Bishaan
Water
Usage
Used to ask for drinking water, as in Bishaan naa kenni. (give me water).
Grammar Note
bishaan = water; an uncountable noun with no plural.
Nyaata
Food
Usage
A general word for food, as in Nyaata nan barbaada. (I want food).
Grammar Note
nyaata = food; from the same root as the verb nyaachuu (to eat).
Maallaqa
Money
Usage
A general word for money; the unit of currency, the birr, is birrii.
Grammar Note
maallaqa = money; it ends in a short -a.
Qarshii
Money / cash
Usage
Used for cash and small money; more concrete than maallaqa.
Grammar Note
qarshii = money, cash; prices are said as number + qarshii.
Birrii
Birr (Ethiopian currency)
Usage
The Ethiopian unit of currency: Birrii kudhan = ten birr.
Grammar Note
birrii = birr; some sources also give "silver", but with amounts it is the currency.
Mana fincaanii
Toilet
Usage
A word that also appears on signs in public places.
Grammar Note
mana = house / building, fincaanii = urinating; literally "house of urinating".
Qoricha
Medicine
Usage
A general word for medicine; a pharmacy is dukkaana qorichaa.
Grammar Note
qoricha = medicine; qorichaa is the "of medicine" form used in dukkaana qorichaa (pharmacy).
Dukkaana qorichaa
Pharmacy
Usage
A shop for buying medicine; dukkaana means shop in general.
Grammar Note
dukkaana = shop, qorichaa = of medicine; two nouns in a row make "shop of ...".
Korojoo
Luggage / bag
Usage
Covers bags and luggage: korojoo harkaa is a suitcase, korojoo dugdaa a backpack.
Grammar Note
korojoo = bag / luggage; add harkaa (of the hand) or dugdaa (of the back) to name the type.
Furtuu
Key
Usage
For a room key and the like; furtuu kutaa is a room key.
Grammar Note
furtuu = key.
Tikeetii
Ticket
Usage
A ticket for transport or entry; a loanword whose spelling also varies as tikeeta. Tikeetii (ticket) is confirmed only in one travel phrasebook, which also writes it tikeeta in its sample sentences. A native check is advisable.
Grammar Note
tikeetii = ticket (from English).
Paaspoortii
Passport
Usage
Asked for at borders and when checking in. This word is confirmed in only one travel phrasebook; a native check is advisable.
Grammar Note
paaspoortii = passport (from English).
Bilbila
Telephone
Usage
Bilbila harkaa is a mobile phone; "to phone" is bilbiluu.
Grammar Note
bilbila = telephone (originally also "bell").
Buufata
Station / terminal
Usage
Used with a type after it, as in buufata atoobisii (bus station).
Grammar Note
buufata = a place where vehicles stop; usually followed by a type word.
Buufata xiyyaaraa
Airport
Usage
The standard term, also used in the news.
Grammar Note
buufata = station, xiyyaaraa = of the airplane; literally "airplane station".
Buufata baaburaa
Train station
Usage
A railway station; baabura means train.
Grammar Note
buufata = station, baaburaa = of the train.
Dhaabata atoobisii
Bus stop
Usage
The place to wait for a bus. This word is confirmed in only one travel phrasebook; a native check is advisable.
Grammar Note
dhaabata = stopping place, atoobisii = bus.
Hospitaala
Hospital
Usage
A loanword that also appears often in the news.
Grammar Note
hospitaala = hospital (from English); it ends in a long -aa.
Poolisii
Police
Usage
Used when asking for help after an accident or a theft.
Grammar Note
poolisii = police (from English).
Hoteela
Hotel
Usage
For naming the place you are staying.
Grammar Note
hoteela = hotel (from English).
Kutaa
Room
Usage
A hotel room; kutaa also means a part or a class.
Grammar Note
kutaa = room, part or class; the context decides.
Daandii
Road
Usage
Means a road or a path.
Grammar Note
daandii = road; adjectives follow, as in daandii dheeraa (a long road).
Gabaa
Market
Usage
Gabaa dhaquu means to go to the market.
Grammar Note
gabaa = market.
Baankii
Bank
Usage
A place to change or withdraw money.
Grammar Note
baankii = bank (from English).
Maatii
Family
Usage
The whole family.
Grammar Note
maatii = family; frequent in the news.
Maqaa
Name
Usage
Maqaa koo (my name), maqaa kee (your name).
Grammar Note
maqaa = name; as a subject it becomes maqaan.
Mataa
Head
Usage
A body part, useful for saying where it hurts.
Grammar Note
mataa = head.
Ija
Eye
Usage
A body part.
Grammar Note
ija = eye.
Ilkaan
Tooth
Usage
For tooth pain and the like; the same form also serves as the plural.
Grammar Note
ilkaan = tooth or teeth.
Qoonqoo
Throat
Usage
For describing a sore throat.
Grammar Note
qoonqoo = throat.
Garaa
Belly / stomach
Usage
For stomach trouble; garaa can also mean heart or inner feeling.
Grammar Note
garaa = belly, heart.
Dugda
Back
Usage
For back pain.
Grammar Note
dugda = back.
Mudhii
Waist / lower back
Usage
For lower back or waist pain.
Grammar Note
mudhii = waist.
Miila
Leg / foot
Usage
For leg or foot pain; it does not separate leg from foot.
Grammar Note
miila = foot, leg.
Harka
Hand
Usage
A body part; it also covers the arm.
Grammar Note
harka = hand.
Laphee
Chest
Usage
For chest pain.
Grammar Note
laphee = chest; also used for the heart.
More Oromo phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
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- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
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- Money & Exchange
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- Nature & Outdoors
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- Culture & Etiquette
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- Indulgences