[Picture source: Choices Adoption. Check out their website for some good reading & great pictures.]Amharic (አማርኛ āmariññā) is a Semitic language spoken in North Central Ethiopia by the Amhara. It is the second most spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the "official working" language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and thus has official status and use nationwide.
Amharic is also the official or working language of several of the states within the federal system, including Amhara Region and the multi-ethnic Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, among others. It has been the working language of government, the military, and of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church throughout modern times.
[Source: Wikipedia]
I don't know from which region of Ethiopia Myfanwy will come, but since Amharic is the main language spoken in the capital city of Addis Ababa, I probably should learn some basic words in time for my trip there. I need to dig out my Lonely Planet Ethiopia & Eritrea Travel Guide to check out the phrases in there.
Simple Pronunciation Guide
a as the a in father
e as the e in set
i as the i in ship
o as the o in go
u as the oo in boot
gn as the gn in champagne
The Amharic spellings that follow are phonetic, as per the above guide, to aid in pronunciation.
Meeting and Greeting Useful Words
Hello Halo
Good morning Endemn adderu
Good afternoon Endemin walu
Good evening Endemin ameshu
Good-bye Dehna hunu
How are you? Tenayistillign
I am well Dehna negn
Thank you (very much) (Betam) ameseghinallehu
There will be a test later.
For anyone who has already traveled, do you think it comes in handy to have some basic knowledge of the language? Or were you able to communicate well enough without it?
