Language/Amharic/Grammar/Noun-Gender-and-Articles

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Amharic Structure → Noun Gender and Articles

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Noun Gender and Articles in Amharic! In this lesson, we will explore the importance of understanding noun gender and how to use the appropriate articles in Amharic. Noun gender is a fundamental aspect of the Amharic language, and mastering it will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. We will delve into the details of this topic, providing numerous examples to ensure a thorough understanding. Additionally, we will explore any regional variations in the usage or understanding of noun gender and articles, and we will also share interesting cultural facts and anecdotes related to this topic. So, let's get started!

Understanding Noun Gender

In Amharic, every noun is assigned a gender, either masculine or feminine. The gender of a noun determines the form of the article and other related words that are used with it. Identifying the gender of a noun is crucial for proper grammar and communication in Amharic.

Masculine Nouns

Masculine nouns in Amharic typically end in a consonant. Here are some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ወላጅ (wəlaj)	wə-laj	boy
ጠባቂ (təbaqi)	tə-ba-ki	cat
ገላጭ (gəlaj)	gə-laj	horse

In the examples above, the nouns "ወላጅ" (wəlaj), "ጠባቂ" (təbaqi), and "ገላጭ" (gəlaj) are all masculine nouns. Notice that they end in a consonant and do not have any specific markers indicating their gender. When using these nouns, we need to use the appropriate masculine article and other related words.

Feminine Nouns

Feminine nouns in Amharic typically end in -ህ (-hə) or -ሽ (-shə). Here are some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ሴት (sət)	sət	girl
እንስሳ (ənsəsə)	ən-sə-sə	wife
ልጅ (lij)	lij	child

In the examples above, the nouns "ሴት" (sət), "እንስሳ" (ənsəsə), and "ልጅ" (lij) are all feminine nouns. Notice that they end in -ህ (-hə) or -ሽ (-shə), which are the markers for feminine nouns. When using these nouns, we need to use the appropriate feminine article and other related words.

Articles in Amharic

Articles in Amharic are used to indicate the gender and number of a noun. There are definite articles and indefinite articles in Amharic, similar to "the" and "a/an" in English. Let's explore the usage of articles in Amharic.

Definite Articles

In Amharic, the definite article is used to refer to a specific noun. The definite article has different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun. Here are the forms of the definite article in Amharic:

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	እርስት (əresət)	እርሶች (əresoch)
Feminine	ሰባት (səbat)	ሰብታት (səbatat)

In the table above, you can see that the definite article for masculine singular nouns is "እርስት" (əresət), and for masculine plural nouns, it is "እርሶች" (əresoch). For feminine singular nouns, the definite article is "ሰባት" (səbat), and for feminine plural nouns, it is "ሰብታት" (səbatat).

Let's see some examples of the definite article in action:

• ሴት (sət) - girl
• ሴታችን (sətachən) - the girl (singular)
• ሴቶች (sətoch) - the girls (plural)

• ጠባቂ (təbaqi) - cat
• ጠባቂች (təbaqich) - the cat (singular)
• ጠባቂችዎች (təbaqichoch) - the cats (plural)

Indefinite Articles

In Amharic, the indefinite article is used to refer to a non-specific or unidentified noun. The indefinite article also has different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun. Here are the forms of the indefinite article in Amharic:

Gender	Singular	Plural
Masculine	አይድ (ayid)	አይድዎች (ayidoch)
Feminine	አይት (ayit)	አይታት (ayitat)

In the table above, you can see that the indefinite article for masculine singular nouns is "አይድ" (ayid), and for masculine plural nouns, it is "አይድዎች" (ayidoch). For feminine singular nouns, the indefinite article is "አይት" (ayit), and for feminine plural nouns, it is "አይታት" (ayitat).

Let's see some examples of the indefinite article in action:

• ሴት (sət) - girl
• አይዳል (ayidal) - a girl (singular)
• አይድዎች (ayidoch) - girls (plural)

• ጠባቂ (təbaqi) - cat
• አይድበት (ayidəbet) - a cat (singular)
• አይድዎች (ayidoch) - cats (plural)

Cultural Insights

In Ethiopian culture, the Amharic language holds great significance. It is the official language of Ethiopia and is spoken by a large portion of the population. Understanding and using proper grammar, including noun gender and articles, is highly valued in Amharic-speaking communities. It demonstrates respect for the language and the culture.

Additionally, it is interesting to note that in the Amharic language, there are certain nouns that have a different gender than what might be expected based on their meaning. For example, the word "እንግሊዝ" (engliz) meaning "English" is a feminine noun in Amharic, even though it refers to a language traditionally associated with masculinity. These exceptions add complexity and intrigue to the study of Amharic grammar.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Here are some exercises to help you apply your knowledge of noun gender and articles in Amharic:

Exercise 1: Identify the gender of the following nouns and use the appropriate article:

1. ልጅ (lij) - child 2. ሴት (sət) - girl 3. ሰባት (səbat) - wife 4. ጠባቂ (təbaqi) - cat

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences by using the correct form of the article:

1. አይድበት (ayidəbet) ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ነው። 2. ሴታችን (sətachən) በልጅ (lij) ውስጥ ሳትሆን ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ይበልኩልን። 3. እንስሳ (ənsəsə) ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ልጅ (lij) ሆነች። 4. ሰብታት (səbatat) አይድዎች (ayidoch) ናቸው።

Solutions

Exercise 1:

1. Masculine 2. Feminine 3. Feminine 4. Masculine

Exercise 2:

1. አይድበት (ayidəbet) ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ነው። 2. ሴታችን (sətachən) በልጅ (lij) ውስጥ ሳትሆን ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ይበልኩልን። 3. እንስሳ (ənsəsə) ጠባቂ (təbaqi) ልጅ (lij) ሆነች። 4. ሰብታት (səbatat) አይድዎች (ayidoch) ናቸው።

Congratulations! You have completed the exercises successfully.

Table of Contents - Amharic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Amharic Alphabet

• Fidel and Syllables
• Pronunciation and Phonetics

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months
• Colors and Shapes
• Family and Relationships

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Verbs and Tenses
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Prepositions and Conjunctions

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Food and Drinks
• Clothing and Accessories
• Weather and Seasons
• Travel and Transportation
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Intermediate Sentence Structure

• Negation and Questions
• Imperatives and Requests
• Expressing Possession
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Advanced Vocabulary

• Professions and Work
• Health and Body
• Education and Learning
• Nature and Environment
• Technology and Communication

  ---

Ethiopian Culture and Traditions

• Ethiopian Holidays and Festivals
• Ethiopian Cuisine
• Ethiopian Music and Dance
• Ethiopian History and Heritage

Sources

• Amharic - Wikipedia
• Gender in Amharic: A Morphosyntactic Approach to Natural and ...
• CHAPTER 3: GENDER IN AMHARIC NOMINALS

Other Lessons

• Simple Gerundive
• “to be” and “to have”
• Conjugation of the verb መኖር “to live” (present tense)
• Amharic Alphabets
• Direct and Indirect Object Affixes
• 2 sequential actions in the present
• The Past and Present Continuous Tenses
• Making Suggestions Using “Let”
• Expressing “Let me” or “May I” “Shall I”
• The Possessive Forms (second method)