500 Essential Amharic Words List
This is a list of the 500 most essential words for anyone starting their journey in learning Amharic. Building a strong vocabulary foundation with the most frequently used words is the key to understanding basic everyday communication.
Each word in this list is presented with its Amharic spelling, its English meaning, and a clear, easy-to-read transliteration. This transliteration is designed to help you pronounce the words correctly, even if you can’t read the Amharic script (Fidel) yet. This makes it an excellent resource for self-study and for those who are visually impaired and using text-to-speech software.
We’ve carefully checked and corrected all the words on this list to ensure they are accurate. By learning these 500 words, you’ll be well on your way to forming simple sentences and engaging in basic conversations, giving you a solid start in your Amharic learning journey.
- መሆን (Mehon) — to be, to become
- እና (Enna) — and
- ወደ (Wede) — to, towards
- የ (Ye) — of (prefix)
- እኔ (Ene) — I, me
- ውስጥ (Wist) — in, inside
- መያዝ (Meyaz) — to have, to hold, to catch
- ያንን (Yannin) — that
- እሱ (Esu) — he, it
- አይደለም (Aydelem) — not, is not
- የእሱ (Ye-esu) — his
- እሷ (Eswa) — she, her
- አንተ (Ante) — you (m)
- አንቺ (Anchi) — you (f)
- ከ (Ke) — with, from, than
- ለ (Le) — for, to
- መስራት (Mesrat) — to do, to make, to work
- እንደ (Ende) — as, like
- በ (Be) — on, at, by, with
- ማለት (Malet) — to say, meaning
- እሱን (Esun) — him
- ግን (Gin) — but, however
- የእኔ (Ye-ene) — my, mine
- መሄድ (Mehed) — to go
- እነሱ (Enesu) — they
- ሁሉም (Hulum) — all, every
- ይህ (Yih) — this
- አንድ (And) — one
- ውጭ (Wich) — out, outside
- ወደላይ (Wedelay) — up
- ማወቅ (Maweq) — to know
- ስለዚህ (Silezih) — so, therefore
- ማየት (Mayet) — to see, to look
- ሊሆን ይችላል (Lihon Yichilal) — could, maybe
- ወይም (Weyem) — or
- እነሱን (Enesun) — them
- ማግኘት (Magnyet) — to get, to find
- እኛ (Egna) — we
- መምጣት (Memtat) — to come
- ሰው (Sew) — man, person
- ምንድን (Mindin) — what
- እዛ (Eza) — there
- ስለ (Sile) — about, concerning
- የትኛው (Yetinyaw) — which
- የእነሱ (Ye-enesu) — their
- ማሰብ (Maseb) — to think
- መመልከት (Memelket) — to watch, look
- ከሆነ (Kehone) — if
- ማን (Man) — who
- መቼ (Meche) — when
- መውሰድ (Mewsed) — to take
- ጊዜ (Gize) — time
- አይ (Ay) — no
- ጀርባ (Jerba) — back
- መቻል (Mechal) — can, to be able
- ፈቃደኛ (Feqadegna) — willing
- የእርስዎ (Yerswo) — your (polite)
- ተጨማሪ (Tatemari) — more, additional
- ከዚያ (Keziya) — then
- ወደታች (Wedetach) — down
- ጥሩ (Tiru) — good, well
- በላይ (Belay) — over, above
- መንገር (Menger) — to tell
- አሁን (Ahun) — now
- እጅ (Ij) — hand
- አንዳንድ (Andand) — some
- መፈለግ (Mefelek) — to want, search
- ልክ (Lik) — just, exact
- ብቻ (Bicha) — only, alone
- መንገድ (Menged) — way, road
- መስጠት (Mesetet) — to give
- ሌላ (Lela) — other, another
- ቀን (Qen) — day
- ዓይን (Ayn) — eye
- በፊት (Befit) — before
- መጠየቅ (Meteyeq) — to ask
- ሁለት (Hulet) — two
- ትንሽ (Tinish) — small, little
- ረጅም (Rejim) — long, tall
- በጣም (Betam) — very
- መሰማት (Mesemat) — to feel
- ማንኛውም (Manyawm) — any
- ነገር (Neger) — thing
- ደግሞ (Degmo) — too, also
- እዚህ (Ezih) — here
- በጭራሽ (Bechirash) — never
- መተው (Metew) — to leave, quit
- አሮጌ (Aroge) — old (object)
- ራስ (Ras) — head, self
- መዞር (Mezor) — to turn
- በድጋሚ (Bidgami) — again
- እንኳን (Enkwan) — even, even if
- ፊት (Fit) — face, front
- ብዙ (Bizu) — much, many
- ጠፍቷል (Teftwal) — off, lost
- እኛን (Egnan) — us
- መጀመሪያ (Mejemeriya) — first
- ቀኝ (Qegn) — right
- የእኛ (Ye-egna) — our
- እንዴት (Endet) — how
- የት (Yet) — where
- በኋላ (Behwala) — after
- የእሱ (Yesu) — its
- ሴት (Set) — woman
- ራቅ (Raq) — away, far
- ሕይወት (Hiwot) — life
- መሰለ (Mesle) — to seem
- መጥራት (Metrat) — to call
- አሁንም (Ahunim) — still
- መስማት (Mesmat) — to hear
- ዓመት (Amet) — year
- የራሱ (Yerasu) — own
- ይገባል (Yigebal) — should
- ቦታ (Bota) — place
- ክፍል (Kifl) — room, part
- መቆም (Meqom) — to stand
- አካባቢ (Akababi) — around
- በር (Ber) — door
- አንድ ነገር (And Neger) — something
- መሞከር (Memoker) — to try
- ማፍቀር (Mafqer) — to love
- ቤት (Bet) — house
- ሌሊት (Lelit) — night
- ማስቀመጥ (Masqemet) — to put
- ታላቅ (Talaq) — great, elder, grand
- እንዲህ (Endih) — such
- መጠበቅ (Metebaq) — to wait, protect
- መቀመጥ (Meqemet) — to sit
- መጨረሻ (Mecheresha) — last, end
- መጀመር (Mejemer) — to begin
- ምክንያቱም (Miknyatum) — because
- እነዚያ (Eneziya) — those
- እነዚህ (Enezih) — these
- ቃል (Qal) — word
- መጠቀም (Meteqem) — to use
- ማስፈለግ (Masfeleq) — to need
- መክፈት (Mekfet) — to open
- እያለ (Iyale) — while
- ማውራት (Mawrat) — to talk
- መፍቀድ (Mefqed) — to let
- ሩቅ (Ruq) — far
- ያለ (Yale) — without
- መፈገግ (Mefegag) — smile
- ሁልጊዜ (Huligize) — always
- ድምፅ (Dimts) — voice, sound
- ልጅ (Lij) — child
- አባት (Abat) — father
- መራመድ (Meramed) — to walk
- ወጣት (Wetat) — young
- ምንም (Minim) — nothing
- መሮጥ (Merot) — to run
- ቢሆንም (Bihonim) — though
- አፍታ (Afta) — moment
- ላይ (Lay) — on, against
- እናት (Inat) — mother
- ተመሳሳይ (Temesasay) — same
- ስም (Sim) — name
- መናገር (Menager) — to speak
- አእምሮ (Aemiro) — mind
- ጥቂት (Tiqit) — few
- ማምጣት (Mamtat) — to bring
- ብርሃን (Birhan) — light
- መዝጋት (Mezgat) — close
- ጎን (Gon) — side
- መቼም (Mechem) — ever
- መንቀሳቀስ (Menqesaqes) — to move
- ጓደኛ (Gwadegna) — friend
- እያንዳንዱ (Iyandandu) — each
- ክንድ (Kind) — arm
- ሶስት (Sost) — three
- አንዴ (Ande) — once
- ይበቃል (Yibeqal) — enough
- ሴት ልጅ (Set lij) — girl
- በታች (Betach) — under
- አዲስ (Adis) — new
- መኖር (Menor) — to live
- እንዲሁም (Endihum) — also
- ማገዝ (Magez) — to help
- መካከል (Mekakel) — between
- ዓለም (Alem) — world
- መውደቅ (Mewdeq) — to fall
- መጀመር (Mejemer) — to start
- መቆየት (Meqoyet) — to stay
- ማቆም (Maqom) — to stop
- ሁለቱም (Huletum) — both
- እግር (Egr) — foot
- እስከ (Iske) — until
- በእርግጥ (Bergit) — really
- ማሳየት (Masayet) — to show
- ወንድ ልጅ (Wend lij) — boy
- መዋሸት (Mewashet) — to lie
- እርግጠኛ (Ergit-egna) — sure
- መከሰት (Mekeset) — happen
- ማመን (Mamen) — believe
- መመለስ (Memeles) — return
- ከኋላ (Kehwala) — behind
- ነጥብ (Netib) — point
- ቀጥሎ (Qetilo) — next
- ገና (Gena) — yet, Christmas
- ልብ (Lib) — heart
- ውሃ (Wuha) — water
- አልሞ (Almo) — almost
- አካል (Akal) — body
- ለምን (Lemin) — why
- ማለፍ (Malef) — pass
- ጠዋት (Tewat) — morning
- ሰዓት (Seat) — hour
- መገናኘት (Megananyet) — meet
- እግዚአብሔር (Egziabher) — God
- ነጭ (Nech) — white
- ማስታወስ (Mastawes) — remember
- ደግ (Deg) — kind
- ተስፋ (Tesfa) — hope
- መድረስ (Medres) — reach
- መሞት (Memot) — die
- ከባድ (Kebad) — hard
- መጥፎ (Metfo) — bad
- ግማሽ (Gimash) — half
- መሳቅ (Mesaq) — laugh
- ቤተሰብ (Beteseb) — family
- ከፍተኛ (Kafit-egna) — high
- መጽሐፍ (Metshaf) — book
- ጉዳይ (Guday) — matter
- እርምጃ (Irmja) — step
- መቀየር (Meqeyer) — change
- ጥያቄ (Tiyaqe) — question
- በመላ (Bemela) — across
- መረዳት (Meredat) — understand
- መከተል (Meketel) — follow
- አንድ ላይ (And lay) — together
- ሚስት (Mist) — wife
- መሳብ (Mesab) — pull
- ጋር (Gar) — with
- ጠረጴዛ (Terepeza) — table
- መጫወት (Mechawet) — play
- ማጣት (Matat) — lose
- ትልቅ (Tiliq) — big
- ማልቀስ (Malqes) — cry
- ጥቁር (Tiqur) — black
- ፀጉር (Tsegur) — hair
- ማንበብ (Manbeb) — read
- መላክ (Melak) — send
- መስበር (Mesber) — break
- ቀድሞውኑ (Qedimownu) — already
- ደቂቃ (Deqiqa) — minute
- ጨለማ (Chelema) — dark
- በቅርቡ (Beqirbu) — soon
- አልጋ (Alga) — bed
- ሙሉ (Mulu) — whole, full
- መኪና (Mekina) — car
- መስኮት (Meskot) — window
- መንቀጥቀጥ (Menqetqet) — shake
- እረፍት (Ereft) — rest
- ገንዘብ (Genzeb) — money
- እውነታ (Ewneta) — fact
- መጻፍ (Metsaf) — write
- እሳት (Isat) — fire
- ሁለተኛ (Hulet-egna) — second
- መስመር (Mesmer) — line
- ማደግ (Madeg) — grow
- አየር (Ayer) — air
- መመኘት (Memegnet) — wish
- ሐሳብ (Hasab) — thought
- መነሳት (Menesat) — rise
- ቢያንስ (Biyans) — least
- መያዝ (Meyaz) — catch
- መምራት (Memrat) — lead
- ትልቅ (Tiliq) — large
- መታየት (Metayet) — appear
- መንከባከብ (Menkebakeb) — care
- መሸከም (Meshekem) — carry
- ሞት (Mot) — death
- መተኛት (Metenyat) — sleep
- መግደል (Migdel) — kill
- ሐሳብ (Hasab) — idea
- መልበስ (Melbes) — wear
- ግድግዳ (Gidigida) — wall
- መንዳት (Mendat) — drive
- ቅርብ (Qirib) — near
- ትከሻ (Tikesha) — shoulder
- ሳምንት (Samint) — week
- ያለፈ (Yalefe) — past
- ቀደም (Qedem) — early
- ብቻ (Bicha) — alone
- አፍ (Af) — mouth
- አራት (Arat) — four
- መቀጠል (Meqetel) — continue
- ዛፍ (Zaf) — tree
- ወንድም (Wendim) — brother
- ምክንያት (Mikinyat) — reason
- ፈረስ (Feres) — horse
- ሌሎች (Leloch) — others
- ትዕዛዝ (Tizaz) — order
- አምስት (Amist) — five
- መንካት (Menkat) — touch
- ዙር (Zur) — round
- ጥልቀት (Tilqet) — deep
- ደብዳቤ (Debdabe) — letter
- ኃይል (Hayil) — force, power
- ከተማ (Ketema) — town, city
- መብላት (Meblat) — eat
- ግልጽ (Gilits) — clear
- ማግባት (Magbat) — marry
- መወርወር (Mewerwer) — throw
- አገር (Ager) — country
- ወለል (Welel) — floor
- መክፈል (Mekfel) — pay
- ጣት (Tat) — finger
- እንባ (Inba) — tear
- ጎዳና (Godana) — street
- እመቤት (Imebet) — lady
- ያነሰ (Yanese) — less
- ፍርሃት (Firhat) — fear
- አንድ ሰው (And sew) — someone
- ንግድ (Nigid) — business
- ወንበር (Wenber) — chair
- መርሳት (Mersat) — forget
- ቀይ (Qey) — red
- ምናልባት (Minalbat) — perhaps
- አጭር (Achir) — short
- መሬት (Meret) — ground
- እውነት (Iwunet) — true
- ከንፈር (Kenfer) — lip
- መልበስ (Melbes) — dress
- ወር (Wer) — month
- ማዳመጥ (Madamet) — listen
- ትምህርት ቤት (Timhrt Bet) — school
- ዝቅተኛ (Ziqit-enya) — low
- ባል (Bal) — husband
- መጨመር (Mechemer) — add
- የተለየ (Yeteleye) — different
- መጣል (Metal) — drop
- መጠጣት (Metetat) — drink
- መማር (Memar) — learn
- በድንገት (Bedinget) — suddenly
- ወረቀት (Wereqet) — paper
- መሬት (Meret) — land
- ምሽት (Mishit) — evening
- ከላይ (Kelay) — above
- መቶ (Meto) — hundred
- መወሰን (Mewesen) — decide
- ማስተዋል (Mastewal) — notice
- ሴት ልጅ (Set lij) — daughter
- ቢሮ (Biro) — office
- ብርድ (Bird) — cold
- ምስል (Misil) — figure, image
- ቁጥር (Qutir) — number
- ከተማ (Ketema) — city
- መሙላት (Memulat) — fill
- የተወሰነ (Yetewesene) — certain
- ዕቅድ (Iqid) — plan
- ዝግጁ (Zigiju) — ready
- ሰማያዊ (Semayawi) — blue
- እህት (Ihit) — sister
- ማውጣት (Mawtat) — spend
- ግዛት (Gizat) — state
- መዋጋት (Mewagat) — fight
- ጠንካራ (Tenkara) — strong
- መሳም (Mesam) — kiss
- ደስተኛ (Dest-enya) — happy
- ህልም (Hilim) — dream
- ደም (Dem) — blood
- ማብራራት (Mabrarat) — explain
- ነፋስ (Nefas) — wind
- ጌታ (Geta) — Lord
- አስር (Asir) — ten
- ሃያ (Haya) — twenty
- ቆንጆ (Qonjo) — beautiful, pretty
- ጦርነት (Tornet) — war
- ችግር (Chigir) — trouble, problem
- ዕድል (Idil) — chance, luck
- መግፋት (Megfat) — push
- ነፃ (Netsa) — free
- ትንፋሽ (Tinfash) — breath
- ቁራጭ (Qurach) — piece
- ፀሐይ (Tsehay) — sun
- መድረስ (Medres) — arrive
- ማጤን (Maten) — consider
- ትዕግስት (Tigist) — patience
- መሰብሰብ (Mesebseb) — collect
- መጥረግ (Metreg) — sweep
- እውቀት (Iwuqet) — knowledge
- ስኬት (Siket) — success
- መቀነስ (Meqenes) — reduce
- መብረር (Mebrer) — fly
- ደመና (Demena) — cloud
- ዝናብ (Zinab) — rain
- ቀዝቃዛ (Qezqaza) — cold (weather)
- ሙቅ (Muq) — hot, warm
- መቅመስ (Meqmes) — taste
- መሽታት (Meshtat) — smell
- መጨበጥ (Mechebet) — squeeze, shake hand
- አሸዋ (Ashewa) — sand
- ባህር (Bahir) — sea, ocean
- ወንዝ (Wenz) — river
- ደሴት (Deset) — island
- ተራራ (Terara) — mountain
- ጫካ (Chaka) — forest
- ሜዳ (Meda) — field
- አበባ (Abeba) — flower
- ፍራፍሬ (Frafre) — fruit
- ቅጠል (Qitel) — leaf
- ስር (Sir) — root, under
- ድንጋይ (Dingay) — stone
- ብረት (Bret) — metal, iron
- እንጨት (Inchet) — wood
- ፕላስቲክ (Plastic) — plastic
- ብርጭቆ (Birchiqo) — glass
- ጨርቅ (Cherq) — cloth
- ቆዳ (Qoda) — skin, leather
- ወረቀት (Wereqet) — paper
- ቀለም (Qelem) — color, ink
- ጥቁር (Tiqur) — black
- ነጭ (Nech) — white
- ቀይ (Qey) — red
- አረንጓዴ (Arengwade) — green
- ቢጫ (Bicha) — yellow
- ሰማያዊ (Semayawi) — blue
- ቡናማ (Bunama) — brown
- ሮዝ (Rose) — pink
- ብርቱካናማ (Birtukanama) — orange
- ሐምራዊ (Hamrawi) — purple
- ግራጫ (Gracha) — grey
- ወርቃማ (Werqama) — golden
- ብርማ (Birama) — silver
- ክብ (Kib) — round, circle
- አራት ማዕዘን (Arat Ma’ezen) — square, rectangle
- ባለ ሶስት ማዕዘን (Bale sost Ma’ezen) — triangle
- ቀጥታ (Qetita) — straight
- ጥምዝ (Timz) — curve, spiral
- ወፍራም (Wefram) — thick, fat
- ቀጭን (Qechin) — thin, slim
- ከባድ (Kebad) — heavy
- ቀላል (Qelal) — light, easy
- ጠባብ (Tebab) — narrow
- ሰፊ (Sefi) — wide, spacious
- ጥልቅ (Tilq) — deep
- ላይ ላዩን (Lay layun) — shallow
- ደረቅ (Dereq) — dry
- ርጥብ (Ritib) — wet
- ለስላሳ (Leslasa) — soft, smooth
- ሻካራ (Shakara) — rough
- ጠንካራ (Tenkara) — hard, strong
- ደካማ (Dekama) — weak
- ሹል (Shul) — sharp
- ደልዳላ (Deldala) — flat, blunt
- ንጹህ (Nitsuh) — clean
- ቆሻሻ (Qoshasha) — dirty
- አዲስ (Adis) — new
- አሮጌ (Aroge) — old (thing)
- ወጣት (Wetat) — young
- ሽማግሌ (Shimagile) — old (man)
- ውድ (Wud) — expensive, dear
- ርካሽ (Rikash) — cheap
- ቆንጆ (Qonjo) — beautiful
- አስቀያሚ (Asqeyami) — ugly
- ሀብታም (Habtam) — rich
- ድሃ (Diha) — poor
- ደስተኛ (Dest-enya) — happy
- ያዘነ (Yazene) — sad
- ደግ (Deg) — kind
- ክፉ (Kifu) — evil, mean
- ብልህ (Bilih) — smart, wise
- ሞኝ (Mogn) — foolish
- ጎበዝ (Gobez) — brave, clever
- ፈሪ (Feri) — coward
- ፈጣን (Fetan) — fast
- ዝግተኛ (Zigtenya) — slow
- ጫጫታ (Chachata) — noisy
- ጸጥታ (Tsetita) — quiet
- ጣፋጭ (Tafach) — sweet, delicious
- መራራ (Merara) — bitter
- ኮምጣጣ (Komtata) — sour
- ጨው (Chew) — salt
- ቅመም (Qimem) — spice
- ምግብ (Migib) — food
- መጠጥ (Metet) — drink
- ቁርስ (Qurs) — breakfast
- ምሳ (Misa) — lunch
- እራት (Irat) — dinner
- ጤና (Tena) — health
- ህመም (Himem) — illness, pain
- መድኃኒት (Medhanit) — medicine
- ትምህርት (Timhrt) — education
- ስራ (Sira) — job, work
- ገንዘብ (Genzeb) — money
- ገበያ (Gebeya) — market
- ሱቅ (Suq) — shop
- ዋጋ (Waga) — price
- እረፍት (Ereft) — rest, break
- ጉዞ (Guzo) — trip, travel
- መኪና (Mekina) — car
- አውሮፕላን (Aeroplan) — airplane
- መርከብ (Merkeb) — ship
- ስልክ (Silik) — phone
- ኮምፒውተር (Computer) — computer
- መብራት (Mebrat) — light, electricity
- እሳት (Isat) — fire
- ውሃ (Wuha) — water
- አየር (Ayer) — air
- መሬት (Meret) — earth, ground
