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How to converse: Best English to Amharic translation for tourists

25 August 2022


Okay, before teaching you how to have conversations in Amharic, I’d like to discuss an issue that I believe is not being addressed properly. But if you would like to skip that, press on the links below to go to their respective part.... 1, Greeting people 2, Introducing yourself 3, Asking directions 4, Shopping 5, Common phrases and sentences

And that issue is about how most “English to Amharic” translation apps (Both web and phone) work: Don’t get me wrong I love and appreciate the service these apps are providing but they are almost useless to people that can’t speak Amharic. Basically, they are made for people that already know Amharic. And worst of all, since it is not logical to expect foreigners to be able to read Amharic, the tools are not easy to use during conversations! Not to mention the obvious gap they can’t seem to fill created by the word “YOU”. In the English language the word ‘You’ applies to both male and female genders as well as when referring to a group of people. That’s not the case when it comes to the Amharic language, because it has a different word for each of those. As shown by the Image below Also, in the Amharic language, there is a separate word that is used when referring to the elderly, and people of higher hierarchy, and that is the word “Erso”, it shows respect. Not using this word when addressing these people is considered extremely rude. The English language uses the word “You” for this case also.


Amharic to English translation issues Amharic to English translation issues

Even google translate, the best translator I have seen, doesn’t seem to address this issue. I think it tries to compensate for that by giving results in the “Erso” form as it shows respect for the person being addressed.



But you would sound weird if you speak to a child like that! So, we will see how each sentence in every conversation would be if you want to address the different genders as well as older people.

1, Greeting people



Saying “How are you?” To a female -እንዴት ነሽ? – “indēt nesh?” To a male – “እንዴት ነህ?” – “indēt neh?” To a group – “እንዴት ናችሁ?” – “indēt nachihu?” To the elderly – “እንዴት ኖት?” – “indēt not?” Saying “I am fine?” To anyone – “እኔ ደህና ነኝ” – “inē dehna negn!” Saying “Thank you?” To anyone – “አመሰግናለሁ” – “āmeseginalehu!” Saying “How is work? ” To anyone – “ስራ አንዴት ነው?” – “sira indēt new?”

2, Introducing yourself



Saying “My name is _________!” To anyone – “ስሜ _________ ይባላል?” – “simē ________ yibalal?” or “_________ እባላለሁ?” – “__________ ebalalehu?” Saying “I am from ___________!” To anyone – “ከ ___________ ነው የመጣሁት!” – “Ke ________ new yemetahut?”

3, Asking directions



Saying “Show me the way to _________________ please! ” To a Female – “ወደ _________ የሚወስደውን መንገድ አሳዪኝ አባክሽ ” – “wede _________ yemiwesdewn menged asayign, ebakish?” To a male – “ወደ _________ የሚወስደውን መንገድ አሳየኝ አባክህ” – “wede _________ yemiwesdewn menged asayegn, ebakih?” To a group – “ወደ _________ የሚወስደውን መንገድ አሳዩኝ አባካችሁ!” – “wede _________ yemiwesdewn menged asayugn, ebakachihu?” To an elderly – “ወደ _________ የሚወስደውን መንገድ ያሳዩኝ አባኮት!” – “wede _________ yemiwesdewn menged yasayugn, ebakot?” Saying “Where exactly am I? ” To anyone – “ምን የሚባል አካባቢ ነው ያለሁት?” – “Min yemibal akababi new yalehut?” Saying “Where exactly are we? ” To anyone – “ምን የሚባል አካባቢ ነው ያለነው?” – “Min yemibal akababi new yalenew?”

4, Shopping



Saying “I’m looking for __________________! ” To anyone – “___________ ፈልጌ ነበር” – “_____________ Felgē neber” Saying “How much is the price?” To anyone – “ዋጋው ስንት ነው?” – “Wagaw sint new?” Saying “How much for a kilo?” To anyone – “አንድ ኪሎ ስንት ነው?” – “And kilo sint new?” Saying “That’s very expensive! ” To anyone – “በጣም ተወደደ” – “Betam tewedede”

5, Common phrases and sentences



Saying “Where are you from? ” To a female –“የየት አካባቢ ሰው ነሽ? – “yeyet akababi sew nesh?” To a male – “የየት አካባቢ ሰው ነህ?” – “yeyet akababi sew neh?” To a group – “የየት አካባቢ ሰዎች ናችሁ?” – “yeyet akababi sewoch nachihu?” To the elderly – “የየት አካባቢ ሰው ነዎት” – “yeyet akababi sew not?” Saying “Let’s dance?” To anyone –“እንደንስ!” – “Endens!” Saying “Let’s go? ” To anyone –“እንሂድ!” – “Enhid!” Saying “How old are you? ” To a female –“ስንት አመትሽ ነው? – “Sint ametish new?” To a male –“ስንት አመትህ ነው? – “Sint ametih new?” To a group – –“ስንት አመታችሁ ነው? – “Sint ametachu new?” To the elderly – –“ስንት አመቶት ነው? – “Sint ametot new?” Saying “Let’s eat breakfast/lunch/dinner!” To anyone –“ቁርስ/ምሳ/እራት እንብላ!” – “Qurs/Misa/Erat enbla!” What expressions would you like translated? Let me know in the comment and I’ll reply. . .



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