Language/Amharic/Grammar/Pronouns-and-Greetings

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Amharic Structure → Pronouns and Greetings

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on pronouns and greetings in Amharic! In this lesson, we will learn how to introduce ourselves, greet people, and identify pronouns in Amharic. Pronouns play a crucial role in communication as they replace nouns to avoid repetition. Additionally, greetings are an essential part of any language, as they help establish connections and show respect. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently introduce yourself, greet others, and understand the usage of pronouns in Amharic.

Pronouns

In Amharic, pronouns are used to replace nouns and refer to people, objects, or ideas. They are an important part of the language and are used extensively in everyday conversations. Let's explore the different types of pronouns in Amharic:

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Amharic are used to refer to specific individuals or groups of people. They are categorized into two forms: independent and dependent pronouns. Independent pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence, while dependent pronouns are used as the object.

Here is a table with the personal pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እኔ (ene)	/ɛnɛ/	I
እኛ (enat)	/ɛnat/	we
አንቺ (anchi)	/antʃi/	you (singular, informal)
እሽክሽ (eshish)	/ɛʃiʃ/	you (plural, informal)
እንዴት (endeet)	/ɛndet/	you (singular, formal)
እንድችስ (endelch)	/ɛndɛltʃ/	you (plural, formal)
እስክሽ (eskish)	/ɛskish/	he
እስት (est)	/ɛst/	she
እስትኝ (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	it
እስትን (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	they

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Amharic are used to indicate specific objects or ideas. They can be used as a subject or an object in a sentence. Here are the demonstrative pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ይህ (yih)	/jih/	this
ላይ (lay)	/laj/	that
ምን (min)	/min/	what
ምንም (minim)	/minim/	anything

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Amharic are used to show ownership or possession. They agree with the noun they modify in gender and number. Here are the possessive pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ምንም (minim)	/minim/	mine
ምንም (minim)	/minim/	ours
ሃይማኖት (haimanot)	/hajmanot/	yours (singular)
ሃይማኖች (haimanoch)	/hajmanotʃ/	yours (plural)
ስንት (sint)	/sint/	his
ስንት (sint)	/sint/	hers
እስትኝ (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	its
እስትን (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	theirs

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns in Amharic are used to ask questions. They are used to inquire about people, objects, or ideas. Here are the interrogative pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
ምን (min)	/min/	what
ምንም (minim)	/minim/	anything
ስለምን (selemmin)	/sɛlɛmin/	why
ባለምንም (balemminim)	/balɛminim/	whatever

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Amharic are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. They are formed by adding the suffix "-ን" (-en) to the independent pronouns. Here are the reflexive pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እባክሽ (ebakish)	/ɛbakish/	myself
እባክሽ (ebakish)	/ɛbakish/	ourselves
እቢክሽ (ebikish)	/ɛbikish/	yourself (singular, informal)
እቢክሽ (ebikish)	/ɛbikish/	yourselves (plural, informal)
እባክሽ (ebakish)	/ɛbakish/	yourself (singular, formal)
እቢክሽ (ebikish)	/ɛbikish/	yourselves (plural, formal)
እስክሽ (eskish)	/ɛskish/	himself
እስት (est)	/ɛst/	herself
እስትኝ (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	itself
እስትን (esten)	/ɛstɛn/	themselves

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns in Amharic are used to refer to nonspecific people, objects, or ideas. They are used when the exact identity of the noun is unknown or irrelevant. Here are some examples of indefinite pronouns in Amharic:

• ምንም (minim) - anyone
• ነው (new) - someone
• የሚያስተማርም (yemiastemarem) - anything
• ባለምንም (balemminim) - whatever

Greetings

Greetings are an important part of any language as they help establish connections and show respect. In Amharic, there are various ways to greet someone depending on the time of day and the level of formality. Let's explore some common greetings in Amharic:

Good Morning

To say "Good Morning" in Amharic, you can use the phrase "ጤና ይስጥልኝ" (tena yistilign). This greeting is used in the morning until around 10 a.m. It is a formal greeting and is commonly used when addressing someone older or in a professional setting.

Good Afternoon

To say "Good Afternoon" in Amharic, you can use the phrase "እንዴት ነህ?" (endet neh?). This greeting is used from around 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It is a more informal greeting and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Good Evening

To say "Good Evening" in Amharic, you can use the phrase "አዲስ መሠረት" (adis meseret). This greeting is used from around 2 p.m. until sunset. It is a formal greeting and is commonly used when addressing someone older or in a professional setting.

Good Night

To say "Good Night" in Amharic, you can use the phrase "ጌታዬን አመሰግናለሁ" (getayen amesegenalehu). This greeting is used before going to bed or when saying goodbye in the evening. It is a more informal greeting and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Hello

To say "Hello" in Amharic, you can use the word "ሰላም" (selam). This greeting is used throughout the day and is appropriate for both formal and informal settings.

How Are You?

To ask "How are you?" in Amharic, you can use the phrase "እንዴት ነህ?" (endet neh?). This question is commonly used as a polite greeting and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

I'm Fine, Thank You

To respond to the question "How are you?" in Amharic, you can say "አዎ ጥንቃቄ ነኝ" (awo tinqaqe neng). This response is commonly used to indicate that you are fine and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Cultural Insights

Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia and is widely spoken by the majority of the population. It is a Semitic language with its own unique script and grammar. Amharic is not only a language but also a reflection of the rich culture and history of Ethiopia. Here are some interesting cultural insights related to pronouns and greetings in Amharic:

- In Ethiopian culture, respect for elders is highly valued. When greeting someone older or in a position of authority, it is important to use the appropriate level of formality and show respect through your choice of words and gestures.

- Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. This can sometimes lead to confusion when discussing dates or scheduling events, so it's important to clarify which calendar is being used.

- Amharic pronouns are gender-specific and agree with the gender of the noun they replace. This reflects the importance of gender roles and distinctions in Ethiopian society.

- Ethiopian greetings often involve handshakes, with the right hand being extended towards the other person. It is considered impolite to use the left hand for greetings or other social interactions.

- When greeting someone, it is customary to ask about their well-being and the well-being of their family members. This shows genuine concern and interest in the person you are greeting.

- Ethiopians place great importance on community and social connections. Greetings are often accompanied by warm smiles, eye contact, and friendly gestures to create a sense of belonging and unity.

Practice Exercises

Now that we have learned about pronouns and greetings in Amharic, let's practice what we have learned. Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate pronoun in Amharic:

1. የኔ ወንድ ስለምን ነው? (yene wend silemin nehu?) - What do I have? 2. ሴት ወንድ ስለምን አልለውም? (set wend silemin allewem?) - Why are the girl and the boy fighting? 3. ለኔስ መልካም ነው። (lenes melkam new.) - It's good for me. 4. የኔ ወንድ እጅ ነው። (yene wend ej new.) - The boy is mine.

Exercise 2: Greetings Dialogue

Imagine you are meeting a friend for the first time. Create a dialogue using appropriate greetings and introductions in Amharic. Practice the dialogue with a partner or in front of a mirror.

Example: A: ሰላም (selam)! እንዴት ነህ? (endet neh?) B: አዎ, ጥንቃቄ ነኝ, እኔ የለኝም ብሎ መስጠት አለበት። (awo, tinqaqe neng, ene yelengem belo mestet alebat.)

Exercise 3: Cultural Reflection

Reflect on the cultural insights provided in this lesson. How do these cultural practices and beliefs shape the way pronouns and greetings are used in Amharic? Write a short paragraph discussing your thoughts and observations.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on pronouns and greetings in Amharic. You have learned about different types of pronouns, greetings for various times of the day, and some cultural insights related to Amharic language and culture. Keep practicing and incorporating these pronouns and greetings into your conversations to enhance your language skills and cultural understanding. Next, we will delve into making sentences using pronouns, nouns, and verbs in Amharic. Stay tuned!

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 Global Live Virtual Course
• Learn Amharic quickly - Fast, Easy & Fun
• Amharic Language Training Manual

Other Lessons

• Pluralizing
• Compound sentence
• Question Words
• Personal pronouns
• Comparing and Contrasting
• bästä prefix
• Amharic Alphabets
• Give your Opinion
• Time Clauses
• Direct and Indirect Object Affixes