Table Of ContentThe Essential Guide to
TIGRINYA
the Language of Eritrea
and Tigray Ethiopia
Andrew Tadross Abraham Teklu
ኣንድሩ ታድሮስ ኣብርሃም ተኸሉ
2019
Fifth Edition
Copyright © 2015 Andrew Tadross / Abraham Teklu
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1502754752
ISBN-10: 1502754754
Book design and cover design by Andrew Tadyoss.
For questions, comments, and suggestions, write to [email protected]
DEDICATION
This book is particularly dedicated to my parents Teklu Gobeze and Zewditu
Yehualashet whose advice had an impact in my worldview and to my brothers
and sisters who are not alive to see my work, but would be gratified by my
efforts. Thanks to those who suggested ways of inproving this work and
presenting it to the public.
Abraham Teklu
This book is dedicated to the Tsehayo, a friend from Endodo, who helped me start
this project, but who tragically did not live to see the final product.
Special thanks to Ykaalo Hiwot and Helen Abraha for your edits and contribution.
Andrew Tadross
CONTENTS
|.2:.2; '.(..5.3.(3 TAS aii –[ከ––-–[~~[መ~መ—መቨመ ቑ—ዚዘጽቁር ርመViሙta e 7
ETHIOPIAN / ERITREAN CULTURAL ITEMS... ae
INTRODUCTION TO ፲[0፫5,'^..................... ... 9
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK ............................. 10
HOW TO USE THE PRONUNCIATION (31]]00 .......................--------=-.-...... -=.-= -...... =.=...= - 10
+] ]] FR sted cts == ፈፈ7ፈ ማ ልደ ስም ሂሮአጋ። ።። ጋ ውብ፣። | ስጸቨመ:ቫመቫ፣፫፬፡ዕ 12
TIGRINYA GRAMMAR... .17
ሃቪኩየርፐ'1^ፐ[0”(.......... .. 18
ASKING QUESTIONS.. .. 18
PRONOUNS ..................... .. 19
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS .. Bh
Sect chains esac pcre stan alot sa ቶ > AN 22
gel ዩ ዘጅጃ isco ies ከቨቨዙቨኵ–ዙ ስክሕ^አዝዛሕቭባዛዙመብሓጽየሃ የተሃበሰ የ 23
TO BECOME... .. 25
TO ፲[ለጎ'6........... 26
ሻ፻/80፬፬|| ] =..= 6=8= = ደከ ደስ ኩውሂፋቃበመዚፒመጽ።መወዝሙፑፕ፤ፎ ፣ በቓቨቨቦማሳይኮመጅርንን፩፩።።ሣቫ ፡2 7
፳፬፬፬፬፬፬፣ (= = = = = ] aotetavaa ቈከኮ።rሣሃቁቋብውoመመዛ a5 ። ፩ቨ፬ቹ 29
THE INFINITIVE VERB AND THE PRESENT TENSE... 31
USING TWO \/5585............................----------.--.--. 34
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE.. 34
6018... === = ምጕ20)|--በ--ከበ-<-ቋጋስ፣። 36
PAST TENSE.......... 37
PAST BOIS TGS, cincscacnssioxciossinves cancuonsyanckeamnacmmannssiamtenaieimpannanen 38
1) SPI als ircinnc ence እን 3390 - ኤለት/ዳ ሃነክሳረዘ-) 5 9 ነሃርርሃኣኣሉ 50 5998-99'024558.989ባ8958 41
PRESENT NEGATIVE TENSE... 42
PAST TENSE NEGATIVE ........... 42
PAST CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE... 43
NEGATIVE COMMANDS ............ 44
THE PREFIX ‘ZEY’ (lig). 44
|| (| 3 [||1 ... ...........;==== =>. 835 ንቋ~'= -.243::95509569% 0 tectonic eased odeamesvadosuenias 45
FSIS NI |. ]ቨ ቨ ቨ "= = = | cesses 45
THE IMPERATIVE... .. 45
|.-..41, -ከስ-ከዘበበዘ ..48
SENTENCE STRUCTURE... 49
PREPOSITIONS ................. . 50
PREPOSITION PHRASING -. 8
Si AR ፬ | 0. = = 8 (8 በመጂ፫ህነኒቲወበስከክስጠፍን፩ስርዝጹ{ፈባቡ ፣፳ዊ፣ጅዘምጀጀቨጃፕርዕሺያ። 53
0. IZING ነር -- ስለ 54
ADJECTIVE / NOUN GENDER. . 54
ADJECTIVE GENDER ....................-----..- .. 54
EXPRESSING ‘THE’/ DEFINITE ARTICLE. ..................... =...= ==== ==...;= === ,= ሞጐ=ጐ=.-ፈ•-- +. 1 354:4<..= = === 55
001... et We cocaine –~~ዘ ሱ~ተ የ~—ሸ–ዘዘዜንዚሃዚተዘ~-~የዝነኽከተዝበዘዘዚበዘዘከዘመርጢበየዚዘለየ 56
EXPRESSING PREFERENCE .... .57
COMPARING THINGS............ ST
THE VERB ‘TO MISS’. 58
LISTING WORDG..... . 59
(088815(0%...................... 61
TAREE = VERSA TION 3ቨቨ7ቨ’-|||)|„~ቤ=„ =ጉ81ኤ8ከ64ጉ4ጫፑ)ገከ;'ቨጺ ከቨዝቨዘውዘኩሉቨቡ 62
] ፪፬፬፬| || ...አ .. na sec eg so 8896 ($5016:55)993:758$5-559]27119858 ወ0%8.ህምዊዊካ/ንሃጻወዓኛርህካ5 5798 6 63
MORE BASICS...
EMOTIONS ....
NUMBERB...............+ .. 69
TIME EXPRESSIONS.. .. /11
1]]' 111()]'][^)*-[.[[\/[]$.........; . = ..5..፡$= = 21ኤ፬8 865 #8836282382 86756 0:#2 4255, 8668 4402. 6555 #22 992#40 ፩8 339 23038,0845 <3908906, 71
UNITS OF TIME .............. . . ቃ . . = ሐ= === == > ሐቀ=ሐ= = = = ** = = = === ።48 = 2። እዩ $-ዩቅቴ ። ቅ $ ። = ። $9 $ 8884 $9. $490$08 808 84 8480, $2 $9 = = + =] 71
TIMES OF DAY ....== ) = + 1581 -ም፣+ፑቱ 1 ይ’ትበ’„ኔ።። ፓ’ዩ፫፩፬-—፩|8~፪-ፑ፬’ | - $0 #2085 5888 ደና$።፩’ ሩ ፅ ።።።። 72
TIME ].]]]./\.]]]]).... ... _*>)* >%#5ይሃከቴሬሩ ሃቱኬ፩’86 03 ዩ3 -ሂ1#6, 85 320፩ = = 4 4 > ኬጻት። 6 4 ። ። 8 8284 72
MONTHS ........... 74
FREQUENCY 74
GENDER ሜችዮኑዉ መዉ 06 ሙዉሙዉሙ ታሒቲራቲራቲታቲራሊራሊራሊኡኑሑኑ 75
]'/\)([[ሥቍቅዎሶሥቀ.......**=$=* = = 28255555 4.=+ 5 0 38= 2 ኑ1.$4 8ፅ ፳፩እኤ—፩። ‘8፩ 0$6 ፳፬= $4 863: 5 ዕ ቅ። ፩፩ 4 ሩ – ቂ ዩ ጻጽዩቋ። ት = -ቅቁናን 2 500 8 $8 8829) 75
ROMANCE / LOVE. 76
'80..5.(4/'...>.• ==’ -ያቱጥ8።ቋ = $ 85 52፩፩# 5555 5555865፩07827282333 33 77
THE HEAD x =>, 553 4}. 350 .፩—ርቲሳናድ ቫጋ።ኡ፣ ሂሂ – ቡቨአ። 78
THE BODY 78
(35(3ሊ1'1'5..............* ] 8 .',
MEDICAL TERMS ..................... .. . . .. • ..ሐ.ሐ .ሐ.ቀሐቀሐቀሐ =, ** + +" $2] $6 > ፳ $8 $8 ፍ- 0 4 2888 $9 $8 638 6 4 2 > = 22
MEDICAL (.())\[])][]']()\5. ........... .. ፖ = ===] = ፑጐ8 8 + ሐ86 16 8303 8 | 58 26 43 8 =82፩ $8 862 2 -ቅ፬ 8.$$:0። 6 ይ $4 38 8 $ ። > el
BODILY ]'].1]]]35 ................... ... 82
HEALTH CONVERSATION. ... 83
])][5 \]11....].]']]5 .., ..፭=ጨ => = = =+= _ -+ = 2ከ ነኔዕ5 028= ዚ.፩# |→ | $4;] 9 3 ሩቁ’ቴ። 51]0 0 2 2.% ለ $#4 48 $ 4ና 00ና ህ3 = 2 2ቋይ ዴና። 88 35595583332803 82 558 5
SENSES .....*=== > = +#፣--8 5#= = 6 522 858 8558855508.2% 508 62ኣ ፩።> ፮ -ቁሩ ዩኔ ይ 232 85$ 2 54 230 8345,3 8.፳፩23፩፩፩.፩3938), 5802 222 28 7'15255825 85
BUSINESS TERMINOLOGY ... 86
BUSINESS PHRASES -.)20) 12). ---በቴሕሃይ’ ነን’እ፩ እን” 0ቛጃዌሮኤጌሬ፣ፅቦዩ’ ‘5588 5253} 252*28588888521፩2 3812, 5855 545 4585 ...87
[.)(.(.(||]//)']-[(.3]''':>..= > 1955> 5 -ኮጃት.እ’’፣ 2 ፤-ፑ፤ይን’ ፣፦ሃ‘ሕዩ’ፑቴከ፩፬፩፣፩።ዩ$። ና$— |] 68 $ ትቅን ት’]$ $2 8 0) ሩ ] ። 8 808 ... 88
FIELD OF STUDY... ...90
111)17ር.ሊ'['()1.(................*** == 31
BUILDING እ{^’[]'51ሓ].,5.......................... ... ..ሐ ቀሐ ቀሐቁሐ ሐሐ ሐሐ = ሐ=ቀ ሐ=ቀሐሐሐ = =ሐ= ሐ "" = + [= ++ 8 + # + 9 8 *፳ 8 > 5 + 8 +* 92
||.9.9)0- ሸርጠ$-- -?-$-ቂ-ቲ-ቲ--ር-ርበርርኪርር.ርር=ር=ር=ር=ርርርርርርርቲርቲርቲርደፈርፈርፒርፒርርቲ;ው;; 93
TRANSPORTATION 00 93
"'VEBIGLES 3?1 3 ይበነጸያ’ሩ?’ 5 እሽን፣/ን-ንይ’ሃይዩ/’ /ቡ’።|በቕጐቡዩቴ፩ ይይኬየፑዩ’ዩ—ሣ.8 $፳፩ 1. ች፬ ስንጐ ቅሌ 3.0$$8። 0 - 66 ... 94
BUS: TERMINOLOGY ..2==:5= 85. - 8834) 6 6። 48 > 8 22ኤ>%ቴ0፣ $5 58 50 = ቂ# 9 5 ትፍሉ 858 1825 ... 94
AUTOMOBILE TERMINOLOGY ...
MAKING (.()]']'[[]......................... ain 98
EATING/ DRINKING PHRASES
FOOD PREPARATION ኳ'
VEGETABLES ............ ..102
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. .... 105
WILD ANIMALS ................... .. ... ....ሐ .ሐሐ ሐሐቀ ሐ^ሐሐፈሐ+ += "$ ^ "+" >0 = + - $6 |] 9 2$ $9 $92 6 5 84 $24 20 958 $4 106
SMALL ANIMALS. .. 106
| {1}| [)| )| .' . cscscsesussviiassen=a sa=n=a sሬe-e t-tn cwas-es eቍa- e.en.s 107
][;])] .](.1](.])] ....;=4216]85 1|25 85፻፩ ፩፮5፩፩፩ያ8ጋን፣/0፣ 25372 83..$338/38፩8)7851፩15:87 5558385 2= 5$ =45 = =2== 8 + 4)= 107
GOVERNMENT / 108
|-1 98 11:400 , .ቨቨዩ 109
]/[]|])].ሊ..........,., .. ,; + ። 50 4846 ቆ.።ይይዩ ደ3.ኔ$ 5 02 8 28029 2 $ $ 44 ።ኦ$ 25 845 848 830 )8 29, ።6293255 {2522.8855 5 88 2 2550 110
IMMIGRATION / NATIONALITY / ID ..................................-. .. . .ሐሐ =ሐ" == ሐ" =ሐ= ሐ " = =ሐ "=== ሐ "ሐ=" ጠ= ="= = = == • 111
CONELICD 7808ኵ98 -- ----ጠ-ፍ 112
OR TIVE, ss -/ፑጐ- 15 + ኒንዌነት ኬንይን።። = ጋነሃበሎሌዩ 5=2 553 565,$=)05=85558858559=$88 85 68 ፩ ቴ = 8ጐኑኔ። 6 ##30። 112
]..])(]).].. |]... =; ሄና ዩትጐከ፩’ይ።ቫ #022565288 ጐኑኩናዩ’ዩ 2 = 888ቕ ይቤዩ 1 8 988ደ ቀቅሩ፩ | 4658 00 88 ዩ። el}
URBAN GEOGRAPHY ..... .. 114
ACCIDENTS / TRAGEDY .. [5
START / FINISH ........... .... .. . * • * = * = * *** *+ + = =" 25 ናጐ፡ፍ - ]] ጐ ቋ ና ሴ#8 ። 9$ $ $ 6 8 49 4 46 8 230 -#$ 0 116
SOCIAL ISSUES =. ..).==58285>== 885 5%884546885 42 832 3508 2፬$። 2$85588 62 12 #3$ 2 ቕ -ጐ8ዜ ዩ = 9 4 +. $8 $8 42 ፅቋዕ 08 $6 0 116
COMPETITION... _= 11.
SBORITS ፻0፣ = -_ - ዌር = - - - ስ ኩኩ ሙ ሙ -ር .-- - - 118
PHONE CONVERSATION. ... 124
NOISE / MUSIC .................. ... 125
ELECTRICITY / POWER. .. 125
WATER RESOURCEB....... .. 126
POST OFFICE.......... .. 127
8117 VCOL GD asec 0755 8 = .8=5=988888&8 5 ል588.58888558 = 98585= መርጠኛ 555 127
DIRECTIONS / LOCATION ........=.=..... =...=. ==.== == .= ....= .=== . ====. = =.= .. -.-...| ፻.===.;.-..= .== === ==== = = .1 27
GEOGRAPHY .................. ... 128
COUNTRY NAMES.. .. 129
ENVIRONMENT... .. 130
PLANTS <. 3385 .. 131
0601007............. 132
BODIE SOE WATER sees 55.ጹ=3533333355575559535583.882889),75..8998556018906'587885885=88 63507853 ; 133
ከኪቲንፋሩ፡፣፡ንንፋዒጺፋጺ ጺ'ኳ፣ህህ„ኡ,፡ 133
WEATHER ......... ... 134
MATH / ዓር፲ከኾየር ............
SHAPE / MEASUREMENT.
[ ^[()^08......................
ADVERBS .......................
POSITIVE DESCRIPTIONS....
NEGATIVE DESCRIPTIONS .... ... 140
DESCRIBING PEOPLE............ ... 142
COMPARISON.......... ... 142
]]/\]))]]][]]/'\/][()).]]]*.;,., ..>)] == }’=„ሰሓ=ነኑዩ ናቱዩሃስንንቶቴየቦዩ ዌሃ/ስንዞናት ፩/ $።ዩይሃይይ ቋሪዩ፩ንኤ ካዛ’ፅ ጌ ፣፪ጐዩኬ ። ፣184$,193 ሻ. ትናሌን ፅ+ ሕሳ— te (5923)34 143
POLITE PHRASE TO SAY TO BEGGARS WHEN UNABLE TO [)()ኦ(ሖ'[............................... 144
POPULAR EXPRESSIONS |35 .-. . .;; == =. 555, 5825 25 6355 === = = 85 5 555 5 ፲፩ 55 0, 8, 9፩5335 .. 144
COMMANDS / IMPERATIVE PHRASES... .. 145
NON-CATEGORIZED WORDS . .... 149
GCOGNATES ....cscsvsiessereosssoavesvines .... 156
ANTONYMS.. ine LSA
'\]*]\]).].])))], .+.|እ8.03 citedo ns 8533 5158} 85863152፩8424589.5592855558.5828776.፩85, 230193 20589 0500፩22355005 {317 32315 787N5 C2SI4 2T5IO NS 166
Regional Map
HORN OF AFRICA
eerie $8
ፖ
Red Sea |}
YEMEN
SUDAN
JIBOUTI
Guloff Ad en __
—-
Addis Ababa SOMALILAND
®)
ETHIOPIA
SOUTH
SUDAN
ኔ =" KENYA | al
The nation of Eritrea, and the region of Tigray outlined above in
northern Ethiopia, are the primary Tigrinya speaking areas on the
Horn of Africa. The language can also be heard in Addis Ababa
and cities throughout Ethiopia, as well as in diaspora communities
in North America and Europe.
MOST IMPORTANT PHRASES
Following are basic phrases. A pronunciation guide is provided in
subsequent pages.
ENGLISH PHONETIC TIGRINYA
Excuse me./Pardonme. — yqrta ይቅርታ
Good bye (m/f) dehan kun / dehan kuni. ደሓን ኩን። / ደሓን ኩኒ።
Hi. / Hello. selam ሰላም
How are you? (m/f) kemey ikha? /kemey ikhi? -ከ መይ ኢኻ? / ከመይ ኢኺ?
How much? kndey? ከንደይያ
Iam ___./lamnot_ ____ tye / aykonkun AP / ኣይኮንኩን
Iamfrom kab__, mezsie. ካብ -መሂእ።
I don’t know. ayfeltn. ኣይፈልጥን።
I don’t understand. aytereda'an’n. ኣይተረዳኣንን።
Idon'tspeak _, ____ ayzarebn. ARAN
I don't want. aydeln ኣይደልን
Ihave. __aleni ANY
I don't have. yebleyn __ የብለይን
Ilike -- - 1061. ስል አደሊ፡
I want / 1 need -, 7051 - ይደሊ
Doyouhave _? (m/f) __alekado?/__alekido? = - ኣለካ ዶ? / ኣለኪ ዶ?
My name is s’mey____ybehal. ስመይ እበሃል።
No problem. tsegem yelen. ዐ9ገም የለን.።
Please (m/f) bejakha / bejakhi በጃኻ / በጃኺ
Ok chele/h'ray /ishi/shane 6BA/ ሕራይ / እቪ / ሻነ
Thank you. yeghenyeley. የቐንየለይ።
There is none. yelen. የለን.
What is your name (mp? smka / smki men 1ነ17 ስምካ/ ስምኪ መን እዩ?
When? m’az? PAT?
Where is the toilet? shnti biet abey iyu? ሽንቲ ቤት አበይ እዩ
Yes / No iwe / aykonen እወ / ኣይኮነን
(m/f) indicates the phrase is different for speaking to a male versus female.
When you hear the suffix ka its refereeing to a male, while ki is referring to a
female.
ee a =- .ር-- -
ETHIOPIAN / ERITREAN CULTURAL ITEMS
1. é./s’fe - woven device for separating wheat, barley, teff etc. from chaff. Also decorative.
ሚዶ // mido - traditional hair comb
ማዕሺድ // ma’i’ tsid - a sickle, used for harvesting wheat, barley, teff etc.
ጭራዋብጣ / ch’rawata - traditional stringed instrument played somewhat like a violin
93e3 heid / kezera — or - በትሪ / betri - walking stick typically used by rural men, for fashion and
defense against hyenas.
6. #9 / qunano - braided hair style
7. መሶብ // mesob - used to store injera for 3-4 days at a time
8. ምኹላስ / mkhulas - feeding by hand, a show of affection
9. ብረድስቲ / bred'sti - used to cook and contain 'tsebhi' like shiro, that is eaten with injera
10. ብርለ / brie - the glass container used to drink 'myes' (honey wine). Held with 2 fingers only.
11. ፍንቛል / fnjal - coffee cup
12. ዱካ / 0358 — traditonal stool.
13. (መውቀጢ)/ ፲ገሮነ/ባ6// — mortar / ወዲ +> wedi megui - (often a piece of re-bar) used for hand
grinding (pestle)
14. 69°09 / imbeba— popcorn, commonly eaten with coffee ceremony
15. ጀበና / jebena - typical clay coffee pot.
16. ፈርኔሎ / ferniclo - traditional coal cooker for coffee or food
17. ሳዕሪ / sa’ iri- fresh cut grass, placed in home or around coffee ceremony for celebrations
18. ጉጅ ገዛ / guji geza. Traditional hut with grass roof. Also called 8010 biet (in Amharic)
INTRODUCTION TO TIGRINYA
Tigrinya is the primary language of the people of Tigray, the Northern region of
Ethiopia. In Tigray, people refer to themselves as Tegaru — or in English,
Tigrayans. A man from Tigray calls himself, Tigraway. A woman from Tigray
calls herself, Tigraweyti. Tigrinya is also the national language of Eritrea. It is
native to the people of southern Eritrea and it became the official language of
Eritrea in 1991. There are more than four million native speakers in Ethiopia and
almost three million in Eritrea. Because of the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora,
most immigrant communities in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North
America speak the language Tigrinya.
Tigrinya should not be confused with the Tigre language or the Tigre people, who
inhabit the lowland regions of Eritrea to the north and west of the Tigrinya
speaking area.
Tigrinya and Amharic - the national language of Ethiopia - are closely related.
The two languages share a similar alphabet based on the ancient Ge’ez script that
dates back thousands of years and are considered part of the Semitic body of
languages, which also includes Arabic and Hebrew. Note that Tigrinya has
adopted many words from English (hotel, internet, motor etc.). It also has
borrowed some Italian words, and shares many words in common with Amharic
and Arabic.
Like other languages, Tigrinya varies in vocabulary and pronunciation by region.
The southern part of Tigray was under Amhara administrative control for many
years. The language does have interchangeable words between the two, and
differs somewhat from that found in Eritrea or northern parts of Tigray. To
communicate effectively within this region, it is also helpful to have some
knowledge of Amharic, which one can use all over Ethiopia.
When it comes to reading and writing the language, the spelling of words tends to
be more loosely defined than in English partly due to regional differences in
pronunciation. Also, some words and phrases vary between Tigray and Eritrea,
and even within the same region. This is similar to how Americans, English, and
New Zealanders all have slighty different lexicon.
Tigrayans are very proud of their culture and their language, which was officially
suppressed during the totalitarian regimes that ruled Ethiopia before 1991. Any
attempts by foreigners to communicate in Tigrinya are very much appreciated and
one is likely to make friends quickly. Even if your attempt to speak Tigrinya is
full of errors and mispronunciations, your new friends are likely to exclaim, “You
are speaking Tigrinya perfectly!”
