Well, it is time for another post of Amharic words and phrases. As I mentioned earlier, I am taking Amharic lessons twice per week over lunch. I am still unable to gauge my progress, but I am able to communicate in stores and negotiate with the taxi drivers here – the essentials really. Enjoy!
Amharic -> English
Timkat – Baptism/Epiphany
Gunna – Christmas
Gehad – Eve of Ephiphany
Fasika – Easter
Dance – dance
Nightclub – nightclub
Cirq – marriage / wedding
Beta mengist – the Government Palace
Mesquet – Mosque
Chilluot – Court
Wund Tamaree – Student (masculine)
Sayt Tamaree – Student (feminine)
Sost Amet – 3 years old
Saytlitch – daughter
Arroget – Old woman
Sahai – sun
Wundlitch – son
Aleka – Director
Egat Sheim – Account Manager
Gunzabeyaj – Treasurer
Leeyusahaafi – Executive Secretary
Budget Akanabebaari – Project Officer
Yehig-Isow – Lawyer
Gimut – assumption
Terat – story
Derassi – author/writer of books
Etchuby – Exchange/purchase
Mizan – to balance
Sheefan – cover
Gunbatta – to build something up (administration)
Ansar – Opposite / across
Alaamah – aim / objective
Hayamanoat – religion
Yimare – God Bless You
Yekarta – Excuse me (after sneeze)
Matacore – concentrate/focus
Hodabaasha – crying/depressed
Hiwot – life
Nebs – soul/spirit
Merabaraam – everyone works together to save someone
Maytum – stamp
Bahari – condition / health
Lib – Heart
Yelib Awkah – good
Yesal Girdotch – Eclipse / clouds covering the sun
Esaat – fire
Wuha – water
Chow – salt
Berbere – Chilli
Mitmittaa – hot / spicy
Mar – honey
Beehair – country
Mihshit – night
Nigat – morning
Corrat – true
Meshesh – go away / run away
Eminet – believing
Mayat Maamennow – Seeing is Believing
Benmakaakaaraachen Leeyounaatellum – There is no difference between us
Merzenyaa – poisonous
Ebab – snake
Asa – fish
Bek – sheep
Kurraleet – frog
Ennat – mother
Abbat – father
Uncle – agoat
Aunt – Akust
Zinnennyaa – famous man
Astarguoun – translator / interpreter
Simnabello – listen to me
Desquorie – lecturer
Koorenyaa – fraud
Bozeni – unemployed, no work, no money
Baltett – Old Woman
Aroghee – Old Man
Addistoolitt – New generation
Addis – new
Ababay – flower
Walakar – backwards
Fikrenya – best friend
Yey telatt yey telatt yene wodacheenow – the enemy of my enemy is my friend
Gehtaami – poet
Deraasii – author of books
Inabella – shameless
Ine-outta – shameless (not afraid to take out one’s eyes)
Fillagoat – desire
Zefan – music
Tamer – miracle
Menafik – a man who doubts everything
Freneggar – issue
Frenneggar mendenno – what is the issue?
Tar – enemy (masculine)
Tellatt – enemy (feminine)
Siranegger – the source / the source of the issue
Esskisstaa – dancing
Howriyeatt – apostles/disciples/students of Jesus Christ
Kabella Hailatagenyo – Energy means power
Yemoat Devidabi – letter of death/death notice
Kahin – Priest
Dingue – virgin
Fikre-Scaamaakaabir – Love until death do us part
Yenva Messaaf – Reading a book
Yegitim Messaaf – Book of Poetry
Yesra – Alem – work world
Tuuruu saafee – good secretary/author
Yegittim Wodaater – Writing Competition/Dueling Poets/authors
Methadeg – Rescue / Help people
Mellamen – to beg
Meggumgum – to fire an employee
Matain – smartly dressed/sharp
Memmarek – God Bless You
Megibya – to enter / come inside
Gibba gibba – come on in
Memmariya – order from the government/message from the government
Ushabekadeddo Ghiibeegaaber (proverb) – someone else shares your secrets with others
Gobez tamari – good/intelligent student
Saanuff tamari – dull/stupid student
Yeygaara – common use (water, air – for the use of everyone)
Wongaara – something is meaningless in your mind
Negarit Gazetta – Government Publication – (all the laws, regulations etc. are passed here)
Awaj – Statement by the Prime Minister on a new law and associated punishments/sanctions
Wohtaat – young
Magazin – store
Aza – wund – he is an old man, poor man – help him out
Yehwund Aleeetchaa – Insult – shy man – afraid – runs away
Wuhawullett – contaminated water/polluted water
Ayerwullett – soldiers
Mennannyaa – INSULT – dirty
Goalmassah – Middleman
Berrari Worrokatt – delivering a message – pass it on to him
Elaama – aim
Alaama – idea
Ahmsaall – examination
Negarrafaj – client of a lawyer
Bettazammet – family
Libbolet – straight from the heart, fiction
Drama – film, play
Gessabariyaat – characteristics
Towaneye – actor
Gitchitt – crash
Kokabb – star
Berrado – Ice
Melass – tongue
Kunferr – lips
Jorro – ears
Amett Afesh – I don’t have a good life, miserable (you don’t get anything from ashes)
Maatenya – professional
Zinna – famous
Wastinna – guarantee
Jungoorgoon – black and white
Tirrtirr – doubt
Menkaff – complain, I don’t accept your explanation
Erikennaselam – peace agreement
Tarik – history
Gihat – clear
Sost-kan wuhat yellam – We have had no water for 3 days
Yell-bowka – a man who knows people’s secrets
Gung – fat
Yesra-libs – garb
Bado-goat-ah – gap
Barreau – empty
Yat-kent-boatah – garden
Atkilltenya – gardener
Korratoah – gash
Fennakatta – gash
Akatattah – gasp
Benzil – gasoline
Benzil madea – gas station
Workutatt – gastric
Burr – gate
Burrenya – gatekeeper
Libs – garment
Megibya – gatekeeper
Yemmadafiyelle – gazelle
Moot – dead
Denkoro – deaf
Denkoro didda – deaf and mute
Adenakorra – deafen
Chelamma – darkness
Woodinnakirk – darling
Takamma – darn
Dinnusai – a dash of _______
Lettedar edarasam – marriageable
Kiltum – bone marrow
Kontrat – lease
Fitsum – absolutely
Coda coat – leather coat
