Yes, no and the essentials in Amharic
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Amharic words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Amharic phrases in this lesson
- แ แa-WO
- Yes
- แ แญay
- No
- แฅแบI-shee
- Okay
- แ แแแฃแแal-ge-BA-gnim
- I don't understand
- แฅแแแแแ แญแแแซแ?in-glee-ZIG-na yi-na-ge-RA-lu
- Do you speak English?
- แญแตแแแแ?yid-ge-MU-lign
- Can you repeat that?
- แแต แฅแแแฃ แฅแฃแญแKES bi-LEW i-BAK-wo
- Slowly, please
- แญแ แแแตแ แแ?YI-he MIN-din new
- What is this?
- ...แซแตแแแแแyas-fel-li-GE-gnal
- I need...
- แแจแฑแ แญแฝแแ?li-re-DUGN yi-chi-LA-lu
- Can you help me?
Often said with a sharp intake of breath, which also means yes.
The full form is "แ แญแฐแแ" (ay-DE-lem), it is not. "แ แญแฃ แ แแฐแแแแ" (ay, a-me-seg-NA-le-hu) is no, thank you.
The everyday okay, used constantly for agreeing, accepting and ending a conversation.
Literally "it did not enter me".
Polite form. Younger people in Addis Ababa often speak good English.
Literally "repeat it for me?", polite form.
Literally "gently, please".
Point at any dish on the injera and ask. The answer is usually a kind of แแฅ (wet), stew.
Literally "it is needed for me": "แแชแ แซแตแแแแแ" (ha-KEEM yas-fel-li-GE-gnal), I need a doctor.
Polite form. Ethiopians are quick to help strangers.