Animals

1. ውሻ

   wisha

   Dog

   Usage

   Street dogs roam at night — a bite needs rabies treatment

2. ድመት

   dimet

   Cat

   Usage

   Common around cafes and homes

3. ወፍ

   wef

   Bird

   Usage

   Ethiopia is a birding destination — useful with a guide

4. ዓሣ

   asa

   Fish

   Usage

   Also used for the fish dishes of Lake Tana and Lake Hawassa

5. ፈረስ

   feres

   Horse

   Usage

   Still ridden and used for hauling in rural areas

6. አህያ

   ahiya

   Donkey

   Usage

   The most common working animal in Ethiopia — watch for herds on the road

7. በቅሎ

   bekilo

   Mule

   Usage

   Used to carry loads on mountain paths around Lalibela

8. ላም

   lam

   Cow

   Usage

   Also used when talking about milk and dairy

9. በሬ

   bere

   Ox

   Usage

   Still used to pull ploughs — a standard sight in the countryside

10. በግ

    beg

    Sheep

    Usage

    Central to festival meals — common in markets

11. ፍየል

    fiyel

    Goat

    Usage

    Kept in both highlands and lowlands, and eaten as meat

12. ዶሮ

    doro

    Chicken

    Usage

    The "doro" in doro wat, the national dish

13. ግመል

    gimel

    Camel

    Usage

    Common in the Afar and Somali lowlands

14. ጅብ

    jib

    Hyena

    Usage

    Famous for the hyena feeding in Harar — they come to town edges at night

15. ዝንጀሮ

    zinjero

    Monkey

    Usage

    Do not approach with food — they will take your bag

16. ጭላዳ

    chilada

    Gelada

    Usage

    Endemic to Ethiopia — herds are seen in the Simien Mountains

17. አንበሳ

    anbesa

    Lion

    Usage

    A national symbol — even the city bus company is named after it

18. ነብር

    nebir

    Leopard

    Usage

    For talking with guides in national parks

19. ጉማሬ

    gumare

    Hippo

    Usage

    Seen on Lake Tana and Lake Hawassa — keep your boat back

20. አዞ

    azo

    Crocodile

    Usage

    In lakes and rivers — always ask locals before swimming

21. እባብ

    ibab

    Snake

    Usage

    Watch out in lowland grass — go straight to hospital if bitten

22. እንሽላሊት

    inshilalit

    Lizard

    Usage

    Common on rocks and walls, and harmless

23. ኤሊ

    eli

    Tortoise / turtle

    Usage

    One word for both tortoise and turtle

24. እንቁራሪት

    inkurarit

    Frog

    Usage

    Noisy at night in the rainy season

25. አይጥ

    ayt

    Rat / mouse

    Usage

    Grounds for asking to change rooms at a cheap guesthouse

26. ትንኝ

    tinign

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Carries malaria in the lowlands — rare above 2,000 m

27. ዝንብ

    zinb

    Fly

    Usage

    Useful when asking for a cover over food

28. ጉንዳን

    gundan

    Ant

    Usage

    Do not leave food out in your room

29. ንብ

    nib

    Bee

    Usage

    Ethiopia is a land of honey and tej — beekeeping is widespread

30. በረሮ

    berero

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Show this when asking to change rooms

31. ሸረሪት

    shererit

    Spider

    Usage

    Mostly harmless, but they web up corners

32. ቁንጫ

    kuncha

    Flea

    Usage

    If you keep getting bitten, grounds for asking to change the bedding

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