Internet & WiFi

1. ዋይፋይ አለ?

   wayfay ale?

   Is there WiFi?

   Usage

   Asking if WiFi is available at a café or hotel

   Grammar Note

   Internet in Ethiopia is improving in Addis Ababa but limited in rural areas. Ethio Telecom (state-owned) is the main provider.

2. የዋይፋይ የምስጢር ቁጥር ምን ነው?

   ye-wayfay ye-mistir qutur min new?

   What is the WiFi password?

   Usage

   Asking for the WiFi password

   Grammar Note

   "የምስጢር ቁጥር" (secret number) is the native Amharic term for password. The English loanword "ፓስወርድ" (password) is also common.

3. ስልኬን የምሞላበት ቦታ አለ?

   silkenin yemmolabet bota ale?

   Is there a place to charge my phone?

   Usage

   Looking for a charging station or power outlet for your phone

   Grammar Note

   "የምሞላበት" is a relative form of "ሞላ" (to fill/charge) that modifies "ቦታ" (place): "a place where I charge".

4. ሲም ካርድ ከየት መግዛት እችላለሁ?

   sim kard keyet megzat ichalalehu?

   Where can I buy a SIM card?

   Usage

   Asking where to buy a local SIM card for data access

   Grammar Note

   SIM cards in Ethiopia are sold by Ethio Telecom or Safaricom Ethiopia (entered 2022). A passport is required for purchase.

5. ኢንተርኔቱ ዝግ ነው

   intarnetu zig new

   The internet is blocked/shut down

   Usage

   Describing an internet shutdown — Ethiopia has experienced government-ordered blackouts

   Grammar Note

   Ethiopia has experienced government-ordered internet shutdowns during protests or exams. VPNs can sometimes provide access.

6. ኢሜይል መላክ እችላለሁ?

   imeyl melak ichalalehu?

   Can I send an email?

   Usage

   Asking whether you can send an email using the available connection

   Grammar Note

   "እችላለሁ" is the first-person singular of "ቻለ" (to be able); placed after an infinitive ("መላክ" = to send) it asks "can I ...?".

7. ስልክ ቁጥርህን ስጠኝ

   silk qutirhin sitegn

   Give me your phone number

   Usage

   Casually asking someone for their phone number

   Grammar Note

   "ስጠኝ" combines the informal imperative of "ሰጠ" (give) with the object marker "ኝ" (me). Polite form: "ስጡኝ".

8. ባትሪው አልቋል

   batriw alqwal

   The battery is dead

   Usage

   Telling someone your device battery has run out

   Grammar Note

   "አልቋል" is the third-person perfect of "አለቀ" (to run out). A dead battery is "ባትሪ አለቀ/አልቋል"; "ሃይል" (power, strength) is not used.

9. ፎቶ ኦንላይን ልልካ?

   foto online lilikka?

   Can I send photos online?

   Usage

   Asking if the connection is fast enough to upload or send photos online

   Grammar Note

   Amharic yes/no questions are formed through verb ending changes combined with rising intonation.

10. ኢንተርኔት ካፌ ምን ያህል ያስከፍላል?

    internet kafe min yahil yaskefillal?

    How much does the internet café charge?

    Usage

    Asking about the price at an internet café

    Grammar Note

    "ያስከፍላል" uses the causative "ያስ-" + "ከፈለ" (to pay), meaning "causes to pay = charges".

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