Transportation

1. Buufata atoobisii eessa jira?

   Where is the bus station?

   Usage

   Asking where to catch a bus.

   Grammar Note

   buufata atoobisii = bus station, eessa jira = where is it.

2. Buufata baabura eessa jira?

   Where is the train station?

   Usage

   Asking where to catch a train.

   Grammar Note

   baabura = train.

3. Buufata xiyyaaraa eessa jira?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Asking how to get to the airport.

   Grammar Note

   xiyyaaraa = of the airplane; buufata xiyyaaraa = airport.

4. Gara buufata xiyyaaraa deemuuf gatiin meeqa?

   How much to the airport?

   Usage

   Checking the fare before getting into a taxi or similar.

   Grammar Note

   gara = towards, deemuuf = for going, gatiin = the price, meeqa = how much. This sentence is composed from verified words with regular grammar; it is not copied from a source sentence. A native check is advisable.

5. Gara giddugala magaalaa deemuuf gatiin meeqa?

   How much to the city centre?

   Usage

   Checking the fare into town.

   Grammar Note

   giddugala = centre, magaalaa = town, city. This sentence is composed from verified words with regular grammar; it is not copied from a source sentence. A native check is advisable.

6. Gara Finfinneetti baabura jiraa?

   Is there a train to Addis Ababa?

   Usage

   Finfinnee is the Oromo name of Addis Ababa.

   Grammar Note

   Finfinneetti = to Addis Ababa (-tti = to, at), jiraa = is there.

7. Gara Finfinneetti atoobisiin jiraa?

   Is there a bus to Addis Ababa?

   Usage

   Asking whether a long-distance bus runs.

   Grammar Note

   atoobisiin = the bus (subject form).

8. Imalli kun yeroo hammam fudhata?

   How long does it take?

   Usage

   Asking how long a trip takes.

   Grammar Note

   imala = journey, yeroo hammam = how much time, fudhata = takes. This sentence is composed from verified words with regular grammar; it is not copied from a source sentence. A native check is advisable.

9. Tikeetii tokko naaf kenni.

   One ticket, please.

   Usage

   For buying a ticket at the counter. 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, tokko = one, naaf kenni = give me. This sentence is composed from verified words with regular grammar; it is not copied from a source sentence. A native check is advisable.

10. Tikeetii lama naaf kenni.

    Two tickets, please.

    Usage

    For buying tickets for two. 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

    lama = two; the number follows the noun. This sentence is composed from verified words with regular grammar; it is not copied from a source sentence. A native check is advisable.

11. Atoobisiin kun gara Finfinneetti deemaa?

    Does this bus go to Addis Ababa?

    Usage

    Confirming the destination before boarding.

    Grammar Note

    kun = this, deemaa = does it go (question form).

12. Maaloo, asitti dhaabi.

    Stop here, please.

    Usage

    Asking a driver to stop where you want to get off.

    Grammar Note

    asitti = here, dhaabi = stop (sg. imperative).

13. Asitti na eegi.

    Wait for me here.

    Usage

    Asking a driver to wait for a while.

    Grammar Note

    na = me, eegi = wait (sg. imperative).

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