Greetings
ሰላም — Selam
se-LAM
Hello / peace. The everyday greeting, used constantly.
ጤና ይስጥልኝ — Tena yistilign
TEH-na yis-ti-LIGN
Formal hello — literally 'may God give you health'. Use it with elders and in offices.
እንደምን ነህ / ነሽ — Endemin neh / nesh
en-de-MIN neh / nesh
How are you? — 'neh' to a man, 'nesh' to a woman. Amharic marks gender constantly.
Social
አመሰግናለሁ — Ameseginalehu
a-me-seg-i-NA-le-hu
Thank you. Long to say and worth learning properly.
እሺ — Ishi
ISH-ee
OK / fine / agreed. The universal acknowledgement, said several times a sentence.
ፈረንጅ — Ferenj
feh-RENJ
Foreigner. You will hear it daily. It is usually neutral or curious rather than hostile.
በጣም — Betam
beh-TAM
Very / a lot. 'Betam ameseginalehu' — thank you very much.
Daily life
ስንት ነው? — Sint new?
sint new
How much is it? Essential at Merkato and for negotiating a taxi.
Food
ቡና — Buna
BOO-na
Coffee — and also the ceremony. Being invited to a buna ceremony is a social event lasting an hour or more, not a drink.
እንጀራ — Injera
in-JEH-ra
The sour fermented flatbread everything is served on and eaten with. The plate and the cutlery at once.
ባየነቱ — Bayenetu
ba-yeh-NEH-too
The vegan 'fasting' platter, served everywhere on Wednesdays and Fridays and through Orthodox fasts. Ethiopia is the easiest country in the region to eat vegan in.
Emergency
991 / 939 / 907
nine-nine-one
Police / fire / Red Cross ambulance.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.