Amharic phrasebook

Table of 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 / Amharic phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Shopping / Driving / Authority

Amharic is the main language of north central Ethiopia

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

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? ( ?)

Problems

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

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

Duration

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

Writing time and date

Colors

Black = Tiqoor
White = NeCH
Red = Qey
Blue = Semayawi
Green = Arengwade
Yellow = BiCHa
Brown = Buna'aynet
Purple = WeynTej
Pink = Rose
Orange = Bertukan

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

How much?: Sint new?

Eating

Bread (Ethiopian): dabo
Curry: wet
Meat (red): siga
Chicken: doro
Vegetable: ataklt
Spicy: qmemama
Mild: aletcha
Coffee shop: bunna bet
I am a vegetarian: Siga albuelam (literally, "I don't eat meat")