Basic Conversational Amharic for Beginners

Ridwan Abdul-Ali

Description

This beginner’s manual is an excellent source for traveling and basic conversation of the language of Amharic which is the most common language spoken in Ethiopia. This is a collection of colloquial phrases and words that were learned on my trips to Ethiopia.
What makes this manual great for beginners is that I have input understandable English phonetics for those that cannot read the alphabet yet; along with all the English translations from the most common and critical words and phrases.

Sujets

• Dictionaries
• Reference

Informations

• Publié par: Tablo Pty Ltd
• Date de parution: 17 septembre 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781925880076
• Langue: English

Extrait

Preface
This beginner’s manual is an excellent source for traveling and basic conversation. This is a collection of colloquial phrases and words that were learned on my trips to Ethiopia.
What makes this manual great for beginners is that I have input understandable phonetics for those that cannot read the alphabet yet; along with all the English translations from the most common and critical words and phrases.
Enjoy!
Amharic Greetings and Common Phrases Hello/Hi- Salam; Salam aleh/salam alesh/selamta How is life/how have you been?- Endemin alesh (f)/aleh (m) /alacho (plural) How are you- Endet Nesh (f)/Endet Neh (m) Endet nachu (plural) I’m fine- dehna neyn Hey/What’s up? / What’s going on? – Min mata/ Tadiyas Hi hello/ May god grand you good health- Taena Yistilin How are you (generic for anyone)? - Dehna neh/nesh? How are you? (female)- Antus endemin nesh? How are you? (male)- Antis endemin neh? Everything ok? - Hulu nagar salam naw? Praise be to Allah everything is ok- Alhamdulillah hulu nagar salam naw. You good?/ Are you ok?/ It is fine- Salam naw Salam neh (m), salam nesh(f) You doing good?- Dehna ney/Dehna nesh? My Amharic is limited/little- Boonee amarigna tenish naw My name is …..-Sime…… What is your name? -Simesh mano (f) Sime Mano (m)? Good- Dehna/ Tiru I’m not Good/well- Dehna Aydelehum Nice to meet you- Seletewaweken des boloneyal A little- Tenish Tenish You know Amharic? Amarigna ichilaloo? I can't speak amharic but I will learn- Amarigna al chillam gin alemdalo Inae amarignya at enalehu- I study amharic I speak a little Amharic- Inae tenish amarigna I don’t understand- Inae algabanyam I understand- gabanyam I- Inae am- neyn You- Anta (m) /anchee (f) Thank you- Ameseginalew Thank you very much- Bet’am ameseginalew Yes- Awo (If your name is called then instead of awo you say abeht) No- Ayi/Embi (both have same meaning or ayi can be nope and embi no) Ok- Ishi Excuse me- Yiquirta (loosely used as sorry) Sorry- Aznalo (yiquirta also used loosely as sorry) Bye- Chow/Dehna hoon (m)/ Dehna Hooni (f)/ Dehna Hunoo (pl) That is nice/It is good- Tiru naw (pronounced: teh roo know) Conjoe naw- used to say ”beautiful” for male and things Conjoe- beautiful Conjonach- she is beautiful Conjee- my beauty You are pretty- Tam randesh Can I get your phone number?- Silk cooteresh sitchin I am New York boy- New York lidj neyn Endeht Nebber- How was it? Yaaskall- Amusing Q’elldeyn now I’m joking/ making sport of Tech’awette- Keep talking/ to chat/ engaging in convo (small talk) Entewawek- Let’s talk/small talk Bowinet- Truly/ affirmed/ Really Minalbatt- Maybe/ Probably/ By chance Yi’gerrmal- Surprising/astounding Wishet now- It’s a lie/ false/fraudulent Ewinet now- It’s True Gobezz- Brilliant/smart/intelligent How was your day? Endeht nebber wulosh Did you sleep well? Endal bisham bidem tanyash wey What did you eat? Min bilah (m)/Min bilash (f)? Eat- Bilah (m) biyi (f) Biloo (p)/yibloo (for elderly) Where are you going? - Yet eyayhet k’know?/ yet know metehjoo? What will you do there? - Ezamin tadergaleh Where is the bathroom? - Shinta bet yet know? / Masadaja bet falidalow? Where are you? Yet nesh/ yet nek? I’m sleepy- Yetefen metwalo I’m on break- Ruftalyneyn I’m at home- Inae bet neyn I’m at work- Inae seraneyn Kabas alem- If it’s cooked
Description words
Shy-aynafar
Bald-melata
Beard-seem
Adult-awakee
Old man-shimagoolay
Old woman-aroogeet
Short person-archer
Tall person-regim
Thin person-catchim
Thicker person-werferam
Jealous person-Kenatenya
Foods/Drinks
Water- wooha
Tea- shai
Coffee- Boona
Juice- Chimakee
Salt- Chaw
Pepper- Qundo berberae
Meat- Siga
Beef- Yeberae Siga
Fish- Asa
Pork-Asama
Chicken- Doro
Vegetables- Atakilt
Fruits- Firafirae
Potato- Dinich
Salad- Selata
Cake- Dabo
Eggs- Enkulal
Pumpkin- Duba
Rice- Ruse
Bone marrow soup- Merak
Food- Migib
Breakfast- Qurs (course)
Lunch- Missa
Dinner- Irat
Eat- Yibloo/bilah
The food is good- migibu tiru now
I am thirsty- Inae temptoneyal
I am hungry- Inae irboneyal/ Inae rabeh
I want water and pasta- Pasta ena wuha faligalehu (faligalow)
I am full- Inae tegboneyal
I’ll buy it- Igezawalehoon
Please bring the bill- Ibakeh hisabun amta (m) Ibakesh hisabun amchee (f)
Come in- Yikaboo
Sit down- Yikamatoo/ coochbell
Buy- Megizat
Restaurant- migib bet
Injera abelaluh- You eat injera?
Awo injera abelalo- Yes, I eat injera
Chai tetalu?- You drink tea?
Awo chai tetalo- Yes, I drink tea
Good job- Govez
How old are you?- Edmi centeno?
Good- Dehna (when referring to self) Tiru (when referring to thing /object)
are you having fun?- Techa Welch/welk
I don’t know- Alowkem
Smile- Saki
Is it good? - Tiru naw?
Yes, it is good- awo, tiru know/ awo cuanjurno
No problem- Chigreena/ minnim chigir yellem
Birthday- Ledet
Happy Birthday- Melkam ledet
Happy Holidays- Melkam bat
Stand up- cumi
Pray- Tselot
Dead-Mote
Faith-Mamen
Life- Hiyaw
Translation- Tirgum
That’s good/that's beautiful- conjoe naw
You are beautiful/handsome - Conjoe nesh/neh
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How Eat - Yibloo/ or bilah, bilash, bilachu Come in - Yikaboo Sit down - Takamat (m)/ Takamachi (f)/ takamatachu (p)/ yikamatoo (elderly)/coochbell Who - Man What - Min/Mindin When - Meche? Where - Yet Why - Lemon How - Endet/endeht Enough / I have had sufficient-Bakan Enough - Bakah (m)/Bakash (f) What is this/It? Yihe min den naw?/ Mindinee?/ Mindinawee? What is that? Yaha min den naw?
Dimensions of time
Today-Zare
Now- Ahun