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Phrases

Useful Phrases in Ethiopia

Hello, numbers, days of the week, colors, and more in the languages of Ethiopia.

Amharic

Useful phrases and vocabulary.

Days

EnglishLocalPronunciation
SundayEhud
MondaySegno
TuesdayMaksegno
WednesdayE’rob
ThursdayHamus

Greeting

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Excuse meEnglizegna tichilaleh / tichiyalesh?
Fine / GoodTiru
Good morningAndamin adracho
GoodbyeDana uno
HelloTadyas or Selam
How are you?Endemindin neh / nesh?
Merry ChristmasEnkwan laberhana ledat abaqqawot
PleaseEbak’hn or Ebaksh
Thank youAmesginalehu

Months

EnglishLocalPronunciation
AprilMiazia

Arabic

Useful phrases and vocabulary.

Colors

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Whiteabyad
Greenahdar
Redahmar
Yellowasfar
Blackaswad
Blueazrak
Orangebortokaly
Pinkwarda

Days

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Sundayal'ahad
Mondayal'ithinin
Tuesdayath tholatha'a
Wednesdayal'arbia`a
Thursdayalkamis
Fridayalgomia`a
Saturdayas sabit

Greeting

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Do you speak English?Hal tatakalam inglizi
Excuse meAnn Eazinak
Fine / GoodAlhamdulila
Good afternoonMasa'a AlKair
Good DayAl salaam a'alaykumAhl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom
Good eveningmasa el-kheir
Good morningSubah hakir
Good nightLaila Tiaba
Goodbyema’a as-salaamama-a ass-sa-laa-ma
Happy BirthdayEeid milad sa'aeed
HelloMarhaba
How are you?Kefe halak?
Merry ChristmasMilad Majid
My Name isIsmiISS-mee
Peace be with youSalam Alaikum
PleaseMin Fadilak
Response to Peace be with youMalaikum salam
See you laterAshofak bokra
Thank youShokran
Welcomemarhaban
What is your name?esmak eh?
Yes / Nona'am

Numbers

EnglishLocalPronunciation
onewahid
twoitnan
threetalatha
fourarba'a
fivekhamsa
sixsitta
sevensaba'a
eighttamanya
ninetisa
tenashra
elevenishron
twentyishron
one hundredmi'a

Somali

Useful phrases and vocabulary.

Greeting

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Fine / GoodFian / Namat
Good afternoonSalab wanagsan
Good morningSubah wanagsan
GoodbyeNabadey
How are you?Iskawaran?
Merry Christmasciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican
See you laterIsarag dambe
Thank youMahadsanid

Tigrinya

Useful phrases and vocabulary.

Greeting

EnglishLocalPronunciation
Fine / GoodSooboog
Good eveningKamee ganega
Good morningKamee haderkh
Good nightDhaan hedar
GoodbyeSalam
HelloSalamaat
How are you?Kamelakha?
Same to youGanzabkha
Thank youYeganeyalee