First words in Tigre and Tigrinya

Tigrinya (ትግርኛ) is the most widely spoken language in Eritrea and is written in the Ge'ez script, where each character stands for a syllable. You do not need to read it to start: the phrases below are given in the script, in Latin letters, and in English.

One thing to know first: Tigrinya changes many words depending on whether you speak to a man, a woman or several people. Where it matters, all three are given.

Greetings

Tigrinya	Say it	Meaning
ሰላም	selam	Hello (literally "peace")
ከመይ ኣለኻ?	kemey aleka?	How are you? (to a man)
ከመይ ኣለኺ?	kemey aleki?	How are you? (to a woman)
ከመይ ኣለኹም?	kemey alekum?	How are you? (to several people)
ደሓን እየ	dehan eye	I am fine
ከመይ ሓዲርካ?	kemey hadirka?	Good morning (to a man)
ከመይ ሓዲርኪ?	kemey hadirki?	Good morning (to a woman)

Everyday words

Tigrinya	Say it	Meaning
የቐንየለይ	yekenyeley	Thank you
በጃኻ / በጃኺ	bejaka / bejaki	Please (to a man / to a woman)
እወ	ewe	Yes
ኣይኮነን	aykonen	No, it is not
ጽቡቕ	tsbuq	Good

Meeting someone

Tigrinya	Say it	Meaning
ስምካ መን እዩ?	smka men eyu?	What is your name? (to a man)
ስምኪ መን እዩ?	smki men eyu?	What is your name? (to a woman)
ስመይ ... እዩ	smey ... eyu	My name is ...
እንቋዕ ብደሓን መጻእካ	enqua'e bdehan metsaka	Welcome (to a man)

Saying goodbye

Tigrinya	Say it	Meaning
ደሓን ኩን	dehan kun	Goodbye (to a man)
ደሓን ኩኒ	dehan kuni	Goodbye (to a woman)
ደሓን ኩኑ	dehan kunu	Goodbye (to several people)

The same script, another language

The Ge'ez script is not Tigrinya's alone. Tigre (ትግረ), another Eritrean language, is written with the same letters, so a reader of one recognises the shape of the other even where the words differ. Many Tigre speakers also write their language in the Arabic script.

Keep going

The quickest way to learn is to use these with people who speak the language - most will be delighted you tried. Children growing up abroad often learn fastest at community Tigrinya classes, which many churches, mosques and associations run at weekends.