Amharic phrasebook

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/Buna'ma

Purple = WeynTej

Pink = Rose

Orange = Bertukan

Baby blue = Wuhama semayawi

Dark blue = DemaQ semayawi

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Right = Qegn

Left = G'ra

Straight ahead = QeTita menged

Opposite = TeQarani/Feet'lefeet

Adjacent = ATegeb/Gon

Turn left = wede g'ra taTef(to a guy)/taTefi(to a girl)/taTefu (to more than one person or to an elderly)

Turn right = wede Qegn taTef(to a guy)/taTefi(to a girl)/taTefu (to more than one person or to an elderly)

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")

Amharic phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Shopping

Driving

Authority

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