplan
- Airport – Awroplan marefia
- Train – Babur
- Train station – Babur tabia
- Hospital – Hospital
- Clinic – Clinic
- Police Station – Police tabia
- Palace – Biete mangist
- Market – Gebiya
- Shop – Suk
Numbers
- zero – zero
- one – and
- two – hulet
- three – sost
- four – arat
- five – amist
- six – sidist
- seven – sebat
- eight – simint
- nine – setegn
- ten – asir
- eleven – asra and
- twelve – asra hulet
- thirteen – asra sost
- fourteen – asra arat
- fifteen – asra amist
- sixteen – asra sidist
- seventeen – asra sebat
- eighteen – asra simint
- nineteen – asra setegn
- twenty – haja
- twenty–one – haja and
- thirty – selasa
- forty – arba
- fifty – hamsa
- sixty – silsa
- seventy – seba
- eighty – semanija
- ninety – setena
- one hundred – meto
- one thousand – and schih
- one million – and milion
- some / a couple – tind
Time
Time of the Day
Note that the day starts at 7 o’clock in the morning.
- 1 se’at ke’tewatu – 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 – 7pm
- 2 se’at – 8pm
- 3 se’at – 9pm
- 4 se’at – 10pm
- 5 se’at – 11pm
- 6 se’at ke’lelitu – 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
Week Days
- Sunday – Ehud
- Monday – Segno
- Tuesday – Mak’segno
- Wednesday – Erob
- Thursday – Hamus
- Friday – Arb
- Saturday – Qidamie
Months
- September – Meskerem
- October – Tikimt
- November – Hidar
- December – Tahisas
- January – Tir
- February – Yekatit
- March – Megabit
- April – Mijazija
- May – Ginbot
- June – Senie
- July – Hamlie
- August – Nehasie
- Puagme – the last month (5 days)
Problems
- Leave me alone. – tewugn (likekugn)
- Don’t touch me!(m) – atinkagn
- Don’t touch me!(f) – atinkign
- I’ll call the police. – police etaralew!
- Police! – police!
- I need your help. – erdugn
- Medical emergency – AsCHekuway Hikimina
- I’m lost – tefaw
- I lost my bag – shahantaje tefa
- I lost my wallet – borsaje tefa
- I’m sick – amognial
- I’ve been injured – tegodichalew
- I need a doctor – hakim efelgalew
- Can I use your phone? – ande silkiwon litekem?
Colors
- Black – Tiqur
- White – Nech
- Red – Qey
- Blue – Semayawi
- Green – Arengwade
- Yellow – Bicha
- Brown – Buna’ma
- Purple – WeynTej
- Pink – Rose
- Orange – Brtukan
Directions
- Right – qew’n
- Left – g’era
- Straight ahead – QeTita menged
- Opposite – TeQarani/Feet’lefeet
- Adjacent – ATegeb/Gon
- Turn left – wede g’ra jitaTefu
- Turn right – wede Qegn jitaTefu
Eating
- Bread – dabo
- Curry – wet
- Meat – siga
- Chicken – doro
- Vegetable – ataklt
- Spicy – qmemama
- Mild – aletcha
- Coffee shop – bunna bet
- I’m a vegetarian – Siga albelam
- coffee with milk – Buna be’Wetet
Carriage
You can find more information on the Amharic Language and/or on Amharic Basics.
