Language/Tigrinya/Vocabulary/Clothes

Tigrinya Vocabulary - Clothes

Hi Tigrinya learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn some Tigrinya vocabulary related to clothes. We will also talk about some cultural aspects of clothing in Tigray.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: How to greet someone in the Tigrinya language, Drinks, Feelings and Emotions & Health.

Traditional Clothing

Clothing in Tigray is still influenced by the traditional garb worn by the people for centuries. The shemma and the zuria are two types of traditional clothing worn by both men and women. The shemma is a type of wrap-around skirt that is worn by women, while the zuria is a long, loose garment that is worn over a dress or skirt. Men wear a similar garment called a jambiyya.

Shemma

The shemma is a brightly colored cloth that is woven from cotton. It is usually worn with a blouse or a tunic. Women also wear a netela, which is a thin scarf that is draped over the head and around the body. The shemma is an important symbol of Tigrayan culture, and it is often worn during festivals and special occasions.

Here are some Tigrinya vocabularies related to shemmas:

Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English
ሸማኒ	shemani	shemma
ነተላ	netela	scarf
መንጠብ	menteb	textile
ጸጉር	tsiger	weave

Here's a dialogue that can illustrate the use of these words:

• Person 1: ሰላም ይላስሰናል (selam yelasenayl). (Hello, how are you?)
• Person 2: ደስ አለኝ (des aleng). (I'm fine.)
• Person 1: ኣቦ ይሱስ ሸማኒ ነተላ ናብ ስምሕና? (abo yisus shemani netela nab simhinna?) (What do you think of this shemma and scarf?)
• Person 2: እንተምን፡ ኣይ። መንጠብ ዘይበልጽፍ እናበይና (entemn ay, menteb zeybelts'ef enambeyna). (They're beautiful. The textile is woven perfectly.)

Zuria

The zuria is another traditional garment that is still worn by many Tigrayan women. It is usually made from cotton, and it is long-sleeved and ankle-length. The zuria is often worn over a dress or a skirt, and it is usually paired with a netela.

Here's a table to help you learn some Tigrinya vocabulary related to zurias:

Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English
ዙሪያ	zuria	zuria
አሽን	ashn	embroidery
ተረስበ	tersbe	sew

Here's a dialogue that uses these words in context:

• Person 1: ደህና ሸር ዙሪያ ኣሎ። (dehina sher zuria allo). (I love wearing the zuria.)
• Person 2: የማንነት አሽን ነው (yemanent ashn new). (The embroidery is beautiful.)
• Person 1: በስተጀርባ ይቀርባል (be stijerba yik'irbal). (It was sewn perfectly.)

Modern Clothing

While traditional clothing is still quite popular in Tigray, many people also wear modern clothing. Jeans, t-shirts, and other western-style clothing can be found in many shops and markets. That being said, there is still a strong preference for traditional clothing, especially during holidays and festivals.

Here are some Tigrinya vocabulary related to modern clothing:

Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English
ሒሳብ	hisab	pants
ታዳጊ	tadagi	T-shirt
ዋስት	wast	vest

Here's a dialogue:

• Person 1: ታዳጊ ብናይ ሒሳብ አልባ ይሰዓርላል (tadagi b'nay hisab alba yise'aralal). (A T-shirt and pants are perfect for everyday wear.)
• Person 2: ዋስት እስቲ ኣይደረትም ይመስልና (wast esti aydertem yimesl'ena). (A vest is also fashionable.)

Conclusion

Learning vocabulary related to clothes is very important, especially if you plan on traveling to Tigray. In addition to learning the words, it's also important to understand the cultural significance of different types of clothing. To improve your Tigrinya vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Also, don't forget to check out the Tigrinya Vocabulary page for more great terms to learn.

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Days of the Week, Fruits, Feelings & Geography.

Other Lessons

• Fruits
• Months of the year
• Express Surprise
• Feelings
• Count to 10
• Animals
• Feelings and Emotions
• How to say Good Bye?
• Days of the Week
• How to Say Hello and Greetings

Sources

• Tigrinya – English Picture Dictionary እንግሊዝኛ፡ ስእላዊ፡ መዝገ ...
• Tigrinya Dictionary