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
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | — | Ehud |
| Monday | — | Segno |
| Tuesday | — | Maksegno |
| Wednesday | — | E’rob |
| Thursday | — | Hamus |
Greeting
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me | — | Englizegna tichilaleh / tichiyalesh? |
| Fine / Good | — | Tiru |
| Good morning | Andamin adracho | — |
| Goodbye | Dana uno | — |
| Hello | — | Tadyas or Selam |
| How are you? | — | Endemindin neh / nesh? |
| Merry Christmas | Enkwan laberhana ledat abaqqawot | — |
| Please | — | Ebak’hn or Ebaksh |
| Thank you | — | Amesginalehu |
Months
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| April | — | Miazia |
Arabic
Useful phrases and vocabulary.
Colors
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| White | abyad | — |
| Green | ahdar | — |
| Red | ahmar | — |
| Yellow | asfar | — |
| Black | aswad | — |
| Blue | azrak | — |
| Orange | bortokaly | — |
| Pink | warda | — |
Days
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | al'ahad | — |
| Monday | al'ithinin | — |
| Tuesday | ath tholatha'a | — |
| Wednesday | al'arbia`a | — |
| Thursday | alkamis | — |
| Friday | algomia`a | — |
| Saturday | as sabit | — |
Greeting
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Hal tatakalam inglizi | — |
| Excuse me | Ann Eazinak | — |
| Fine / Good | Alhamdulila | — |
| Good afternoon | Masa'a AlKair | — |
| Good Day | Al salaam a'alaykum | Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom |
| Good evening | masa el-kheir | — |
| Good morning | Subah hakir | — |
| Good night | Laila Tiaba | — |
| Goodbye | ma’a as-salaama | ma-a ass-sa-laa-ma |
| Happy Birthday | Eeid milad sa'aeed | — |
| Hello | Marhaba | — |
| How are you? | Kefe halak? | — |
| Merry Christmas | Milad Majid | — |
| My Name is | Ismi | ISS-mee |
| Peace be with you | Salam Alaikum | — |
| Please | Min Fadilak | — |
| Response to Peace be with you | Malaikum salam | — |
| See you later | Ashofak bokra | — |
| Thank you | Shokran | — |
| Welcome | marhaban | — |
| What is your name? | esmak eh? | — |
| Yes / No | na'am | — |
Numbers
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| one | wahid | — |
| two | itnan | — |
| three | talatha | — |
| four | arba'a | — |
| five | khamsa | — |
| six | sitta | — |
| seven | saba'a | — |
| eight | tamanya | — |
| nine | tisa | — |
| ten | ashra | — |
| eleven | ishron | — |
| twenty | ishron | — |
| one hundred | mi'a | — |
Somali
Useful phrases and vocabulary.
Greeting
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Fine / Good | Fian / Namat | — |
| Good afternoon | Salab wanagsan | — |
| Good morning | Subah wanagsan | — |
| Goodbye | Nabadey | — |
| How are you? | Iskawaran? | — |
| Merry Christmas | ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican | — |
| See you later | Isarag dambe | — |
| Thank you | Mahadsanid | — |
Tigrinya
Useful phrases and vocabulary.
Greeting
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Fine / Good | Sooboog | — |
| Good evening | Kamee ganega | — |
| Good morning | Kamee haderkh | — |
| Good night | Dhaan hedar | — |
| Goodbye | Salam | — |
| Hello | Salamaat | — |
| How are you? | Kamelakha? | — |
| Same to you | Ganzabkha | — |
| Thank you | Yeganeyalee | — |

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