Greetings and politeness in Amharic
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Amharic phrases in this lesson
- แฐแแse-LAM
- Hello
- แฅแแฐแแ แ แฐแฉin-de-MIN a-DE-ru
- Good morning
- แฅแแฐแแ แ แแนin-de-MIN a-ME-shu
- Good evening
- แฐแ แ แแDEH-na HU-nu
- Goodbye
- แปแchaw
- See you
- แฅแฃแญแi-BAK-wo
- Please
- แ แแฐแแแแa-me-seg-NA-le-hu
- Thank you
- แแแ แ แญแฐแแMI-nim ay-DE-lem
- You're welcome
- แญแ แญแณyi-KIR-ta
- Sorry
- แคแ แญแตแฅแแTE-na yis-TIL-lign
- Excuse me
- แตแแฐแแแ แ แฐแต แฅแแแsi-le-te-wa-WEK-in des bi-LO-gnal
- Nice to meet you
Literally "peace", and the greeting that works with anyone at any hour. A handshake with a shoulder bump is common between men who know each other.
Literally "how did you pass the night?", the polite form. The answer is "แฐแ แ" (DEH-na), well, often followed by "แฅแแแ แฅแแญ แญแแตแแ" (ig-zee-a-BHER yim-es-GEN), thanks be to God.
Literally "how did you pass the evening?", the polite evening greeting. Answer it the same way as the morning one.
Literally "be well", the polite goodbye. Friends say "แปแ" (chaw), borrowed from Italian ciao.
Borrowed from the Italian ciao and used by friends everywhere in Addis Ababa. แฐแ แ แแ (deh-NA hu-NU) stays the polite goodbye.
The polite form, right for strangers and anyone older. To a friend it is "แฅแฃแญแ " (i-BA-kih) to a man and "แฅแฃแญแฝ" (i-BA-kish) to a woman.
The everyday thank you. "แ แฃแ แ แแฐแแแแ" (BE-tam a-me-seg-NA-le-hu) is thank you very much.
Literally "it is nothing", the usual reply to thanks.
The apology, for a bump, a mistake or arriving late. It also works as "pardon?" when you did not hear.
Literally "may God give you health for me", a polite greeting that also gets a stranger's attention before a question.
Literally "I am glad we got acquainted". The short "แฐแต แฅแแแ" (des bi-LO-gnal) also works.