Phrase list
[edit]Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.
Basics
[edit]- Hello.
- ሰላም (selam)
- How are you?
- ከመይ ኣለኻ/Kemay al'eka? (to men) ከመይ ኣለኺ/Kemay al'eki? (to women)
- Fine, thank youእየ. (Dehan-iye, yekenyelay)
- What is your name?
- መን ሽምካ/Men'shimka (for men) መን ሽምኪ/Men'shimki (for women)
- My name is ______ .
- ሽመይ ___ እዩ(Shimay ___ iyu)
- Nice to meet you.
- ጽቡቕ ሌላ(Tsubu leyla)
- Please.
- በጃኻ/bejakha (to men) በጃኺ/bejakhi (to women)
- Thank you.
- የቐኔለይ(yekenyeley)
- You're welcome.
- ገንዘብካ (to men) ገንዘብኪ (to women) ( )
- Yes.
- እወ. ('Eweh)
- No.
- ኣይኮነን. (No )
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- ይቅሬታ ግበረለይ! (to men) ይቅሬታ ግበርለይ! (to women) ( )
- I'm sorry.
- ይቕሬታ! (to men) ኣይትሓዘለይ (to women) ( )
- Goodbye
- ደሓን ኹን (Dehan-koon)
- Where are you from? (country of origin)
- ካበይ መጺኻ ? (to men) ካበይ መጺኺ ? (to women) ( )
- I can't speak Tigrinya.
- ትግርኛ ኣይፈልጥን. ( [ ])
- Do you speak English?
- ኢንግልዘኛ ትዛረብዶ/inglizenya tzarebdo (for men) ኢንግልዘኛ ትዛረቢዶ/inglizenya tzarebido(for women)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- እንግሊዝኛ ዝዛረብ ሰብ ይርከብዶ? ( ?)
- Help!
- ሓግዘኒ!(Hagezeni!)
- Good morning.
- Dehando(!?) kemay'haderka/ደሓንዶ/ከመይ ሓዲርካ (to men) Dehando(!?) kemay haderki/ደሓንዶ/ከመይ ሓዲርኪ(for women)
- Good afternoon.
- ከመይ ውዒልካ (to men) ከመይ ውዒልኪ (to women) ( )
- Good evening.
- ከመይ ኣምሲኻ (to men) ከመይ ኣምሲኺ (to women) ( )
- Good night.
- ልዋም ለይቲ ('Buruk leyti)
- I understand.
- ተረዲኡኒ (Teredi-uni)
- I don't understand.
- ኣይተረድኣኒን (ayteredianin)
- Where is the toilet?
- ሽቓቅ ኣበይ ኣሎ፧/ሽንቲ ቤት ኣበይ ኣሎ(sha'ah abeylo?)
Problems
[edit]- Leave me alone.
- Gedefenaግደፈኒ! (to men) በይነይ ግደፍGedefeni! (to women)
- Don't touch me!
- ኣይቲተኒኪፈኒ. Aytetenikifeni
- I'll call the police.
- ፖሊስ ጸውዕ! (to men) ፖሊስ ጸውዒ! (to women) ( .)
- Police!
- ፖሊስ ! ( !)
- Stop! Thief!
- ( ! !)
- I need your help.
- ሓገዝካ(for male) ሓገዝኪ(for female) የድልየኒ ዩ። Hagezika yediliyeni yu(speaking to male) / Hageziki yediliyeni yu(speaking to female).
- It's an emergency.
- . ( ህጹጽ ኵነታት እዩ. Hidsu...)
- I'm lost.
- መንገዲ ጠፊእኒ። Megedi teFieni. ( .)
- I lost my bag.
- ሳንጣይ ጠፊእኒ. SanTay tefieni.
- I lost my wallet.
- . ( .)
- I'm sick.
- ተጸሊእኒ ኣሎ፣ ሓሚመ. TseliEni alo/ Hamime.
- I've been injured.
- ማህሰይቲ ኣሎኹ ( .)
- I need a doctor.
- (ኣነ) ሓኪም የድሊየኒ ኣሎ ( .)
- Can I use your phone?
- ሰሊኪኪ ካ ተለፎንኪ ካ ኣጥቅመኒ። Silkiki / Telefoniki AteQimeni (toward female), Silkika AtetiQimeni(toward male)
Numbers
[edit]- 1
- ሓደ (hade)
- 2
- ክልተ (kilitey)
- 3
- ሰለስተ (seleste)
- 4
- ኣርባዕተ (arbaete)
- 5
- ሓሙሽተ (hamushte)
- 6
- ሽዱሽተ (shudushte)
- 7
- ሸውዓተ (shewa'ate)
- 8
- ሸሞንተ (shemonte)
- 9
- ትሽዓተ (tishe'ate)
- 10
- ዓሰርተ ('aserte)
- 11
- ዓሰርተ ሓደ (aserte hade)
- 12
- ዓሰርተ ክልተ (aserte kilitey)
- 13
- ዓሰርተ ሰለስተ ( )
- 14
- ዓሰርተ ኣርባዕተ ( )
- 15
- ዓሰርተ ሓሙሽተ ( )
- 16
- ዓሰርተ ሽዱሽተ ( )
- 17
- ዓሰርተ ሸውዓተ ( )
- 18
- ዓሰርተ ሸሞንተ ( )
- 19
- ዓሰርተ ትሽዓተ ( )
- 20
- ዕስራ (esra)
- 21
- ዕስራን ( )
- 22
- ዕስራን ( )
- 23
- ዕስራን ( )
- 30
- ዕስራን (selasa)
- 40
- ኣርባዓ (arba'a)
- 50
- ሓምሳ (hamsa)
- 60
- ስሳ (susa)
- 70
- ሰብዓ (seb'a)
- 80
- ሰማንያ (semanya)
- 90
- ተስዓ (tes'a)
- 100
- ሚእቲ (meetee)
- 200
- ክልተ ሚእቲ ( )
- 300
- ሰለስተ ሚእቲ ( )
- 1,000
- ሽሕ (sheh or elfi)
- 2,000
- ክልተ ሽሕ ( )
- 1,000,000
- ሚልዮን ( )
- 1,000,000,000
- ቢልዮን ( )
- 1,000,000,000,000
- ( )
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- ( )
- half
- ፍርቂ ( )
- less
- ዝወሓደ ( )
- more
- ዝበዝሐ ( )
Time
[edit]- now
- ሕጂ(hiji)
- later
- ደሓር ( )
- before
- ( )
- morning
- ንጉሆ ( )
- afternoon
- መዓልቲ ( )
- evening
- ምሸት ( )
- night
- ለይቲ ( )
Clock time
[edit]- one o'clock AM
- ( )
- two o'clock AM
- ( )
- noon
- ( )
- one o'clock PM
- ( )
- two o'clock PM
- ( )
- midnight
- ( )
Duration
[edit]- _____ minute(s)
- _____ ደቒቕ ( )
- _____ hour(s)
- ሰዓት ( )
- _____ day(s)
- _____ መዓልቲ ( )
- _____ week(s)
- _____ ሰሙን ( )
- _____ month(s)
- _____ ወርሒ ( )
- _____ year(s)
- _____ ዓመት ( )
Days
[edit]- today
- ሎሚ (lomi)
- yesterday
- ትማሊ ( )
- tomorrow
- ጽባሕ ( )
- this week
- ( )
- last week
- ( )
- next week
- ኣብ ዝመጽእ ሰሙን ( )
- Sunday
- ሰንበት ( )
- Monday
- ሰኑይ ( )
- Tuesday
- ሰሉስ ( )
- Wednesday
- ረቡዕ ( )
- Thursday
- ሓሙስ ( )
- Friday
- ዓርቢ ( )
- Saturday
- ቀዳም ( )
Months
[edit]- January
- ጥሪ ( )
- February
- ለካቲት ( )
- March
- መጋቢት ( )
- April
- ሚያዝያ ( )
- May
- ግንቦት ( )
- June
- ሰነ ( )
- July
- ሓምለ ( )
- August
- ነሓሰ ( )
- September
- መስከረም ( )
- October
- ጥቅምቲ ( )
- November
- ሕዳር ( )
- December
- ታሕሳስ ( )
Writing time and date
[edit]Colors
[edit]- black
- ጸሊም (ts’eleme )
- white
- ጻዕዳ (tsa'ada)
- gray
- ሕሙኽሽታይ ( )
- red
- ቀይሕ ( )
- blue
- ሰማያዊ ( )
- yellow
- ቢጫ ( )
- green
- ሓምላይ ( )
- orange
- ሓምላይ ( )
- purple
- ሊላ ( )
- brown
- ቡናዊ ( )
Transportation
[edit]Bus and train
[edit]- How much is a ticket to _____?
- ( )
- One ticket to _____, please.
- ( )
- Where does this train/bus go?
- ( )
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- ( )
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- ( )
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- ( )
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- ( )
Directions
[edit]- How do I get to _____ ?
- ከመይ ገይረ ናብ ... ይኸይድ ? ( )
- ...the train station?
- ( )
- ...the bus station?
- መዕረፊ ኣውቶቡስ ( )
- ...the airport?
- መዕረፊ ነፋሪት ( )
- ...downtown?
- ( )
- ...the youth hostel?
- ( )
- ...the _____ hotel?
- ሆተል _____? ( )
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
- ( )
- Where are there a lot of...
- ( )
- ...hotels?
- ሆተላት ( )
- ...restaurants?
- ቤትምግቢታት ( )
- ...bars?
- ቤት መስተታት ( )
- ...sites to see?
- ( )
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( )
- street
- ( )
- Turn left.
- ንጸጋም ተጠወ ( )
- Turn right.
- ንየማን ተጠወ ( )
- left
- ( )
- right
- ( )
- straight ahead
- ( )
- towards the _____
- ( )
- past the _____
- ( )
- before the _____
- ( )
- Watch for the _____.
- ( )
- intersection
- መራኽቦ መንገዲ ( )
- north
- ሰሜን ( )
- south
- ደቡብ ( )
- east
- ምብራቅ ( )
- west
- ምዕራብ ( )
- uphill
- ( )
- downhill
- ( )
Taxi
[edit]- Taxi!
- ( )
- Take me to _____, please.
- ( )
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- ( )
- Take me there, please.
- ( )
Lodging
[edit]- Do you have any rooms available?
- መደቀሲ ክፍሊ ኣሎኻ ዶ? ( )
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- ንሓደ / ንክልተ ሰብ ክንደይ ይክፍል? ( )
- Does the room come with...
- ኣብ እዚ ክፍሊ ... ይረክብዶ ( )
- ...bedsheets?
- ( )
- ...a bathroom?
- ባኞ ( )
- ...a telephone?
- ተለፎን ( )
- ...a TV?
- ቲቪ ( )
- May I see the room first?
- ( )
- Do you have anything quieter?
- ( )
- ...bigger?
- ( )
- ...cleaner?
- ( )
- ...cheaper?
- ( )
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- ( )
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- ( )
- Do you have a safe?
- መቐመጥ ገንዘብ ኣሎካ ዶ፧
- ...lockers?
- ( )
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- ( ቀርሲ /ድራር የጠቓልል ድዩ፧)
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- ( )
- Please clean my room.
- ( )
- Can you wake me at _____?
- ( )
- I want to check out.
- ( )
Money
[edit]- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- ( )
- Do you accept British pounds?
- (ባጤራ ብርጣንያ ክትቅበል ትኽእል ዶ፧ )
- Do you accept euros?
- (ዩሮ ክትቅበል ትኽእል ዶ፧ )
- Do you accept credit cards?
- ( )
- Can you change money for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get money changed?
- (ቅያር ገንዘብ ኣበይ እረክብ፧ )
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- ( )
- What is the exchange rate?
- ( )
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- ( )
Eating
[edit]- A table for one person/two people, please.
- ( )
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- ( )
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- ( )
- Is there a house specialty?
- ( )
- Is there a local specialty?
- ( )
- I'm a vegetarian.
- ( )
- I don't eat pork.
- ( )
- I don't eat beef.
- ( )
- I only eat kosher food.
- ( )
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- ( )
- fixed-price meal
- ( )
- a la carte
- ( )
- breakfast
- ቁርሲ (kursi )
- lunch
- ምሳሕ ( )
- supper
- ድራር ( drar )
- I want _____.
- ደልየ ("_____ deliye")
- I want a dish containing _____.
- ( )
- chicken
- ደርሆ ( )
- beef
- ስጋ ከብቲ ( )
- fish
- ዓ("asa")
- ham
- ስጋ ሓሰማ ( )
- sausage
- ግዕዝም ( )
- cheese
- ፎርማጆ ( )
- eggs
- እንቋቑሖ ( )
- salad
- ሳላጣ ( )
- (fresh) vegetables
- ኣሕምልቲ ( )
- (fresh) fruit
- ፍሩታ ( )
- bread
- (bani )
- toast
- ጥቡስ ባኒ ( )
- pasta
- ማካሮኒ ( )
- spaghetti
- ስፓገቲ ( )
- rice
- ሩዝ ( )
- beans
- ዓተር ( )
- Hamburger
- ሃምበርገር ( )
- Orange
- ኣራንሺ ( )
- Apple
- ቱፋሕ ( )
- Banana
- ባናና ( )
- Pineapple
- ኣናናስ ( )
- Grapes
- ወይኒ ( )
- May I have a glass of _____?
- ጥርሙዝ ... ሃበኒ በጀኹም ( )
- May I have a cup of _____?
- ኩባያ ... ሃበኒ በጀኹም ( )
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- ጥርሙዝ ... ሃበኒ በጀኹም ( )
- coffee
- ቡን (boon )
- tea (drink)
- ሻሂ ("shahi")
- milk
- ጸባ ("tsaba")
- juice
- ጽማቝ ( )
- (bubbly) water
- ማዕድናዊ ማይ ( )
- (still) water
- ማይ(mai)
- beer
- ቢራ ( )
- wine
- ነቢት ( )
- May I have some _____?
- ( )
- salt
- ( )
- black pepper
- ( )
- butter
- ( )
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- ( )
- I'm finished.
- ( )
- It was delicious.
- (du'um )
- Please clear the plates.
- ( )
- The check, please.
- ( )
Bars
[edit]- Do you serve alcohol?
- ( )
- Is there table service?
- ( )
- A beer/two beers, please.
- ( )
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- ( )
- A pint, please.
- ( )
- A bottle, please.
- ( )
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- ( )
- whiskey
- ( )
- vodka
- ( )
- rum
- ( )
- water
- ( )
- club soda
- ( )
- tonic water
- ( )
- orange juice
- ( )
- Coke (soda)
- ( )
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- ( )
- One more, please.
- ( )
- Another round, please.
- ( )
- When is closing time?
- ( )
- Cheers!
- ( )
Shopping
[edit]- Do you have this in my size?
- ( )
- How much is this?
- ክንደይ’ዩ ዋግኡ እዚ? ( )
- That's too expensive.
- ( )
- Would you take _____?
- ( )
- expensive
- ክቡር ( )
- cheap
- ሕሱር ( )
- I can't afford it.
- ( )
- I don't want it.
- እዚ ኣይደልን ( )
- You're cheating me.
- ( )
- I'm not interested.
- (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- Can I have a bag?
- ( )
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- ( )
- I need...
- ኣነ .... የድሊየኒ ኣሎ ( )
- ...toothpaste.
- መሕጸብ ስኒ ( )
- ...a toothbrush.
- ( )
- ...tampons.
- . ( )
- ...soap.
- ሳሙና ( )
- ...shampoo.
- ሻምፑ ( )
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ኣስፕሪን ( )
- ...cold medicine.
- ( )
- ...stomach medicine.
- ... ( )
- ...a razor.
- መላጸ ( )
- ...an umbrella.
- ጽላል ( )
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ( )
- ...a postcard.
- ( )
- ...postage stamps.
- ቲምብር ( )
- ...batteries.
- ( )
- ...writing paper.
- ወረቐት ( )
- ...a pen.
- ፕሮ ( )
- ...English-language books.
- ( )
- ...English-language magazines.
- ( )
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ( )
- ...an English-English dictionary.
- ( )
Driving
[edit]- I want to rent a car.
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- Can I get insurance?
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- stop (on a street sign)
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- one way
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- yield
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- no parking
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- speed limit
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- gas (petrol) station
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- petrol
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- diesel
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Authority
[edit]- I haven't done anything wrong.
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- It was a misunderstanding.
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- Where are you taking me?
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- Am I under arrest?
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- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
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- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
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- I want to talk to a lawyer.
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- Can I just pay a fine now?
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