Everyday English phrases for Amharic speakers

Choose three phrases you could use today. Learn what they mean, say them aloud, and change one detail to make them your own. Memorising a long list is less useful than being able to ask one clear question.

Try it in daily life

At a café in Addis Ababa, try: “Could I have a coffee, please?” If you miss the price, ask: “Could you say that again, please?” Practise both the request and the reply with a partner.

Ask for help

“Could you…” is a polite way to make a request. It does not always describe the past. “I don't understand” tells someone that you need help; it is a useful part of a conversation, not a failure.

At a shop or café

• How much is this? — ይህ ስንት ነው?
• I'd like a cup of tea, please. — እባክዎ አንድ ኩባያ ሻይ እፈልጋለሁ።
• Do you have water? — ውኃ አለዎት?
• Thank you. — አመሰግናለሁ።

“I'd like” means “I would like.” For an order, it is a polite alternative to “I want.” Replace “tea” with “coffee,” but keep “a cup of” when that is the amount you mean.

One conversation, several skills

Customer: Hello. I'd like a cup of tea, please.

Server: Certainly. Anything else?

Customer: Could you say that again, please?

Server: Would you like anything else?

Customer: No, thank you. How much is it?

Practise both roles. Asking someone to repeat is part of completing the task. You do not have to understand every word the first time.

Try it yourself

1. Ask someone to repeat a sentence politely.
2. Change the tea order to an order for a cup of coffee.
3. Complete: “I ___ understand. Please speak slowly.”

Check your answers

1. “Could you say that again, please?”
2. “I'd like a cup of coffee, please.”
3. don't: “I don't understand.”

Tomorrow, recall the three phrases without looking. Then use them in a new situation, such as asking a colleague for help. In Banana, you can ask the AI tutor to role-play a simple café conversation.