Essential Amharic Phrases for Expats

Learning even a few phrases in Amharic, Ethiopia's official language, can dramatically enhance your experience as an expat. Not only will it help you navigate daily interactions, but locals greatly appreciate the effort and often respond with increased warmth and assistance.

Greetings and Basics

Hello and Goodbye

• Selam (ሰላም) - Hello/Peace
• Dehna hun (ደህና ሁን) - Goodbye (to a man)
• Dehna hunee (ደህና ሁኝ) - Goodbye (to a woman)
• Ciao (ቻው) - Informal goodbye (borrowed from Italian)

Time-specific Greetings

• Endemen aderk (እንደምን አደርክ) - Good morning (to a man)
• Endemen adersh (እንደምን አደርሽ) - Good morning (to a woman)
• Endemen walhew (እንደምን ዋልክ) - Good afternoon (to a man)
• Endemen walshew (እንደምን ዋልሽ) - Good afternoon (to a woman)

Introductions and Pleasantries

• Sime... new (ስሜ... ነው) - My name is...
• Enestelale (እናመሰግናለን) - Thank you
• Bamarim (በጣም አመሰግናለሁ) - Thank you very much
• Minemn ayhonem (ምንም አይሆንም) - You're welcome
• Yikerta (ይቅርታ) - Excuse me/Sorry

Practical Phrases for Daily Life

Shopping and Dining

• Waga sint new? (ዋጋው ስንት ነው?) - How much does it cost?
• Beshten new? (በሽህ ነው?) - Is it in thousands?
• Betam wud new (በጣም ውድ ነው) - It's very expensive
• Melkam megeb (መልካም ምግብ) - Enjoy your meal
• Menu aleh? (ሜኑ አለህ?) - Do you have a menu?
• Injera na wot ifelegalew (እንጀራ እና ወጥ እፈልጋለሁ) - I would like injera and wot
• Teru new (ጥሩ ነው) - It's good
• Tsom new? (ጾም ነው?) - Is it fasting food? (vegetarian)

Transportation

• Wede... mehed ifelegalew (ወደ... መሄድ እፈልጋለሁ) - I want to go to...
• Besnit? (በስንት?) - For how much?
• Zenbaba hotel yawkalu? (ዘንባባ ሆቴል ያውቃሉ?) - Do you know Zenbaba Hotel?
• Meched yichalal? (መሄድ ይቻላል?) - Can you take me?
• Beta man new? (ቤት ማን ነው?) - Where is my home? (useful when lost)

Cultural Expressions

Polite Phrases

• Egziabher yistelegn (እግዚአብሔር ይስጥልኝ) - God give to me (said when receiving something)
• Egziabher yemesgen (እግዚአብሔር ይመስገን) - Thanks be to God
• Betam ameseginalehu (በጣም አመሰግናለሁ) - I'm very thankful
• Endemin neh? (እንደምን ነህ?) - How are you? (to a man)
• Endemin nesh? (እንደምን ነሽ?) - How are you? (to a woman)
• Dehna negn (ደህና ነኝ) - I am fine

Social Situations

• Enebete (እንብላ) - Let's eat
• Betam teru new (በጣም ጥሩ ነው) - It's very good
• Lemin aydeleh (ለምን አይደለም) - Why not
• Konjo new (ቆንጆ ነው) - It's beautiful

Numbers and Time

Basic Numbers

• And (አንድ) - One
• Hulet (ሁለት) - Two
• Sost (ሶስት) - Three
• Arat (አራት) - Four
• Amist (አምስት) - Five
• Sidist (ስድስት) - Six
• Sebat (ሰባት) - Seven
• Sement (ስምንት) - Eight
• Zetegn (ዘጠኝ) - Nine
• Asir (አስር) - Ten

Time Expressions

• Ahun (አሁን) - Now
• Nege (ነገ) - Tomorrow
• Tilant (ትላንት) - Yesterday
• Bemachirew (በማጭረው) - Soon
• Mech? (መቼ?) - When?
• Sikoy (ስኮይ) - Wait

Emergency and Health Phrases

• Yikerta endate (ይቅርታ እንዳት) - Excuse me please (attracting attention)
• Erdagnee (እርዳኝ) - Help me
• Hospital yet new? (ሆስፒታል የት ነው?) - Where is the hospital?
• Doctor afelegalew (ዶክተር አፈልጋለሁ) - I need a doctor
• Tamomegnalew (ታሞኛለሁ) - I am sick

Pronunciation Tips

1. Vowel Sounds:

   • 'e' is like the 'e' in "let"
   • 'i' is like the 'i' in "machine"
   • 'a' is like the 'a' in "father"
   • 'o' is like the 'o' in "go"
   • 'u' is like the 'u' in "rule"

2. Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable.

3. Glottal Sounds are common in Amharic, making some consonants sound explosive.

Learning Resources

• Apps: Amharic Dictionary, Ling App (has Amharic), Mango Languages
• Local Language Schools: Mekane Yesus Language School, Language and Culture Academy Ethiopia
• Language Exchange: Many coffee shops in Bole host language exchange meetups
• YouTube Channels: "Learn Amharic With Amen," "AmharicWithMemhere"

Learning Amharic takes time, but even mastering these basic phrases will significantly improve your daily interactions and show respect for Ethiopian culture. Most importantly, don't be afraid to practice! Ethiopians are generally very encouraging of language learners and will appreciate your efforts.