This lesson will teach you how to apologize in Amharic, a key skill for effective communication. You’ll learn common phrases and how to respond to apologies.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Say “sorry” in Amharic.
2. Respond appropriately when someone apologizes to you.

1. Basic Apology Phrases

Here are the most common ways to apologize in Amharic:

• ይቅርታ (Yiqirta) I’m sorry. This is the most common and versatile way to say “sorry.”
• ስላስቀየምኩህ ይቅርታ። Sorry for offending you.
  ስላስከፋሁህ ይቅርታ። ሆን ብየ አይደለም። Sorry for offending you. I didn’t mean to.
• ይቅር በለኝ (Yiqir belegn) Excuse me / Pardon me.
• ይቅርታ እጠይቃለሁ። (Yiqirta Eteyqalehu) I apologize. A more formal way to apologize.

2. Contextual Apologies

• • ስለዘገየሁ ይቅርታ (Silezegeyehu yiqirta) Sorry for being late.
  • ስላቋረጥኩህ ይቅርታ (Silaquaretkuh yiqirta) Sorry for interrupting.

3. For repenting to God:

• • አምላኬ ሆይ ወንጀሌን ማረኝ! My God, forgive my sin!
  • ሀጥያቴን ይቅር በለኝ! Forgive my transgression!
  • ምህረትህን እለምናለሁ! I ask for Your mercy!
  • ማረኝ፣ ይቅር በለኝ! Have mercy on me; forgive me!
  • ማረኝ! Have mercy on me!
  • ወንጀሌን ማረኝ! Forgive me my sin!
  • ይቅር በለኝ። Forgive me!

We use these for prayer, a heartfelt way to ask for forgiveness from God.

3. Responding to Apologies

Here’s how to respond when someone apologizes to you:

• ምንም አይደል። (Minem aydelam) It’s okay. Literally: It’s nothing.
• ችግር የለውም። No problem.
• አያሳስብህ/ሽ Think nothing of it.
• አትጨነቅ (Atchenek) Don’t worry about it.

Let’s practice apologizing in a real-life scenario:

• Person A: ስለዘገየሁ ይቅርታ። Sorry for being late.
• Person B: ምንም አይደል። አሁን እንጀምር። It’s okay. Let’s start now.
• Person A: አመሰግናለሁ። Thank you.