Language/Amharic/Vocabulary/Family-Members

Amharic → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Everyday Life Vocabulary → Family Members

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the names of family members in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. Understanding family relationships is essential in any language, as it allows us to communicate with others about our loved ones. By learning the Amharic vocabulary for family members, you will be able to talk about your family, ask about someone else's family, and engage in conversations that involve familial topics. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Amharic Course" and is designed for complete beginners who want to develop a strong foundation in the Amharic language. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently identify and describe various family members in Amharic.

Vocabulary

Let's begin by learning the names of different family members in Amharic. Familiarize yourself with the Amharic terms and their English translations. Pay attention to the pronunciation guide provided for each word. Practice saying the words aloud to improve your pronunciation.

Amharic	Pronunciation	English Translation
አባት	abat	father
እናት	enat	mother
ወንድ	wend	son
ልጅ	lij	daughter
የልጅነት	yelijinet	childhood
የህክምና	yehikimina	adolescence
ግማሽ	gemesha	sibling
ወንድሞች	wendmoch	children
እንድር	ender	brother
ሙሉ ወንድ	mulu wend	eldest son
ሙሉ ወንድ	mulu wend	eldest daughter
አልበም	albem	uncle
ወንድ ወልድ	wend weld	nephew
ጉልበት	gulbet	cousin
ግማሽ ወንድ	gemesha wend	younger brother
ወንድም	wendim	younger sister
እናት ወልድ	enat weld	niece
እናት ወልድ	enat weld	aunt
የልጅነት ጉልበት	yelijinet gulbet	cousinhood

Cultural Insights

Family plays a vital role in Ethiopian culture. The Amharic language has specific terms to address different family members, reflecting the importance placed on familial bonds. In Ethiopia, respect for elders and strong family ties are highly valued. It is common for extended families to live together, with multiple generations sharing the same household. This arrangement fosters a sense of unity and support within the family unit. Additionally, family members often rely on each other for emotional and financial assistance.

It is interesting to note that in Amharic, there are distinct terms for older and younger siblings. This distinction reflects the hierarchical nature of Ethiopian society, where age and seniority are highly regarded. The eldest son and daughter are often given special importance and are expected to take on leadership roles within the family.

Practice Exercises

Now that you are familiar with the vocabulary, let's practice using the words in context. Complete the following exercises by filling in the blanks with the appropriate Amharic family member term.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct Amharic family member term. 1. My __________ is a doctor. 2. Her __________ is a teacher. 3. Our __________ are playing in the park. 4. He has two __________ and one __________. 5. Who is your __________?

Exercise 2: Translate the following English sentences to Amharic. 1. I love my mother very much. 2. The eldest son is responsible for taking care of the family. 3. She has two younger sisters. 4. Our cousins are coming to visit us tomorrow. 5. He is my uncle and also my best friend.

Exercise 3: Match the Amharic terms with their English translations. 1. ሙሉ ወንድ (a) sister 2. ጉልበት (b) cousin 3. እናት (c) nephew 4. አባት (d) daughter 5. ወንድሞች (e) eldest son

Solutions

Exercise 1: 1. father 2. mother 3. children 4. brothers, sister 5. uncle

Exercise 2: 1. እናት የኔ ልጅ ግንባታ ነው። 2. ሙሉ ወንድ የትውልድ ነው እንዴት ልጅ ሆነ ይታወቃል። 3. ያለው ወንድም ሁለት ወንድም ይሆናል። 4. ልጆችን በእኛ ላይ ይገናኛሉ። 5. ይሄ ወንድ እና እስማዊ ልጅ ነው።

Exercise 3: 1. (e) eldest son 2. (b) cousin 3. (c) nephew 4. (a) father 5. (d) daughter

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned the names of family members in Amharic. Family is an integral part of Ethiopian culture, and by understanding the Amharic vocabulary for family members, you can engage in meaningful conversations about family relationships. Practice using these words in context to further enhance your language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore the names of various food and drinks in Amharic as part of our "Everyday Life Vocabulary" series. Keep up the great work!

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

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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

• Family - Amharic Vocab
• Learn Amharic – Family Members! (Vocabulary) – Amharic4Ras

Other Lessons

• Shopping
• Saying You Are Sick
• Art and Literature
• How to say Good Bye?
• Numbers
• Geography
• Time Specific Leave Taking
• Greetings
• Clinic
• Geometry