Amharic Phrasebook: Greetings & Essential Phrases

The most useful Amharic words and phrases for travelers — greetings, polite basics, numbers, directions and more — each with a simple pronunciation guide. This is a preview of the full phrasebook content.

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Greetings & Introductions Common Words & Questions Numbers Days & Time Directions Locations Food Lodging Medical Body Parts Emergencies Weather Descriptions Family Occupations Customs Fuel & Vehicle

Greetings & Introductions 10 phrases

Welcome.እንክዋን፡ደህና፡መጡinkwan dehnaa mato

Hello.ጠና፡ይስጥልኝtenaa isteling

Good morning.እንደምን፡አደራችሁindamen adaracho

Good night.ደህና፡እደሩdehnaa edaroo

Good bye.ደህና፡ሁኑ/ቻውdehnaa hono chaw

How are you?እንደምን፡ነህ?indaa men naKh?

I'm fine, thanks, and you?ደህና፡ነኝ፡ይመስገን፡አንተስ?dehnaa nan, eemasken, antas?

I'm pleased to meet you.እንኳን፡ ለመተዋወቅ፡ አበቃንinkwan lamatawak abakan

Thank you for your help.ለርዳታህ፡አመሰግናለውlerdataKh amasagenalow

My name is ___.ስሜ ___ ነውsemee ___ no

Common Words & Questions 30 phrases

Please.እባክህንehbakahen

Thank you.አመሰግናለሁamasegnalow

Can someone assist us?የሆነ፡ሰው፡ሊረዳን፡ይችላል?yahona saw lerey dan eechelaal?

OK.እሺashee

Excuse me. / I'm sorry.ይቅርታyekerta

Yes.አዎaawoo

No.አይai

Maybe.ምናልባትmenalbat

Right.ልክ፡ነውlik naw

Wrong.ልክ፡አይደለምlek aydalam

Here.ይኸውyehaw

There.ያውyawo

I want.ፈልጋለውfalee galow

I do not want.አልፈልግምalfal legam

Danger.አደገኛadaganya

OK, no problem.እሺ፡ችግር፡የለምishee, cheger yalam

Who?ማን?maan?

What?ምን?men?

When?መቼ?machey?

Where?የት?yet?

Why?ለምን ?lamen?

How?እንዴት?andet?

What happened?ምን፡ተፈጠረ?min tafatara?

Do you have ___?___.አለህ?___ aaleKh?

Do you need help?እርዳታ፡ትፈልጋለህ?erdataa tefalegaleKh?

I amእኔ...ነኝanay nen

You areአንተ...ነህanta neKh

He / She isእሱ..ነው / እሷ፡...ናትesoo no / esaa not

We areእኛ..ነንinya nan

They areእነሱ..ናቸውenaasoo nacho

Numbers 41 phrases

0 Zeroዜሮzero

1 Oneአንድant

2 Twoሁለትholat

3 Threeሶስትsosts

4 Fourአራትaraat

5 Fiveአምስትamiset

6 Sixስድስትseddest

7 Sevenሰባትsabat

8 Eightስምንትsemment

9 Nineዘጠኝzatayn

10 Tenአስርaser

11 Elevenአስራአንድasra ant

12 Twelveአስራሁለትasra holat

13 Thirteenአስራሶስትasra sosts

14 Fourteenአስራአራትasra araat

15 Fifteenአስራአምስትasra amissed

16 Sixteenአስራስድስትasra seddest

17 Seventeenአስራሰባትasra sabat

18 Eighteenአስራስምንትasra semment

19 Nineteenአስራዘጠኝasra zatayn

20 Twentyሃያhayaa

30 Thirtyሰላሳsalaasa

40 Fortyአርባarbaa

50 FiftyሃምሳKhamsa

60 Sixtyስልሳselsaa

70 Seventyሰባsabaa

80 Eightyሰማኒያsamanyaa

90 Ninetyዘጠናzatanaa

100 Hundredመቶmatow

1,000 Thousandአንድሺant shee

10,000 Ten Thousandአሰርሺaser shee

100,000 Hundred Thousandመቶሺmatow shee

1,000,000 Millionሚሊዮንmilyoon

Plusሲደመርseedamar

Minusሲቀነስseekanas

More (than)ከ…የሚበልጥyamee balt

Less (than)ከ…የሚያንስyemee ans

Approximatelyበግምትbagemmet

Firstአንደኛandanyah

Secondሁለተኛholat tanyaa

Thirdሶስተኛsosts tanyaa

Days & Time 24 phrases

Sundayእሁድohod

Mondayሰኞsanyo

Tuesdayማክሰኞmaxsanyo

Wednesdayእሮብeerob

Thursdayሃሙስhaamus

Fridayአርብaarb

Saturdayቅዳሜkedamee

Yesterdayትናንትናteenant tena

Todayዛሬzaree

Tomorrowነገnaga

Dayቀንkan

Nightማታmataa

Weekሳምንትsament

Monthወርwer

Yearአመትaamet

Secondሰኮንድsakond

Minuteደቂቃdakeeka

Hourሰአትsa'at

Morningጠዋትtawaat

Eveningማታmataa

Noonእኩለ፡ቀንokolakan

Midnightእኩለ፡ለሊትeko lalaleet

Nowአሁንaahon

Laterበሁዋላbohala

Directions 26 phrases

Above / Overበላይ/በ..ላይbalie

After / Pastከ…በሁዋላ/..ካለፈ፡በሁዋላbohala / kalafa bohala

Back / Behindወደሁዋላ/ሁላwado hala / huwala

Before / In front of / Forwardከ..በፊት/ ከ..ፊትለፊት / ወደፊትkafeet / lafeet / wada feet

Betweenመካከልmakakal

Coordinatesማስተባበርmastababer

Degreesድግሪስdegrees

Downወደታችwada tach

Eastምስራቅmisraak

Farሩቅrook

Longitudeላቲቲውድlateetude

Leftግራgera

Latitudeሎንግቲውድlongeetude

My position is ___.የኔ፡አቁዋም ___yaney agwam ___

Nearአጠገብatakab

Northሰሜንsamen

Northeastሰሜን፡ምስራቅsamen misraak

Northwestሰሜን፡ምእራብsamen me-raab

Rightቀኝkan

Southደቡብdaboob

Southeastደቡብ፡ምስራቅdaboob misraak

Southwestደቡብ፡ምእራብdaboob me-raab

Straight ahead.ቀትታ፡ወደፊትkateeta wadafeet

Underከታችkatach

Upወደላይwadalie

Westምእራብme-raab

Locations 25 phrases

Beachባህር፡ዳርbaher daar

Borderድንበርdenber

Bridgeድልድይdelday

Campመነሻmanasha

Dirt roadያቧራ፡መንገድyabara manget

Forestጫካtaka

Harborወደብwadab

Hillኮረብታgorabta

Houseቤትbait

Lakeሀይቅhike

Meadowመስክmask

Mountainተራራtarara

Oceanውቂያኖስwekyanoos

Pathየእግር፡መንገድya-eger manget

Paved roadየተደለደለ፡መንገድyatadela manget

Placeቦታboota

Positionሁኔታhonayta

Riverወንዝwans

Roadመንገድmanget

Seaባህርbaher

Squareአደባባይada babaey

Treeዛፍzaaf

Valleyሸለቆshalako

Villageመንደርmander

Where?የት?yet

Food 45 phrases

Foodምግብmageb

Canቆርቆሮkorkoro

Cupስኒsenee

Forkሹካshokaa

Knifeቢላbeela

Plateሰሃንsahan

Spoonማንኪያmankeya

Beansባቄላbakeela

Beerቢራbeera

Breadዳቦdabo

Butterቅቤkway

Cheeseአይብaieb

Coffeeቡናboona

Fishአሳaasa

Flourዱቄትdokait

Fruitፈራፍሬferafrey

Meatስጋsega

Milkወተትwatat

Oilዘይትzait

Potatoesድንችdenich

Riceሩዝrooz

Saltጨውcheaw

Soupሾርባshorba

Sugarስኩዋርsekwaar

Teaሻይshay

Vegetablesአታክልትatakelt

Waterውሃwuhaa

Wineቪኖveeno

Drinkመጠጥmatat

Eatብላbeela

Don't push! We have plenty of food.አትጋፉ፡በቂ፡ምግብ፡ አለንatee gafoo! bekey megeb aalan

Give me your bowl.ሰሃንህን፡ስጠንsahanahen setin

Is the water safe to drink?ወሃው፡ደህና፡ነው፡ ለመጠጣት?wuhaw dehnano lamatatad?

Boil the water.ወሃውን፡አፍሉትwuhawen afloot

Wash your hands.እጅህን፡ታጠብejehen tatab

Wash yourself here.እዚህ፡ታጠብethee tatab

We need ___ liters of potable water.የሚጠጣ ___.ሊትር፡ውሃ ያስፈልገናልyemee tata ___ leeter wuhaa yasfel leegnal

Where is the latrine?መታጠቢታያ፡ቦታ፡matatabya bota yet no?

The latrine is to the ___.የት፡ነው?matatabya bota no ___

leftመታጠቢያ፡ቦታው..ነው ______ gera

right___ ግራ___ kan

straight ahead___ ቀኝ___ kateta

Is the food fresh?___ ቀጥታmegbo to kos no?

Is the food spoiled?ምግቡ፡ትኩስ፡ነው?megbo yatabalasheh no?

Burn this ___.ምግቡ፡የተበላሸ፡ነው?yehenen akatlow

Lodging 9 phrases

We must spend the night here.እዚህ፡ምደር፡አለብንezee madder aalaben

Is there a dining facility here?እዚህ፡የራት፡ቦታ፡አለ?ezee yaraat bota alaa?

How many kilometers to the nearest town?ከዚህ፡ስንት፡ኪሎሜትር፡ነው፡የሚቀጥለው፡ከተማ?kazee sent keelometer no yamee katelow katama?

Are there any hotels near here?እዚህ፡አካብቢ፡ሆቴሎች፡ezee aaka babee hoteeloch aloo?

Are there any restaurants near here?አሉ?kazee ata geb makabetoch aloo?

We want to go to ___.ከዚህ፡አጠገብ፡መግብ፡ቤትenyaa ___ maheed enfalagalan

Are there rental cars available?ዎች፡አሉ?yemee karaay mekenawoch aloo?

Is there a telephone available?እኛ ___ መሄድ፡እንፈልጋለንtelefon ala?

We need ___ gallons of potable water.የሚከራይ፡መኪኖች፡አሉ?ant galoon yamee tata wuhaa yasfel leegnal

Medical 33 phrases

Antibioticsአንቲባዮቲክanteebiyotic

Bandageፋሻfashaa

Bloodደምdam

Burnመቃጠልmakatel

Cleanንጹህneesoh

Deadሞተmota

Doctorዶክተርdoktar

Feverትኩሳትtekosaat

HospitalሃኪምቤትHakeem bait

Infectionኢንፌክሽን/ቁስልinfection kosel

Injuredመጎዳትmago daat

Malnutritionየምግብ፡እጥረትyamageb etraat

Medicፈጥኖ፡ ደራሽ፡ሃኪምfed no darash Hakeem

Medicineመድሃኒትmedhaneet

Nurseነርስnars

Poisonመርዝmarz

Sickመታመምmata mem

Vitaminsቫይታሚንvitaamen

Woundቁሰልkosel

I am a doctor.እኔ፡ዶክተር፡ነኝanay daktor nen

I am not a doctor.እኔ ዶክተር፡አይደለሁምanay doktar aydaluhum

I am going to help.ልረዳችሁ፡ነውleera dacho no

Can you walk?መራመድ፡ትችላለህ?maramet tee chelaleKh?

Can you sit?መቀመጥ፡ትችላለህ?makamet tee chelaleKh?

Can you stand?መቆም፡ትችላለህ?makoom tee chelaleKh?

Are you in pain?ህመም፡ ይሰማሃል?hemam esa mahal?

You will get a shot.መርፌ፡ትወጋለህmarfey towa galeh

I will take you to the hospital.ሃኪም፡ቤት፡እወስደሃለውHakem bait ewa estahalo

What is wrong?ምን፡ሆነሃል?min honwal?

Are you injured?ተጎድተሃል?tagor tahaal?

Can you feed yourself?ራስህ፡ማጉረስ፡ትችላለህ?raseh magros techeraleKh?

Open your mouthአፍሀን፡ክፈትafa hen keeft

Are you pregnant?እርጉዝ፡ነሽ?ergooz na sh?

Body Parts 36 phrases

Abdomenሆድhod

Ankleቁርጭምጭሚትkorchem chemeet

Armእጅej

Boneአጥንትaatent

Brainአንጎልangol

Chestደረትdarat

Earጆሮjoro

Elbowክርንkern

Eyesአይንaayn

Faceፊትfeet

Fingerጣትtaat

Footእግርeger

Hairፀጉርsagor

Handእጅej

Headራስraas

Heartልብlip

Kidneyኩላሊትkolaleet

Kneeጉልበትgolbat

Legእግርeger

Lipsከንፈርkanfer

Liverጉበትgoobet

Lungsሳምባsamba

Mouthአፍaaf

Neckአንገትaanget

Noseአፍንጫaafencha

Pelvis / Groinብልት መገጣጠሚያbelet magat atemya

Ribsጎድንgooden

Shoulderትከሻtekasha

Skullየራስ፡አጥንትyaras aatent

Spineየጅርባ፡አጥንትyajerba aatent

Stomach (area)ሆድhod

Stomach (organ)ጨጉዋራchakwara

Teethጥርስters

Toeየእግር፡ጣትya eger tat

Tongueምላስmelaas

Wristአንጉዋangwaa

Emergencies 5 phrases

Emergency!ድንገተኛ/አስቸኩዋይ!denga tenya ascha kwhy!

We need a doctor!ዶክተር፡ያስፈልገናል!doktar yasfel leegnal!

Distress signalየእርዳታ፡ምልክትyaerdataa meleket

Help!እርዳታ!erdataa!

Evacuate the area!ከቦታው፡ልቀቁ/ውጡ!kabo taw legako woto!

Weather 18 phrases

Coldብርድbert

Dryደረቅdarak

Earthquakeየመሬት፡መንቀቀጥyamaret mankatkat

Fogጭጋግcheegag

High windsሃይለኛ፡ንፋስhylanya nefas

Hotሙቀትmoket

Humidityእርጥበትertebet

Iceበረዶbarado

Lightningመብረቅmabrak

Rainዝናብzenaab

Sandstormአቧራ፡(ኣዙሪኝ)abo ara azoreen

Severeሃይለኛhylanya

Snowበረዶbarado

Stormሃይለኛ፡ዝናብhylanya zeenaab

Temperatureቴምፕሬቸርtemprecher

Thunderነጎድጉዋድnager kwad

Weatherአየርaayer

Wetእርጥብerteb

Descriptions 69 phrases

Blackጥቁርtekur

Blueሰመያዊsamayawee

Brownቡናአይነትbona aynat

Grayግራጫgeracha

Greenአረንጉዋዴaran gwadee

Orangeብርቱካን አይነትburtokan aynat

Purpleወይንፀጅwain sej

Redቀይkai

Whiteነጭmej

Yellowቢጫbeecha

Bigትለቅtelek

Deepጥልቅtilk

Longረጅምrajem

Narrowጠባብtaabab

Short (in height)አጭርaajer

Short (in length)አጭርaajer

Small, littleትንሽtenish

Tallረጅምrajem

Thickወፍራምwafram

Thinቀጭንkaajen

Wideሰፊsafee

Roundክብkub

Straightቀጥያለkatyalaa

Squareአራትመአዘንaarat ma-azen

Triangularሶስትመአዘንsosts ma-azen

Bitterመራራmarara

Freshትኩስ/ለጋtokos laga

Saltyጨውchao

Sourኮምጣጣkom itata

Spicyየሚያቃጥል/የተቀመመyemya katel

Sweetየሚጣፍጥyemee it-afet

Badመጥፎmadfoo

CleanንጹህnesoKh

Darkየጠቆረyata kora

Difficultአስቸጋሪascha garee

Dirtyቆሻሻkushasha

Dryደረቅdarak

Easyቀላልkalaal

Emptyባዶbadoo

Expensiveውድwed

Fastፈጣንfataan

Foreignየውጭyawich

Fullሙሉmolo

Goodጥሩtero

Hard (firm)ጠንካራitankara

Heavyከባድkabaad

Inexpensiveያልተወደደyaltawadada

Light (illumination)መብራትmabraat

Light (weight)ቀላልkalaal

Localያገርyager

Newአዲስaades

Noisyጩኸትchohed

Old (about things)አሮጌaarogee

Old (about people)አዛውንትaazawent

Powerfulሃይለኛhylanyaa

Quietዝምተኛzemen tanyaa

Right / Correctልክ/ትክክል፡ነውlik / tetekel no

Slowቀስkas

Softበቀስታbaka seta

Veryበጣምbataam

Weakደካማdakama

Wetእርጥብerteb

Wrong / Incorrectልክ፡ያልሆነ / ትክክል፡ ያልሆነlik yal hona / tetekel yal hona

Youngወጣትwadad

Few / Littleትንሽtenish

Many / Muchብዙbezo

Partክፍልkefel

Some / A fewጥቂት / ኢምንትteket / emnat

Wholeሙሉmolo

Family 21 phrases

Auntአክስትaakest

Brotherወንድምwandem

Childልጅlej

Childrenልጆችlijoch

Cousinያጎት፡ልጅya agoot lej

Daughterየሴት፡ልጅyaset lej

Familyቤተሰብbetaseb

Fatherአባትaabet

Grandfatherየወንድ፡አያትyawand ayaat

Grandmotherየሴት፡አያትyaset ayaat

Husbandባልbaal

Manወንድwand

Menወንዶችwandoj

Motherእናትenaat

Relativesዘመድzamej

Sisterእህትehed

Sonወንድ፡ልጅwandalej

Uncleአጎትagoot

Wifeሚስትmest

Womanሴትsait

Womenሴቶችsaytooj

Occupations 25 phrases

Air Forceአየር፡ሃይል!eyyerhyel

Armyጦርtorsaraweet

Marinesማሪንmareen

Navyባህር፡ሃይልbaherhyel

Air Defenseየአይር፡ጦር/መከላከያya ayer tor makalakaya

Commanderአዛዠaazezh

Dentistየትርስ፡ሃኪምyates Hakeem

Doctorዶክተር/ሃኪምdoktar / Hakeem

Driverሾፌርshofer

Farmerገበሬgabaree

Fishermanአሳ፡አጥማጅasa atmaj

Government employeeየመንግስት፡ሰራተኛyamangest saraa tanya

Guardጠባቂtabakey

Housewifeየቤት፡እመቤትya bait ema bait

Laborerየቀን፡ሰራተኛyakan sara tanya

Mechanicመካኒክmekaanik

Messengerተላላኪtalaa lakey

Pilotፓይለትpilet

Policemanፖሊስpolees

Sailorመርከበኛmarkaba anya

Businessmanነጋዴnagadey

Shopkeeperሱቅ፡ጠባቂsook taba kee

Soldierወታደርwata der

Studentተማሪtamaree

Teacherአስተማሪastaa maree

Customs 67 phrases

Where is my customs declaration?የጉምሩክ፡ወረቀቴ፡የት፡ አለ?yagomrok waraket yata ala?

I do not have anything to declare.የምታስገባው፡ነገር፡አለyamaska bow nager yalam

These goods are personal.የግል፡እቃዎች፡ናቸውyagel ekawech nacho

Not for sale.ለሽያጭ፡አይደለምla sheeyach aydalam

Can you help me fill out the forms?ይሄን፡ፎርም፡ለመሙላት፡ እርዳኝ?yehenen form lamamlat erdan?

Is this correct?ይህ፡ትክክል፡ነው?yeeh tekekel no?

Here is my passport.ፓስፖርቴ፡ይኸውናpassportey yehawona

Here is my visa.ቪዛዬ፡ይኸውናveezayee yehawona

I have no Birr (Ethiopia's currency)ብር፡የለኝምberyalan yem

Ad valoremበዋጋዉ መሰረትbawago masaret

Ammunitionጥይትtaayet

Baggageሻንጣshanta

Bill of ladingየኮቴ፡ዋጋyakotay waga

Cargoጭነትchenaat

Customsጉምሩክgomrok

Customs declarationየጉምሩክ፡ወረቀትyagomrok waraket

Customs taxየጉምሩክ፡ቀረጥyagomrok karat

Customs workerየጉምሩክ፡ሰራተኛyagomrok sara tanya

Damagedየተጎዳyata goda

Deliveryማቅረብmaakrab

Dutyተግባርtaakber

Expendituresወጪwaachee

Exportየሚላክyamee lak

Falseልክ፡ያልሄነlek yar hona

Foreign currencyየውጭ፡ብርyawich ber

Form (document)ሰነድsaned

Holdingመያዝmayaz

Importየሚመጣyamee mata

Insuranceመድህን፡ድርጅትmadehen derejet

Amharicመደበኛ ቋንቋamarenya

Loadingየጭነትyacheenat

Name of goodsየእቃ፡ስሞችyaeeka semoch

Narcoticsአደንዛዥ፡ እፅadan zazh iz

National treasureየአገር፡ቅርስyaager kirs

Nomenclatureበህግ የታወቀ ቃልbeheg yatawaka kal

On-Boardበላይ፡መሳፈርbalay masmer

Originጅምር/ምንጭjemer minch

Ownerባለቤትbaleh bait

Packing listየእሽግ፡ ዝርዝርya-eshk zerzer

Passportፓስፖርትpassport

Permissionፍቃድfeekad

Personal useየግል፡አገልግሎትyagel agel gelot

Personnelሰራተኛsaratenya

Prohibitedክልክልkilkel

Propertyሃብትhabet

Rateዋጋwaga

Rate of exchangeየምንዛሪ፡ዋጋyamenezaree waga

Receiptፋክቱርfaktour

Relicsየጥንትyatent

Restrictedየተከለከለyatakalakala

Souvenirመስታወሻmastawesha

Specificationበለክ፡የተሰራbalek yatasara

Storageእቃ፡ማስቀመጫekamaska meycha

Tariffቀረጥkarat

Tax-freeቀረጥ፡የሌለውkarat yalelow

To answerመመለስmamalas

To be responsible forሃላፊነትhalafeenet

To exportወደ፡ውጭ፡መላክwadawich malak

To fill outመሙላትmamolaat

To present for customs inspection.ጉምሩክ፡ለማሳየትgomrok la masayet

Transportationመገናኛmageh nanya

Unloadingጭነት፡ማራገፍcheenet mara gef

Valuablesዋጋያላቸውwaga yala cho

Valueዋጋwaga

Visaቪዛveeza

Weaponsመሳሪያmasarya

X-ray machineኤክስሬይ፡ማሺንx ray mashen

Fuel & Vehicle 14 phrases

Gasolineቤንዚንbenzeen

Oilዘይትzait

Dieselናፍጣnafta

Gas (propane)ጋዝgaaz

Litersሊትርleeter

Do you have ___?___..አላችሁ?___ alacho?

Hydraulic fluidሃይድሮሊክ ፈሳሽhydrolic fasash

Hydraulic systemሃይድሮሊክ፡ መንገድ(መመሪያ)hydrolic manget

We need maintenance support.የጥገና፡እርዳታ፡ያስፈልገናልyet egena erdata yasfel leegnal

We need ___.___.ያስፈልገናል___ yasfel leegnal

400-cycle400 ሳይክልaraat mato cykel

3-phaseሶስት፡ ፌዝsosts faze

Alternating currentተለዋዋጭtela wawach

115-volt115 ቮልትmato asra amissed volt

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