Basic Amharic Phrases For Travelling In Ethiopia
In this post, I’ll guide you through some basic Amharic phrases.
Speaking even a little bit of Amharic can really transform your Ethiopian adventure. It will help you connect with the local people and allow you to share and embrace their traditions.
Ethiopia has an epic tapestry of ancient cultures and breathtaking landscapes. I’ve been to Ethiopia twice and love the huge breadth of experiences on offer here. There’s nowhere on Earth quite like it.
From the vibrant city of Addis Ababa and the castles of Gondar to the otherworldly Danakil depression and the jaw-dropping Simien Mountains, this incredible country has something for every adventurous traveller.
Basic Words in Amharic
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. It’s spoken by over 31 million people as a first language and 25 million more as a second language. Amharic is also a Semitic language, meaning it shares roots with Arabic and Hebrew.
Start your Amharic adventure with these basic words. They’re your first steps into a rich new linguistic world, perfect for everyday interactions and making connections.
- แฐแแ – Selam – Hello
- แฐแ แ แฅแแฐแแ – Dehna endemenelu – Goodbye
- แ แแฐแแแแ – Ameseginalehu – Thank you
- แ แแฐแแ แฐแแ – Andenaw selam – You’re welcome
- แฅแฃแญแ – Ebakih – Please
- แ แ – Awo – Yes
- แ แญ – Ay – No
- แฅแแฐแแ แ แฐแซ – Endemen adera – Good morning
- แแแซแ แแฝแต – Melkam mishiแนญ – Good evening
- แแแซแ แแตแญ – Melkam keter – Good afternoon
- แฅแแณแแปแแฉ – Endalechalehu – Excuse me
- แแแฅ – Migeb – Food
- แแ – Wuha – Water
- แแ แแแแซ – Met’elek’ekiya – Bathroom
Remember, these are just the basics. Getting a strong grasp on the Amharic language takes time and practice, but every journey starts with one step.
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Check out this itinerary for visiting Ethiopia.
Common Amharic Phrases
Next, move on to these common phrases to feel more at home with Amharic. They’re the essentials for daily conversations, helping you blend in with the locals.
- แฅแแดแต แแ ? – Endet neh? – How are you?
- แฅแ แฅแฉ แแแฃ แ แแฐแแแแ – Ene tiru neng, ameseginalehu – Iโm good, thanks
- แแแแแตแ แ แฐแต แ แแ – Megena’gnetihin des aleng – Nice to meet you
- แตแ… แแ – Sime… new – My name is…
- แญแ แญแณ – Yiqerta – I’m sorry
- แฅแฃแญแ – Ebakih – Excuse me
- แจแณแต แแฐแ แ แตแฝแแแ ? – Redat lisegen tich’laleh? – Can you help me?
- แฅแ แ แแฅ แแ – Ejig wub new – How beautiful!
- แฅแแ แฅแแฐแแแญ – Eneho endemenay – See you
- แฅแแ แฅแแฐแแแญ แ แแ – Eneho endemenay bela – See you later
- แ แฅแฉ แฅแตแ – Betiru edil – Good luck!
Basic Amharic Phrases for Travellers
For adventurous travellers, these phrases will serve as your everyday toolkit. Navigate your journey through Ethiopia with confidence, from its lively markets and ancient cities to its unique landscapes.
- แฅแ แแ แ แแ – Ene menjo aleรฑ – I have a reservation
- แแ แแแแซ แแดแต แแ? – Met’elek’ekiya wedet new? – Where are the bathrooms, please?
- แฅแแดแต แฅแแฐแแแฃ…? – Endet endememeta…? – How do I get to ___?
- แญแ แตแฌแ แตแแต แแ? – Yih sikel sint new? – How much is this?
- แฅแแแแแ แตแแแซแแ ? – Englizinya tenageraleh? – Do you speak English?
- แฅแฃแญแ แฅแ แญแฅ แแดแ แแดแต แแ? – Ebakih eqirib hotel wedet new? – Where is the nearest hotel?
- แฅแ แ แแแข แจแณแต แแฐแ แ แตแฝแแแ ? – Ene teffah. Redat lisegen tich’laleh? – Iโm lost. Can you help me?
- แญแ แ แซแฃแข แ แตแฐแแแ แแ? – Yih akababi astemamagn new? – Is this area safe?
- แ แแแต แญแ แ แซแฃแข แ แตแฐแแแ แแ? – Belelit yih akababi astemamagn new? – Is this area safe at night?
Useful Amharic Phrases for Information
Information is key, and these phrases will help you get it. They’re ideal for asking questions and understanding the world around you in Ethiopia.
- แฅแซแ แ แแ – Tiyรคqโe alรครฑ – I have a question
- แ แ แแญแ แญแ แ แแ แญแแณแ? – Beโamariรฑรฑa yihin min yilutal? – What is this called in Amharic?
- แฅแฃแญแ แ แแแ แฐแแแญ – Ebakih beziโhon tรคnager – Can you speak slower, please?
- แ แแญแ แ แฅแฉ แ แแแแญแ – Amariรฑรฑa betโiru alnรคgerim – I do not speak Amharic very well
- แ แแแฃแแ – Algebagnim – I do not understand
- แฅแฃแญแ แฅแแฐแแ แฐแแแญ – Ebakih endรคgna tรคnager – Can you repeat that please?
- แแจแ แ แตแแแ แแ – Mรคrรคja asรคflรคgi neng – I need information
- แแจแ แคแต แแดแต แแ? – Mรคrรคja bet wedet new? – Where is the information office?
- แญแ แแ แแแต แแ? – Yih min mรคlet new? – What does this mean?
- แฐแแต แแ แแ? – Sรคโat min new? – What time is it?
- แขแแ แ แตแซแปแ แแแตแแ? – Imel aderashaแธฅ mรคndenew? – What’s your email address?
- แ แ แแญแ ____ แฅแแดแต แญแแ? – Beโamariรฑรฑa ____ endet yelalu? – How do you say ____ in Amharic?
- แญแ /แซแ แแแตแแ? – Yih/yaw mรคndenew? – What is this/that?
- แตแแญแ แ แแตแ แแ แฅแฝแแแ? – Sรฏlkโiรฑn mastโรคqโem ichโรคlalehu? – Can I use your phone?
Useful Phrases for Directions in Amharic
Lost? Not anymore. These direction phrases in Amharic will guide you to your destination, and help you enjoy the journey in the process.
- … แแดแต แแ? – … wedet new? – Where is the…?
- … แฅแแดแต แฅแแฐแแแฃ? – … endet endememeta? – How do I get to…?
- แ แซแญแณ แแณแจแต แตแฝแแแ ? – Beโkarta masayet tichโlaleh? – Can you show me on the map?
- แแฅ แฅแแ แแต – Qรคt bilih hid – Go straight ahead
- แแ/แแซ แฐแแแต – Qen/gira tรคmรคlรคs – Turn right/left
- แ แญแฅ/แฉแ แแ – Qโirb/rลซq new – It’s near/far
- แ แแแต แแญ แแ – Beโgonet lay new – It’s around the corner
- แญแ แแแฑ แแ – Yih gonetu new – This is the corner
- … แแแแต แแแแต แแแตแแ? – … lรคmรคhed menged mรคndenew? – Which way is it to…?
- แ แฅแแญ แแต แแญแต แณแญแฒ แ แตแแแ แแ? – Beโรฏgรฏr hid weyis takisi asรคflรคgi new? – Can I walk there or do I need a taxi?
- แแ แฐแตแ? – Men tesga? โ Which direction?
- แขแแแซ แแณแญ? – Biloogiya metay? โ Is it uphill or downhill?
Basic Amharic Phrases for Transportation
Navigating Ethiopian cities and towns isn’t as daunting as it may seem, and you can travel smoothly with these transportation phrases. They’re essential for getting around, whether you’re catching a bus or hailing a taxi.
- แณแญแฒ แจแจแต แฅแแฐแแแแ? – Taksi kโeyet endemengen? – Where can I get a taxi?
- … แแแแต แฅแแดแต แญแจแแแ? – … lรคmรคhed endet yikโfรคlal? – How much does it cost to go to…?
- แแฐ… แแแต แฅแแแแแ – Wedรค… lihรซd effรคlagalรคhu – I want to go to…
- แฃแต แแแแซ แแดแต แแ? – Bas maqomiya wedet new? – Where is the bus stop?
- แฃแต แแแชแซ แแดแต แแ? – Bas mazoriya wedet new? – Where is the bus station?
- แจแแแฅแแ แฃแต แแผ แญแแณแ? – Yemiqรคtโรคlรคw bas mรคtche yihรซdal? – What time does the next bus leave?
- แแฐ… แแตแจแต แแแแญ แตแแต แแ แญแแแแ? – Wรคdรค… mรคdรคres lรคmรคnor sรฏnt gรฏzรซ yifรคlgal? – How long does it take to get to…?
- แฅแแดแต แฅแแฐแแตแจแต แแฐ แ แจแญ แแตแญ? – Endet endemรคdรคres wedรค ayer mesk? – How do I get to the airport?
- แญแ แฃแต แแฐ… แญแแณแ? – Yih bas wedรค… yihรซdal? – Does this bus go to…?
- แจแแแแฃ แฒแฌแต แฅแแแแแ – Yemรฏzgebรค tikโet effรคlagalรคhu – I need a round trip ticket
- แฒแฌแต แแดแต แฅแแฐแแแ? – Tiket wedet endemgeza? – Where do I buy tickets?
Basic Amharic Phrases About Accommodation
Settle into your Ethiopian stay with ease. These accommodation phrases ensure your comfort and help you communicate your needs effectively.
- แญแแ แแดแ แ แแ? – Kifle hotel alen? – Do you have any rooms available?
- แ แแแต แแ แตแแต แแ? – Belelit waga sint new? – How much does it cost per night?
- แ แแแ แแตแฅ แแญแต แ แ? – BeWagaw wist kurs ale? – Is breakfast included in the price?
- แจแแแต แ แแ แญแแ แแดแ แ แแ? – Yehulet alga kifle hotel alen? – I need a double room
- แจแแแต แ แแ แซแแ แต แญแแ แแดแ แ แ? – Kehulet alga kalebet kifle hotel ale? – Is there a room with two beds?
- แแป แแ แ แ? – Netsa Wi-Fi ale? – Is there free Wi-Fi?
- แ แจแญ แแแซแจแญ แ แ? – Ayer mek’ayayer ale? – Is there air conditioning?
- แแแต แแดแต แแ? – Lift wedet new? – Where is the elevator?
- แแ แแดแต แแ? – Jim wedet new? – Where is the gym?
- แญแแ แแดแ แแแแแฅ แฅแแแแแ – Kifle hotel memezgeb felegalehu – I would like to book a room
- แญแแ แแดแ แ แแแแแต แ แ? – Kifle hotel agelgelot ale? – Is there room service?
- แญแแ แแญ แ แญแฐแแ – Kifilu nech aydelem – The room is dirty
- แ แแ แแดแ แฐแ แแแ แแแ – Bezih hotel tetenek’ek’รฑalehu – I feel safe in this hotel
- แแแญ แ แณแแฐแญ แ แแ? – Polik adaptor alen? – Do you have a plug adaptor?
- แ แ แฅแญแณ แซแแแ แญแแ แแดแ แฅแแแแแ – Bego eyita yalewun kifle hotel felegalehu – I want a room with a nice view
- แ แญแแ แแตแฅ แแฐแแ แ แ? – BeKifilu wist mesalef ale? – Is there a safe in the room?
- แฅแฃแญแ แ แ แแต แฐแแต แฐแฃแต แฅแแฐแแตแแณแ – Ebakih bet’wat saat sebat endemet’nasagn – Can you wake me up at 7 a.m.?
- แแ แแ แ แแ แฅแแแแแ – Lehets’an alga felegalehu – I need a crib for the baby
- แแแฃแต แฐแแต แแแแ แแ? – Mewtat saat mรฏnigzรฉ new? – Whatโs the check-out time?
Helpful Amharic Phrases for Shopping
When you venture into the vibrant world of Ethiopian marketplaces, having a basic grasp of Amharic can dramatically transform your shopping experience.
From making simple requests, and inquiries about prices, to bargaining and expressing your satisfaction or dissatisfaction, learning these common shopping phrases can be very handy.
- … แฅแแแแแ – … felegalehu – I am looking for…
- แแแ แตแแต แแ? – Wagaw sint new? – How much does it cost?
- แ แแฝ แ แ? – Qenash ale? – Is there any discount?
- แ แแน แตแแต แแ? – Qenashu sint new? – How much is the discount?
- แฅแ แ แจแแฐแ แแ – Ejig kefetegna new – That’s too expensive
- แแแแ แแแแต แตแฝแแแ ? – Wagawin mekenes tich’laleh? – Can you lower the price?
- แ แญแฌแฒแต แซแญแต แแญแแ แฅแฝแแแ? – BeKredit card mek’efel ich’laleh? – Can I pay with a credit card?
- แฅแญ แฅแป – Bir becha – Cash only
- แ แแ แจแแฐแ แซแ แฅแแแแแ – Bezih kefetegna kale felegalehu – Do you have this in a larger size?
- แ แแ แแแ แซแ แฅแแแแแ – Belela k’elem kale felegalehu – Do you have this in another colour?
- แญแ แ แแแแต แฅแแแแแ – Yihin memelles felegalehu – I want to return this
- แจแแฅแต แแแแแซ แแดแต แแ? – Yelebes melelawacha wedet new? – Where are the fitting rooms?
- แฅแฃแญแ แฑแ แแดแต แแ? – Ebakih suq wedet new? – Excuse me, whereโs the supermarket?
- แจแ แแฃแณแต แแแแ แคแต แแดแต แแ? – Yeโalbasat megenagna bet wedet new? – Whereโs the clothing store?
- แฅแฃแญแ แ แซแฃแขแซแ แแญแถแฝ แแดแต แแ แแแธแ? – Ebakih akababiyawi mirtotch wedet le’agenachew? – Where can I find local products?
- แแแซแ แแ – Melkam gena – Merry Christmas (often used for special discounts during holidays)
- แแแแต แแ – Nafkot new – I love it
- แแ แฐ แแ – Mahed new – I donโt want it
- แฅแแณแแ แแแแ – Endalehu hulunim – I will come back later
- แคแญแฑแซแ – Bertukan – Orange (important for those fresh juice stalls!)
- แ แณแ แแแ – Betam konjo – Very beautiful
Helpful Phrases for Dining Out in Ethiopia
Ethiopian cuisine is unique and rich in diversity. With such variety on offer, having a basic understanding of the local language can come to your aid.
Enhance your dining experiences with these phrases. They’re perfect for exploring Ethiopia’s rich culinary landscape and enjoying local delicacies.
- Buna tinish yief – Please, a little coffee
- แแแแต แฐแแฝ แ แฐแจแต แแตแแแฅ แฅแฝแแแ? – Lehulet sewoch bederet maskemet kechilaleh? – Can I get a table for two?
- แฅแฃแญแ แแแ แ แณแจแ – Ebakih menew asayegn? – Can you please show me the menu?
- แจแแฌแ แแญแฅ แญแแฅแ แแแตแแ? – Yezaerew mirt chimbil mndenew? – What is the dish of the day?
- แฅแ… แแแตแแ แแแตแแ แแตแจแ แฅแแแแแ – Ene… mndenew mndenew madreg effilgalehu – I would like…
- แฅแฃแญแ แแ แแแญแจแ แตแฝแแแ ? – Ebakih min memekregn tichilaleh? – Could you suggest something for me?
- แแ แแแตแแ แแแแฅ แณแแแฝแแแ ? – Min mndenew memgeb tamenechilaleh? – What do you recommend to eat?
- แฅแ แฅแตแจ… แ แแญแแ – Ene eske… alergize – I’m allergic to…
- แญแ แญแแฅแ แแตแฅ… แ แแ? – Yih chimbil wist… alew? – Does this dish contain…?
- แฅแฃแญแ แแญแถแฝ แแฃแ แแแฅ แ แแแแ แแฃแ แแแฅ แ แแ? – Ebakih mirtotch lebale migeb alhonew lebale migeb alew? – Do you have vegetarian/vegan options?
- แฅแ แฅแ/แแฃ/แแฐแต แ แแ แแแ – Ene siga/asโa/wetet albelahum – I donโt eat meat/fish/dairy
- แญแ แแฃแ แแแฅ แ แแ? – Yih lebale migeb alew? – Is this suitable for vegetarians?
- Yekโikโ wetat bet yelem – I don’t eat spicy food
- Yefisikโ beyaynetu yehonk – Please bring a vegetarian platter
- Yehiwot teganya telatโo – Remove the raw meat, please
- Meseret yemiyamushal metatโeb – Please bring refilled lentils
- แญแ แแแตแแ? – Yih mndenew? – What is this?
- แฅแ แญแ แ แแฐแตแ – Ene yihin wededehu – I like it
- แฅแฃแญแ แจแฃแแแ แแณแฅ แแแตแแ? – Ebakih yebalgenin hisab mndenew? – Can I have the bill, please?
- แ แฃแ แฃแแญ แแ แญ! แ แแฐแแแแ – Betam tafach neger! Ameseginalehu – It was delicious! Thank you
Amharic Question Words
Curiosity leads to discovery, and these question words in Amharic are your tools for uncovering the countless hidden gems of Ethiopia.
- แแ? – Min? – What?
- แแดแต? – Wedet? – Where?
- แแผ? – Metchu? – When?
- แแ? – Man? – Who?
- แแแ? – Lemin? – Why?
- แฅแแดแต? – Endet? – How?
- แฅแแ? – Egnaw? – Which?
- แตแแต? – Sint? – How much?
- แตแแต แ แซแฃแข? – Sint akababi? – How many?
- แจแแ? – Yeman? – Whose?
- แแแตแแ? – Mndenew? – What is this?
- แฅแฑ แแ แแ? – Eshu man new? – Who is that?
- แฅแแดแต แแ? – Endet new? – How is it?
- แแแ แแ? – Lemin new? – Why is it?
- แแ แ แแ แต? – Min alebat? – What is in…?
- แแดแต แแ? – Wedet new? – Where is…?
- แฅแแ แ แแ? – Ezih alew? – Is there a…?
Numbers in Amharic
Understanding the Amharic numbering system is useful in a wide range of scenarios, especially when it comes to transactions, discussing times, and navigating transportation.
Below is a list of simple numbers along with some larger ones:
- แแฎ – Zฤro – 0
- แ แแต – And – 1
- แแแต – Hulรคt – 2
- แถแตแต – Sost – 3
- แ แซแต – Arat – 4
- แ แแตแต – Amรฏst – 5
- แตแตแตแต – Sรฏdรฏst – 6
- แฐแฃแต – Sรคbat – 7
- แตแแแต – Sรฏmรฏnt – 8
- แแ แ – Zรคtโรครฑ – 9
- แ แตแญ – Asรฏr – 10
- แ แตแซ แ แแต – Asรฏra and – 11
- แ แตแซ แแแต – Asรฏra hulรคt – 12
- แ แตแซ แถแตแต – Asรฏra sost – 13
- แ แตแซ แ แซแต – Asรฏra arat – 14
- แ แตแซ แ แแตแต – Asรฏra amรฏst – 15
- แ แตแซ แตแตแตแต – Asรฏra sรฏdรฏst – 16
- แ แตแซ แฐแฃแต – Asรฏra sรคbat – 17
- แ แตแซ แตแแแต – Asรฏra sรฏmรฏnt – 18
- แ แตแซ แแ แ – Asรฏra zรคtโรครฑ – 19
- แแซ – Haya – 20
- แฐแแณ – Selasa – 30
- แ แญแฃ – Arba – 40
- แแแณ – Hamsa – 50
- แตแแณ – Sรฏlรฏsa – 60
- แฐแฃ – Seba – 70
- แฐแแแซ – Sรคmanya – 80
- แแ แ – Zรคtโรคna – 90
- แแถ – Mรคto – 100
- แบ – Shรฏ – 1,000
- แ แตแญ แบ – Asรฏr shรฏ – 10,000
- แแถ แบ – Mรคto shรฏ – 100,000
- แแแฎแ – Mรฏlyon – 1,000,000
To create numbers in between these, combine the tens and units. For example:
- “Twenty-one” is แแซ แ แแต – Haya and
- “Thirty-two” is แฐแแณ แแแต – Selasa hulรคt
For numbers in the hundreds, thousands, and beyond, combine the larger number with the smaller. For instance:
- “One hundred and twenty-three” is แแถ แแซ แถแตแต – Mรคto haya sost
- “Two thousand and nineteen” is แแแต แบ แ แตแซ แแ แ – Hulรคt shรฏ asรฏra zรคtโรครฑ
See Also
Check out some of my other posts on learning Semitic languages for travel:
Final Thoughts
Now you have a collection of Amharic phrases and words that will open doors to new experiences and deeper connections in Ethiopia.
Learning a bit of Amharic before you travel to Ethiopia can be incredibly helpful in navigating everyday life and understanding the culture. Language bridges cultures and builds friendships, turning regular trips into life-changing journeys.
Embrace these phrases, let them guide your adventures, and immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Ethiopia.
And, if you want to take your Amharic learning to the next level, check out amharicteacher.com.
Other Posts About Visiting Ethiopia
- 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Ethiopia
- Ethiopia Itinerary & Travel Guide
- My Favourite Photos of Ethiopia
Essential Travel Resources
๐๏ธ Book cheap hotels
I always use Booking.com to find the best hotel deals. Vrbo is great for short-term apartments.
๐ Find cheap rental cars
Check both Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com to find cheap rental cars.
๐ Book the best tours
Viator and GetYourGuide have a huge selection of tours in virtually every destination worldwide.
โ๏ธ Find cheap flights
I use a combination of Skyscanner and Google Flights to find cheap flights.
๐ฑ eSIMs
Airalo is my favourite travel eSIM provider – I’ve used it in over 10 countries and really rate it. So much easier than buying physical SIM cards when you travel!
๐ Do I need travel insurance?
YES! Never travel without adequate travel insurance. It’s just not worth the risk.
• SafetyWing – if you’re a digital nomad like me, SafetyWing is super flexible and affordable. You can sign up for as little or as long as you want, and activate and deactivate it whenever you need to. I’ve made several claims in the last few years and thoroughly recommend this company.
• World Nomads – for adventurous travellers, covers 200+ activities that many other insurers won’t, such as skydiving, heli-skiing, rock climbing, rafting, scuba diving, cliff jumping, and kiteboarding (not available for residents of every country – check here).
๐ป Do I need a VPN?
YES! Always use a VPN when using public WiFi (in airports, cafes, hotels, stations, etc.). This helps protect your personal information and also bypasses internet censorship and restrictions in certain countries. I use NordVPN and highly recommend it.