Order anything by pointing in Amharic
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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
- ...እፈልጋለሁi-fe-li-GA-le-hu
- I would like...
- ይሄYI-he
- This one
- ስንት ነው?SINT new
- How much is it?
- ሂሳብ እባክዎhi-SAB i-BAK-wo
- The bill, please
- በካርድbe-KARD
- By card
- በጥሬ ገንዘብbe-TI-re gen-ZEB
- In cash
- ውሃWU-ha
- Water
- ቡናBUN-na
- Coffee
- ሻይshai
- Tea
- ቢራBEE-ra
- Beer
- ያለ...YA-le
- Without...
The verb goes last: "ቡና እፈልጋለሁ" (BUN-na i-fe-li-GA-le-hu), I would like coffee. Add እባክዎ (i-BAK-wo) to soften it.
Point and say it. "ይሄኛው" (yi-HE-gnaw) means this particular one.
Prices are in birr (ብር, birr). In markets the first price is an opening offer.
Literally "the account, please". In local places you often pay at the counter.
Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants in Addis Ababa. Elsewhere, expect cash or mobile money.
Literally "in raw money". Cash is still the norm outside the capital; carry small notes.
Drink bottled water. Locally bottled spring water is cheap and sold everywhere.
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. A coffee ceremony, roasted and brewed in front of you, is an invitation to accept if you have the time.
Often sweet and spiced. Coffee still rules the coffee ceremony.
Local lagers are cheap and good. Honey wine, ጠጅ (tej), is the traditional drink.
"ያለ ስኳር" (YA-le si-KWAR), without sugar; "ያለ ስጋ" (YA-le SI-ga), without meat. Useful on fasting days, when many dishes are vegan anyway.