English to Amharic: everyday phrases in fidel

ሰላም

Hello (lit. peace)

The everyday greeting, any time of day.

type: selam

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሰላም ነህ?

How are you? (lit. are you at peace?)

Said to a man.

type: selam neh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሰላም ነሽ?

How are you?

Said to a woman.

type: selam nesh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንደምን ነህ?

How are you?

Said to a man.

type: endemn neh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንደምን አደርክ?

Good morning (lit. how did you spend the night?)

Said to a man.

type: endemn aderk?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

እንደምን አደርሽ?

Good morning

Said to a woman.

type: endemn adersh?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

እንደምን አደሩ?

Good morning

Polite, or to several people.

type: endemn aderu?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

እንደምን ዋልክ?

Good afternoon (lit. how did you spend the day?)

Said to a man.

type: endemn walk?

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንደምን አመሸህ?

Good evening

Said to a man.

type: endemn amesheh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጤና ይስጥልኝ

Hello (lit. may He give you health for me)

A warm, slightly formal greeting.

type: Tiena ysTlny

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

ደህና ነኝ፣ አመሰግናለሁ

I'm fine, thank you

type: dehna neny, amesegnalehu

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

ደህና ሁን

Goodbye (lit. be well)

Said to a man.

type: dehna hun

Source: common usage, needs native check

ደህና ሁኚ

Goodbye

Said to a woman.

type: dehna hunyi

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቻው

Bye

Informal, from Italian ciao.

type: chaw

Source: common usage, needs native check

በኋላ እንገናኝ

See you later

type: behWala engenany

Source: common usage, needs native check

ደህና እደር

Good night (lit. pass the night well)

Said to a man.

type: dehna eder

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንኳን ደህና መጣህ

Welcome

Said to a man.

type: enkWan dehna meTah

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ

Welcome

Said to a woman.

type: enkWan dehna meTash

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጠፋህ!

Long time no see! (lit. you disappeared!)

Said to a man.

type: Tefah!

Source: common usage, needs native check

አመሰግናለሁ

Thank you

type: amesegnalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

በጣም አመሰግናለሁ

Thank you very much

type: beTam amesegnalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ምንም አይደለም

You're welcome / it's nothing

type: mnm aydelem

Source: common usage, needs native check

ግድ የለም

Never mind / it doesn't matter

type: gd yelem

Source: common usage, needs native check

እባክህ

Please

Said to a man.

type: ebakh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እባክሽ

Please

Said to a woman.

type: ebaksh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እባክዎ

Please

Polite, or to several people.

type: ebakwo

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይቅርታ

Sorry / excuse me

type: yqrta

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

እግዚአብሔር ይስጥልኝ

Thank you (lit. may God give it to you for me)

Deep thanks, often to an elder.

type: egziabHier ysTlny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ተባረክ

Bless you

Said to a man.

type: tebarek

Source: common usage, needs native check

አይዞህ

Take heart / don't worry

Said to a man.

type: ayzoh

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስሜ ... ነው

My name is ...

type: smie ... new

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

ስምህ ማን ነው?

What is your name?

Said to a man.

type: smh man new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስምዎ ማን ነው?

What is your name?

Polite.

type: smwo man new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ከየት ነህ?

Where are you from?

Said to a man.

type: keyet neh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ከኢትዮጵያ ነኝ

I'm from Ethiopia

type: keityoPya neny

Source: common usage, needs native check

አዲስ አበባ ነው የምኖረው

I live in Addis Ababa

type: adis abeba new yemnorew

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስለተዋወቅን ደስ ብሎኛል

Nice to meet you (lit. I'm glad we got to know each other)

type: sletewaweqn des blonyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ተማሪ ነኝ

I'm a student

type: temari neny

Source: common usage, needs native check

አማርኛ ትንሽ እናገራለሁ

I speak a little Amharic

type: amarnya tnsh enageralehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንግሊዝኛ ትናገራለህ?

Do you speak English?

Said to a man.

type: engliznya tnageraleh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

አልገባኝም

I don't understand

type: algebanym

Source: common usage, needs native check

ገባኝ

I understand / got it

type: gebany

Source: common usage, needs native check

እባክህ ቀስ ብለህ ተናገር

Please speak slowly

Said to a man.

type: ebakh qes bleh tenager

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይህ በአማርኛ ምን ይባላል?

What is this called in Amharic?

type: yh beamarnya mn ybalal?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስንት ዓመትህ ነው?

How old are you?

type: snt `ameth new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

አዎ

Yes

type: awo

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

የለም

No (lit. there isn't)

type: yelem

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

እሺ

OK

type: eshi

Source: common usage, needs native check

ምን?

What?

type: mn?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

የት?

Where?

type: yet?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

መቼ?

When?

type: mechie?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

ለምን?

Why?

type: lemn?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

እንዴት?

How?

type: endiet?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

ስንት?

How many? / how much?

type: snt?

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 23 question words

አይቻልም

It's not possible

type: aychalm

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቆይ

Wait

Said to a man.

type: qoy

Source: common usage, needs native check

ና

Come

Said to a man.

type: na

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጥሩ ነው

It's good

type: Tru new

Source: common usage, needs native check

ችግር የለም

No problem

type: chgr yelem

Source: common usage, needs native check

አላውቅም

I don't know

type: alawqm

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

ቡና እንጠጣ

Let's have coffee

type: buna enTeTa

Source: common usage, needs native check

ምን አዲስ ነገር አለ?

What's new?

type: mn adis neger ale?

Source: common usage, needs native check

አውቶቡስ ጣቢያው የት ነው?

Where is the bus station?

type: awtobus Tabiyaw yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወደ አየር ማረፊያ መሄድ እፈልጋለሁ

I want to go to the airport

type: wede ayer marefiya mehied efelgalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ታክሲ የት አገኛለሁ?

Where can I find a taxi?

type: taksi yet agenyalehu?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወደ ቦሌ ስንት ነው?

How much is it to Bole?

Bole is the airport district of Addis Ababa; swap in your destination.

type: wede bolie snt new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወራጅ አለ

Getting off here!

Said in a minibus taxi to ask the driver to stop.

type: weraj ale

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሆቴሉ የት ነው?

Where is the hotel?

type: hotielu yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ፓስፖርቴ ይኸው

Here is my passport

type: pasportie yKew

Source: common usage, needs native check

አንድ ትኬት እፈልጋለሁ

I want one ticket

type: and tkiet efelgalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ባቡሩ መቼ ይነሳል?

When does the train leave?

type: baburu mechie ynesal?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሩቅ ነው?

Is it far?

type: ruq new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጠፍቻለሁ

I'm lost

type: Tefchalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

መጸዳጃ ቤት የት ነው?

Where is the toilet?

type: metsedaja biet yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

... የት ነው?

Where is ...?

type: ... yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወደ ቀኝ ታጠፍ

Turn right

Said to a man.

type: wede qeny taTef

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወደ ግራ ታጠፍ

Turn left

Said to a man.

type: wede gra taTef

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቀጥ ብለህ ሂድ

Go straight ahead

Said to a man.

type: qeT bleh hid

Source: common usage, needs native check

እዚህ

Here

type: ezih

Source: common usage, needs native check

እዚያ

There

type: eziya

Source: common usage, needs native check

ከኋላ

Behind

type: kehWala

Source: common usage, needs native check

ከባንኩ አጠገብ

Next to the bank

type: kebanku aTegeb

Source: common usage, needs native check

ካርታ ላይ አሳየኝ

Show me on the map

Said to a man.

type: karta lay asayeny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስንት ደቂቃ ይወስዳል?

How many minutes does it take?

type: snt deqiqa ywesdal?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይህ ስንት ነው?

How much is this?

type: yh snt new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ዋጋው ስንት ነው?

What is the price?

type: wagaw snt new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ውድ ነው

It's expensive

type: wd new

Source: common usage, needs native check

ርካሽ ነው

It's cheap

type: rkash new

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቀንስልኝ

Give me a lower price

Said to a man.

type: qenslny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይህን እፈልጋለሁ

I want this

type: yhn efelgalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

አልፈልግም

I don't want it

type: alfelgm

Source: common usage, needs native check

በካርድ መክፈል እችላለሁ?

Can I pay by card?

type: bekard mekfel echlalehu?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ደረሰኝ ስጠኝ

Give me a receipt

Said to a man.

type: dereseny sTeny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ገበያ የት ነው?

Where is the market?

type: gebeya yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልሱን ስጠኝ

Give me the change

Said to a man.

type: melsun sTeny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ርቦኛል

I'm hungry

type: rbonyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጠምቶኛል

I'm thirsty

type: Temtonyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጥሩ ምግብ ቤት የት አለ?

Where is a good restaurant?

type: Tru mgb biet yet ale?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ውሃ ስጠኝ

Give me water

Said to a man.

type: wha sTeny

Source: common usage, needs native check

አንድ ቡና እባክህ

One coffee, please

Said to a man.

type: and buna ebakh

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይህ ያቃጥላል?

Is this spicy? (lit. does it burn?)

type: yh yaqaTlal?

Source: common usage, needs native check

የጾም ምግብ አለ?

Is there fasting food?

Fasting food has no meat or dairy; most restaurants serve it on Wednesdays and Fridays.

type: yetsom mgb ale?

Source: common usage, needs native check

በጣም ጣፋጭ ነው

It's delicious

type: beTam TafaC new

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጠገብኩ

I'm full

type: Tegebku

Source: common usage, needs native check

በቃኝ፣ አመሰግናለሁ

That's enough for me, thank you

type: beqany, amesegnalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሂሳብ እባክህ

The bill, please

Said to a man.

type: hisab ebakh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንጀራ

Injera

The sourdough flatbread, usually made from teff.

type: enjera

Source: common usage, needs native check

አንድ

One

type: and

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሁለት

Two

type: hulet

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሶስት

Three

Also written ሦስት.

type: sost

Source: common usage, needs native check

አራት

Four

type: arat

Source: common usage, needs native check

አምስት

Five

type: amst

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስድስት

Six

type: sdst

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሰባት

Seven

type: sebat

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስምንት

Eight

type: smnt

Source: common usage, needs native check

ዘጠኝ

Nine

type: zeTeny

Source: common usage, needs native check

አስር

Ten

Also written አሥር.

type: asr

Source: common usage, needs native check

መቶ

One hundred

type: meto

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሺህ

One thousand

type: shih

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስንት ሰዓት ነው?

What time is it?

type: snt se`at new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

አሁን

Now

type: ahun

Source: common usage, needs native check

ዛሬ

Today

type: zarie

Source: common usage, needs native check

ነገ

Tomorrow

type: nege

Source: common usage, needs native check

ትናንት

Yesterday

type: tnant

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጠዋት

Morning

type: Tewat

Source: common usage, needs native check

ከሰዓት በኋላ

Afternoon

type: kese`at behWala

Source: common usage, needs native check

ማታ

Evening

type: mata

Source: common usage, needs native check

አንድ ደቂቃ

Just a minute

type: and deqiqa

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሰኞ

Monday

type: senyo

Source: common usage, needs native check

ማክሰኞ

Tuesday

type: maksenyo

Source: common usage, needs native check

ረቡዕ

Wednesday

type: rebu`

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሐሙስ

Thursday

type: Hemus

Source: common usage, needs native check

አርብ

Friday

Also written ዓርብ.

type: arb

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቅዳሜ

Saturday

type: qdamie

Source: common usage, needs native check

እሁድ

Sunday

type: ehud

Source: common usage, needs native check

መስከረም

Meskerem (1st Ethiopian month, from about 11 September)

type: meskerem

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጥቅምት

Tikimt (2nd month)

type: Tqmt

Source: common usage, needs native check

ህዳር

Hidar (3rd month)

Classical spelling ኅዳር.

type: hdar

Source: common usage, needs native check

ታህሳስ

Tahsas (4th month)

Classical spelling ታኅሣሥ.

type: tahsas

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጳጉሜ

Pagume (the short 13th month, 5 or 6 days)

type: Pagumie

Source: common usage, needs native check

እናት

Mother

type: enat

Source: common usage, needs native check

አባት

Father

type: abat

Source: common usage, needs native check

ወንድም

Brother

type: wendm

Source: common usage, needs native check

እህት

Sister

type: eht

Source: common usage, needs native check

አያት

Grandparent

type: ayat

Source: common usage, needs native check

ባል

Husband

type: bal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሚስት

Wife

type: mist

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቤተሰብ

Family

type: bieteseb

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቤተሰብህ እንዴት ናቸው?

How is your family?

Said to a man.

type: bietesebh endiet nachew?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ይህ ወንድሜ ነው

This is my brother

type: yh wendmie new

Source: common usage, needs native check

እወድሃለሁ

I love you

Said to a man.

type: ewedhalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

እወድሻለሁ

I love you

Said to a woman.

type: ewedshalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ናፍቀኸኛል

I missed you

type: nafqeKeNal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ናፍቀሽኛል

I missed you

Said to a woman.

type: nafqeshnyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቆንጆ ነሽ

You are beautiful

Said to a woman.

type: qonjo nesh

Source: common usage, needs native check

ፍቅሬ

My love

type: fqrie

Source: common usage, needs native check

ታገቢኛለሽ?

Will you marry me?

Said to a woman.

type: tagebinyalesh?

Source: common usage, needs native check

የት ነው የምትሰራው?

Where do you work?

Said to a man.

type: yet new yemt'seraw?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስብሰባው ስንት ሰዓት ነው?

What time is the meeting?

type: sbsebaw snt se`at new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ቢሮው የት ነው?

Where is the office?

type: birow yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

እረፍት ላይ ነኝ

I'm on a break

type: ereft lay neny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስልክ ቁጥርህ ስንት ነው?

What's your phone number?

Said to a man.

type: slk quTrh snt new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ኢሜይል ላክልኝ

Send me an email

Said to a man.

type: imieyl laklny

Source: common usage, needs native check

ነገ እደውልልሃለሁ

I'll call you tomorrow

Said to a man.

type: nege edewllhalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ታምሜአለሁ

I'm sick

type: tammiealehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሐኪም እፈልጋለሁ

I need a doctor

type: Hekim efelgalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሆስፒታል የት ነው?

Where is the hospital?

type: hospital yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ራሴን ያመኛል

I have a headache (lit. my head hurts me)

type: rasien yamenyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ሆዴን ያመኛል

I have a stomach ache

type: hodien yamenyal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ትኩሳት አለኝ

I have a fever

type: tkusat aleny

Source: common usage, needs native check

መድሃኒት ቤት የት ነው?

Where is the pharmacy?

Also written መድኃኒት.

type: medhanit biet yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

እግዚአብሔር ይማርህ

Get well soon (lit. may God heal you)

Said to a man.

type: egziabHier ymarh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እርዱኝ!

Help me!

type: erduny!

Source: common usage, needs native check

ፖሊስ ጥራ!

Call the police!

Said to a man.

type: polis Tra!

Source: common usage, needs native check

አምቡላንስ ጥራ!

Call an ambulance!

Said to a man.

type: ambulans Tra!

Source: common usage, needs native check

እሳት!

Fire!

type: esat!

Source: common usage, needs native check

አደጋ ደርሷል

There has been an accident

type: adega dersWal

Source: common usage, needs native check

ተጠንቀቅ!

Be careful!

Said to a man.

type: teTenqeq!

Source: common usage, needs native check

ስልኬ ተሰረቀ

My phone was stolen

type: slkie tesereqe

Source: common usage, needs native check

ፖሊስ ጣቢያ የት ነው?

Where is the police station?

type: polis Tabiya yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

ነፍስ ይማር

May his/her soul rest in peace (lit. may the soul be forgiven)

type: nefs ymar

Source: common usage, needs native check

እግዚአብሔር ያጽናችሁ

May God comfort you

To the family.

type: egziabHier yatsnachhu

Source: common usage, needs native check

በጣም አዝናለሁ

I am very sorry

type: beTam aznalehu

Source: common usage, needs native check

ጽናቱን ይስጥህ

May He give you strength

Said to a man.

type: tsnatun ysTh

Source: common usage, needs native check

የሀዘንዎ ተካፋይ ነኝ

I share in your grief

Polite.

type: yehezenwo tekafay neny

Source: common usage, needs native check

አሜን

Amen

type: amien

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንጸልይ

Let us pray

type: entsely

Source: common usage, needs native check

እግዚአብሔር ይባርክህ

God bless you

Said to a man.

type: egziabHier ybarkh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እግዚአብሔር ይመስገን

Thank God

Also the usual reply to 'how are you?'.

type: egziabHier ymesgen

Source: FSI Amharic Basic Course, Unit 1

ቤተ ክርስቲያን የት ነው?

Where is the church?

type: biete krstiyan yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

መስጊድ የት ነው?

Where is the mosque?

type: mesgid yet new?

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልካም ልደት

Happy birthday

type: melkam ldet

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንኳን አደረሰህ

Happy holiday (lit. may He bring you to it)

Said to a man.

type: enkWan adereseh

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንኳን አደረሳችሁ

Happy holiday

Polite, or to several people.

type: enkWan aderesachhu

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልካም በዓል

Happy holiday

type: melkam be`al

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልካም አዲስ ዓመት

Happy New Year

type: melkam adis `amet

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልካም ገና

Merry Christmas (Genna, 7 January)

type: melkam gena

Source: common usage, needs native check

መልካም ፋሲካ

Happy Easter (Fasika)

type: melkam fasika

Source: common usage, needs native check

እንኳን ደስ አለህ

Congratulations

Said to a man.

type: enkWan des aleh

Source: common usage, needs native check

ለጤናችን!

Cheers! (lit. to our health)

type: leTienachn!

Source: common usage, needs native check