Part of engaging a culture is engaging its language. Language shapes the way we think. The way we think shapes language.

Ethiopia has 83 ethic groups and over 200 dialects. Amharic is the official language. It is a Semitic language like Hebrew and Arabic that derives from Ge’ez, which dates back to 5,000 year before Christ. It is written left to right. The Italian occupation (1936-1941) also left Amharic with some Italian and French words like Merkato (market) and chauffeur.

Some of the words are baffling.

Thank you is something like “Amasegenalaoo.” Six syllables.

But hello and goodbye are no-brainers:
Salam – hello (like Arabic or the Hebrew “Shalom”)
Ciao – goodbye

We alight together a lot. The locals get great delight from my clumsy attempts to pronounce these words:

Excuse me – Yee-qrta
Where is – yett noo ….?
The bathroom – Shinta-bait ?

Other essentials:

Aun – Yes
Idelum – No
Machina – car
Autobus – bus

Buna – Coffee
Suquar – sugar
Latinachay – to your health, cheers
Bira – beer
Wuha – water

Konjo – good
Metfo – bad

Beel – bill
Ibaku – please
Gnasalay – I’m happy

Tuat – before noon
Kasat – after noon

Forenjee- foreigner

Tomorrow we head north out of the city, preparing to visit wells, church leaders and NGOs that serve as Water to Thrive’s local affiliates.