Amharic word list

This is a list I got from another adoptive mother. I found it quite interesting and thought maybe you would be interested as well.

I love you -->  ee-wha-de-halow (girl end in shal oh)
It’s ok honey -->  Ishee eye-zoe
Don’t be afraid -->  ah teh frah
These together are great for scary or sad times or bad dreams, etc…..
*Add “yay” to the end of the name for a term of endearment. Kedusyay, Natiyay, etc…. it is like saying Jilly or Sammy. They also use the "y" at the end like we do. It is an "i" as in Nati.

Ok -->  ishee
It is time to go to sleep -->  la ten ya
Go to sleep (command) -->  ten ya
Night night -->  mah Tah mah tah

No, don’t do that -->  tdoe
Stop -->  koom (girl koom ee)
Yes -->  ow
Good child -->  goe bez
Enough!  -->  Bakka
Wait  -->  Koi (girl koy ee)
Good job!  -->  Tih ROO sih RAH
That was bad, that is bad, it was a bad thing….  -->  Meht FOH
Good -->  tih roo
Are you ok? -->  Teh shah lekh (girl end in lesh)
Look  -->  ay (ay ee)
Sit down -->  koach ah bel
Come  -->  nah
Hello  -->  halo or seh lahm
Good bye  -->  chow
I’m sorry -->  yih kir tah


Mommy -- amay 
Daddy -->  ahb-baba
Small -->  tinish 
Big  -->  tih lihk
Dog  -->  woosha
Cat --> dumet
Bird -->  wuhf
Car -->  mah kee nah
Ball -->  kwas 
Shoes -->  chamahs
Clothes -->  libs
Blanket -->  bird libs
New -->  addis (new clothes, mommy, etc…)

Potty, pee --> shent 
Poop -->  kah kah
Brush teeth -->  broosh

Juice  -->  chee mah key
Milk  -->  wha tet
Water  -->  whu ha

Delicious (it is good) -->  yee tahf tahl
Do you want …? -->  tih fuh lih GAHL ekh (boy), tih fuh lih GAHL esh (girl)
Bottle (even for water) -->  TOO toh
A bad guy is  -->  lay-bah

I have begun reading The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family in preparation for our adoption education classes with LSS. It is slow reading for me since I have a house to clean, three other children to watch and a room to finish painting but I think I will get a lot out of it. As another blogger said, "It seems to be a combination of "Attachment 101" and basic good parenting skills." One critique I have, is that it tends to repeat itself quite a bit (and I am only just starting chapter 3). However, I'm not sure if that will be bad thing in the end...sometimes I need to hear things twenty times before it sinks in.

Our classes are on September 16, 23 & 24. We have yet to find a babysitter for any of those days. It has been frustrating that there are not alternate times available since Wednesdays are so hard with confirmation and church plus it is an all day class and all our sitters will be at work or back in school.