English greetings and introductions in Amharic
Learn to greet someone, give your name, and ask a polite follow-up question, with Amharic explanations and a short exercise.
You do not need a long speech to start a conversation. Practise a greeting, your name, and one question. The Amharic translations below explain the meaning; they are not word-for-word pronunciation guides.
Try it in daily life
At a first meeting in Addis Ababa, try: “Hello, I’m Hana. Nice to meet you.” Then ask the other person’s name. Use your own name and repeat the exchange without reading.
Start with a greeting
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| English | የአማርኛ ፍቺ | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello. | ሰላም። | A simple greeting in most situations. |
| Good morning. | እንደምን አደሩ? | When greeting someone in the morning. |
| How are you? | እንዴት ነዎት? | A polite question after a greeting. |
| I'm well, thank you. | ደህና ነኝ፣ አመሰግናለሁ። | A possible reply. |
In an informal conversation, “Hi” is also useful. “Good night” usually belongs at the end of an evening or before sleep; use “Good evening” when you arrive.
Add your name
“My name is Hana” and “I'm Hana” both introduce you. “I'm” is the short form of “I am.” You can use the full form while practising, then try the shorter form aloud.
- My name is Hana. — ስሜ ሐና ነው።
- What is your name? — ስምዎ ማን ነው?
- Nice to meet you. — ስላገኘሁዎት ደስ ብሎኛል።
Use a name you actually go by. You do not need to translate it into English.
Practise a short conversation
Hana: Hello. I'm Hana. What is your name?
Dawit: I'm Dawit. Nice to meet you.
Hana: Nice to meet you, too. How are you?
Dawit: I'm well, thank you. And you?
Read each part aloud. Then cover Dawit's replies and supply your own. A useful goal is to complete the exchange without reading, rather than to speak quickly.
Try it yourself
- Complete: “My name ___ Hana.”
- You are arriving at a meeting at 7 p.m. Choose “Good evening” or “Good night.”
- Write two sentences introducing yourself and asking for the other person's name.
Check your answers
- is: “My name is Hana.”
- Good evening. You are greeting someone, not saying goodbye.
- Example: “I'm Sara. What is your name?” Your name may be different.
For your next practice, introduce yourself to a friend or use Banana's text or voice practice. Keep the exchange short enough that you can repeat it confidently.