Language/Amharic/Vocabulary/Telephone-Conversations

Amharic → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telephone Conversations

Introduction

In this lesson, we will learn how to make and receive phone calls in Amharic. Telephone conversations are an essential part of daily communication, allowing us to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. By mastering the vocabulary and phrases related to telephone conversations, you will be able to confidently navigate conversations over the phone in Amharic.

This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Amharic Course" and is designed for complete beginners. Throughout this lesson, we will provide detailed explanations, examples, and exercises to help you understand and practice telephone conversations in Amharic. Let's get started!

Basic Telephone Vocabulary

Before we dive into telephone conversations, let's start by learning some basic vocabulary related to telephones. These words and phrases will be useful throughout the lesson. Take a look at the table below:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English Translation
ቴሌፎን	telefon	telephone
ስልክ	sälk	phone
ደውል	däwl	call
ለውጥ	lewet	hang up
አስገባ	asgeba	answer
ቁልፍ	kul	keypad
እድሜ	edme	extension

Now that you are familiar with some basic telephone vocabulary, let's move on to the next section where we will learn how to make phone calls in Amharic.

Making Phone Calls

When making phone calls in Amharic, it's important to know how to introduce yourself, ask for the person you want to speak to, and politely request to speak with them. Let's break down the process into steps:

Step 1: Greeting

Just like in any conversation, it's polite to start with a greeting. In Amharic, a common greeting is "ሰላም" (sälam), which means "hello" or "peace". You can use this greeting when someone answers your call or when you dial a number. For example:

• ሰላም! ይህ አስገባ ለማድረግ አስችለው (Sälam! Yih' äsgeba lemadärge aschilew) - Hello! I'm calling to make an appointment.

Step 2: Introducing Yourself

After the initial greeting, it's important to introduce yourself. You can say "እኔ ልጠበቅ ይሆን" (Ené lätäbäk yihon), which means "This is [your name] calling". Here's an example:

• እኔ ልጠበቅ ይሆን, በማለት ኮል ይላል (Ené lätäbäk yihon, bämalät kohl yilal) - This is [your name] calling, may I speak with [person's name]?

Step 3: Asking for the Person

After introducing yourself, you can politely ask to speak with the person you are trying to reach. You can use the phrase "ለማድረግ ልንገባው" (Lemadärge lingäbabwe), which means "Can I speak with [person's name]?" Here's an example:

• ለማድረግ ልንገባው, በማለት ኮል ይላል (Lemadärge lingäbabwe, bämalät kohl yilal) - Can I speak with [person's name], please?

Step 4: Ending the Call

Once you have finished your conversation, it's important to end the call politely. You can say "ለውጥ" (Lewet), which means "hang up". Here's an example:

• ለውጥ, እሺ (Lewet, eshi) - Goodbye, take care.

Now that you know the steps involved in making a phone call in Amharic, let's move on to the next section where we will learn how to receive phone calls.

Receiving Phone Calls

When receiving phone calls in Amharic, it's important to know how to answer the call, greet the caller, and ask for the purpose of the call. Let's break down the process into steps:

Step 1: Answering the Call

When you receive a phone call, you can answer by saying "አስገባ" (Asgeba), which means "hello" or "answer". This is a polite way to acknowledge the call and let the caller know that you are available to speak. Here's an example:

• አስገባ (Asgeba) - Hello, how can I help you?

Step 2: Greeting the Caller

After answering the call, it's important to greet the caller. You can use the phrase "ሰላም" (Sälam), which means "hello" or "peace". This is a common greeting in Amharic. For example:

• ሰላም, እዚህ እስር ቤት ነሽ? (Sälam, ezih' esir bet nesh?) - Hello, is this [your name]?

Step 3: Asking for the Purpose

After greeting the caller, you can politely ask for the purpose of the call. You can use the phrase "ለምን ማድረግ ነሽ?" (Lemän madärge nesh?), which means "Why are you calling?". This allows the caller to explain the reason for their call. Here's an example:

• ለምን ማድረግ ነሽ? (Lemän madärge nesh?) - Why are you calling?

Step 4: Ending the Call

Once you have finished the conversation, it's important to end the call politely. You can say "ለውጥ" (Lewet), which means "hang up". Here's an example:

• ለውጥ, እሺ (Lewet, eshi) - Goodbye, take care.

Now that you know how to make and receive phone calls in Amharic, let's move on to the next section where we will explore some cultural aspects related to telephone conversations in Ethiopia.

Cultural Insights

In Ethiopia, telephone conversations are an important part of daily life, especially in urban areas where mobile phones are widely used. However, it's worth noting that telephone coverage can be limited in some rural areas. Additionally, the use of smartphones and messaging apps has become increasingly popular in recent years.

In Ethiopian culture, it is customary to greet the person on the other end of the phone call with a warm and polite greeting, such as "ሰላም" (Sälam). This helps to establish a friendly and respectful tone for the conversation. It is also common to ask about the well-being of the person you are speaking with, as Ethiopians value personal connections and showing genuine interest in others.

When making phone calls, it is important to be patient and understanding, as the person you are trying to reach may not always be available or may be busy. Ethiopians appreciate good manners and will respond positively to polite and respectful communication.

Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Below are some exercises to help you reinforce your understanding of telephone conversations in Amharic. Use the vocabulary and phrases you have learned to complete the exercises. Solutions and explanations are provided at the end.

Exercise 1: Complete the Dialogue Fill in the blanks with the appropriate vocabulary and phrases to complete the dialogue.

Person A: ሰላም! ይህ አስገባ ለማድረግ አስችለው? Person B: እኔ ልጠበቅ ይሆን, በማለት ኮል ይላል. Person A: ለማድረግ ልንገባው? Person B: ለማድረግ ልንገባው, እስር ቤት ነሽ? Person A: ድርጊት እይታ?

Exercise 2: Role Play Imagine you are making a phone call to a hotel to inquire about room availability. Practice the dialogue with a partner, taking turns being the caller and the hotel staff. Be sure to use the appropriate vocabulary and phrases.

Exercise 3: Cultural Reflection Think about a time when you had a memorable phone conversation. What made it memorable? Was there anything culturally significant about the conversation? Share your reflection in a paragraph or two.

Solutions

Exercise 1: Complete the Dialogue Person A: ሰላም! ይህ አስገባ ለማድረግ አስችለው? Person B: እኔ ልጠበቅ ይሆን, በማለት ኮል ይላል. Person A: ለማድረግ ልንገባው? Person B: ለማድረግ ልንገባው, እስር ቤት ነሽ? Person A: ድርጊት እይታ?

Translation: Person A: Hello! Is this the office for making appointments? Person B: This is [your name] calling. Person A: Can I speak with [person's name]? Person B: Can I speak with [person's name], please? Person A: Is there a meeting today?

Exercise 2: Role Play Practice the dialogue with a partner, focusing on using the appropriate vocabulary and phrases for a phone call to inquire about room availability at a hotel.

Exercise 3: Cultural Reflection Write a paragraph or two reflecting on a memorable phone conversation you have had. Consider any cultural aspects that made the conversation unique or significant.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned how to make and receive phone calls in Amharic. By mastering the vocabulary and phrases covered in this lesson, you will be able to confidently navigate telephone conversations in Amharic. Remember to practice what you have learned and continue exploring the rich culture and language of Ethiopia. Good luck with your language learning journey!

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

• English to Amharic Meaning of conversation - ንግግር
• Basic Amharic Dictionary: Amharic-English, English-Amharic. Final ...
• English to Amharic Meaning of conversational

Other Lessons

• Clinic
• Utensils
• Geometry
• Clothes
• Diseases
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Days of the week
• Family Members
• Dairy Products
• Sexual Advances (to a female)