How to Introduce Yourself in Amharic
By: Chimdindu Ken-Anaukwu
So you’ve downloaded NKENNE and learned to say “Selam!” (ሰላም — Hello). Nice.
But what happens when an Amharic speaker actually responds and you freeze like Wi-Fi on a bad day? 😅
Relax. We’ve all been there.
Introducing yourself in Amharic isn’t rocket science; it’s actually fun, musical, and full of warmth. In Ethiopia, conversations are not just exchanges of words; they’re connections of hearts. People take time to greet, smile, and ask how your entire extended family is doing (even if they’ve never met them).
Let’s walk you through how to introduce yourself the Amharic way: smoothly, politely, and maybe even charmingly.
1. Amharic Greetings: The Perfect Icebreaker
In Amharic culture, greetings are everything. You don’t just jump into a conversation—you ease in with respect and warmth.
Here are a few must-know greetings:
| English | Amharic (Fidel) | Transliteration | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | ሰላም | Selam | Any time of day |
| Good morning | እንደምን አደርክ (m) / እንደምን አደርሽ (f) | Endemin aderke / Endemin adersh | Morning |
| Good afternoon | እንደምን አመሸህ (m) / እንደምን አመሽሽ (f) | Endemin amesheh / Endemin ameshesh | Afternoon |
| How are you? | እንደምን አለህ (m) / እንደምን አለሽ (f) | Endemin alleh / Endemin allesh | Informal |
| I’m fine | ደህና ነኝ | Dehna negn | Common reply |
🪄 Pro tip: If you want to sound extra friendly, add “Dehna wal?” (Are you well?) at the end of your greeting. It’s like the Amharic version of “How’s life treating you?”
2. Saying Your Name in Amharic
After greeting, it’s time to tell them who you are.
In Amharic, you say:
“Simee [your name] new.” (ስሜ [name] ነው)
— My name is [name].
✅ Example:
ስሜ ማይክኤል ነው — Simee Michael new — My name is Michael.
If you’re introducing someone else:
“Simew [name] new.” (ስሙ [name] ነው) — His name is [name].
“Simewa [name] new.” (ስሟ [name] ነው) — Her name is [name].
😄 Pro tip: Ethiopians often ask not just for your first name but sometimes your father’s name too—so don’t be surprised if they ask follow-up questions.
3. Talking About Where You’re From
Once you share your name, someone will likely ask where you’re from.
“Ke yet new?” (ከየት ነው?) — Where are you from?
To answer:
“Ke [country] new.” (ከ[country] ነው) — I am from [country].
✅ Example:
ከናይጀሪያ ነው — Ke Nigeria new — I am from Nigeria.
ከአሜሪካ ነው — Ke Amerika new — I am from America.
4. Sharing What You Do
Now that you’re friends, you can talk about your job, studies, or interests.
“I’m a student” → ተማሪ ነኝ (Temari negn)
“I’m a teacher” → አስተማሪ ነኝ (Astemari negn)
“I work in tech” → በቴክኖሎጂ እሰራለሁ (Be technology eseralehu)
💡 NKENNE Tip:
Even if you mispronounce a word, just smile! Amharic speakers love it when foreigners try. You’ll earn instant respect (and maybe free coffee).
5. Expressing Politeness and Gratitude
No introduction is complete without manners. Here are a few you’ll use often:
| English | Amharic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | አመሰግናለሁ | Amesegenallo |
| Nice to meet you | ደስ ብሎኛል | Des bilognal |
| Please | እባክህ (m) / እባክሽ (f) | Ebakih / Ebakish |
| You’re welcome | እንኳን ደህና መጣህ | Enkwan dehna metah |
6. Example Dialogues You Can Copy and Practice
👩🏽 Aster: Selam! Endemin adersh?
👨🏾 Michael: Dehna negn, amesegenallo. Simee Michael new.
👩🏽 Aster: Ke yet new?
👨🏾 Michael: Ke Nigeria new.
👩🏽 Aster: Des bilognal!
👨🏾 Michael: Amesegenallo!
Translation:
Aster: Hello! How are you this morning?
Michael: I’m fine, thank you. My name is Michael.
Aster: Where are you from?
Michael: I’m from Nigeria.
Aster: Nice to meet you!
Michael: Thank you!
Simple, polite, and charming!
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mixing up “new” (ነው — is) with “nen” (ነን — are).
Say: “Simee John new,” not “Simee John nen.”
❌ Forgetting gender differences in greetings.
To a man: Endemin aderk
To a woman: Endemin adersh❌ Translating directly from English.
In Amharic, you don’t say “I am Michael.” You say “My name is Michael.”
And remember — if you make a mistake, just laugh! Amharic people appreciate effort over perfection.
8. FAQs
1. How do you say “What’s your name?” in Amharic?
“Simeh man new?” (ስምህ ማን ነው?) — to a man.
“Simesh man new?” (ስምሽ ማን ነው?) — to a woman.
2. How do you say “Nice to meet you”?
“Des bilognal.” (ደስ ብሎኛል)
3. What’s a polite way to greet elders?
Start with “Selam” and add “Endemin neh?” (m) or “Endemin nesh?” (f). A respectful tone goes a long way.
4. Can I just say “Selam” for any time of day?
Yes! It’s safe, universal, and always appreciated.
5. How can I practice introductions?
Download the NKENNE app, practice speaking with TRiiBE members, and try greeting someone new daily. Even your mirror counts!
Final Thoughts
Introducing yourself in Amharic is more than sharing your name, it’s about building connection and warmth. Ethiopians value sincerity and friendliness, so don’t just say the words, mean them with your smile.
Learning Amharic with NKENNE makes it even easier. You’ll not only memorize phrases but understand when, how, and why to use them.
So next time someone says “Selam!”, don’t freeze; smile and say, “Simee [your name] new!” 🫶🏾