Traveling with Kids

1. ልጆቼ ይህን ምግብ ይወዱታል?

   lijoche yihin migib yiwedutal?

   Will my children like this food?

   Usage

   Asking whether food is suitable for children at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "ልጅ" (child) pluralizes to "ልጆች". Adding the possessive "ቼ" (my) gives "ልጆቼ" (my children).

2. ልጆች ሊጫወቱ ቦታ አለ?

   lijoch lijawetu bota ale?

   Is there a place for children to play?

   Usage

   Looking for a playground or safe area for children while traveling

   Grammar Note

   "ሊ-" is the purposive infinitive prefix (in order to). "ሊጫወቱ" means "in order to play" (plural subject).

3. ልጆቼ ደክሟቸዋል

   lijoche dekimwachewal

   My children are tired

   Usage

   Telling someone the children are tired and need to rest

   Grammar Note

   Amharic verbs encode subject person, number, and gender. "-ቸዋል" is the third-person plural perfect suffix.

4. ዳይፐር ከየት እገዛለሁ?

   dayper keyyet igeazalehu?

   Where can I buy diapers?

   Usage

   Finding baby supplies like diapers while traveling in Ethiopia

   Grammar Note

   "ዳይፐር" is borrowed from English "diaper". Baby supplies are available at supermarkets in Addis Ababa's shopping malls.

5. ልጄ ጠፍቷል

   lije tefiwal

   My child is lost

   Usage

   Emergency phrase when a child is missing or lost

   Grammar Note

   "ጠፍቷል" is the third-person masculine perfect of "ጠፋ" (to disappear). This form is commonly used regardless of the child's gender.

6. ይህ ለልጆቼ ተስማሚ ነው?

   yih lelijoche tesimami new?

   Can this be suitable for my children?

   Usage

   Asking whether food or an activity is appropriate for children

   Grammar Note

   "ለ-" means "for / to". "ተስማሚ ነው" is the predicate "is suitable".

7. ለሕፃን ወንበር አለ?

   le-hizan wenber ale?

   Is there a baby chair?

   Usage

   Requesting a highchair for a baby at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "ለ-" is the dative/benefactive prefix (for/to). "ለሕፃን" means "for the baby".

8. ልጆቼ ቀደም ብለው ይተኛሉ

   lijoche kedem bilew yitenyalu

   My children have early bedtimes

   Usage

   Explaining that children have early bedtimes and the group needs to head back

   Grammar Note

   "ቀደም ብለው" is an adverbial phrase meaning "early", agreeing in plural with the subject "ልጆቼ" (my children). "ይተኛሉ" is the 3rd person plural of "to sleep".

9. ልጆቼ ልዩ ምግብ ይፈልጋሉ

   lijoche liyu migib yifelgalu

   My children need special food

   Usage

   Requesting special food for children with allergies or dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   "ልዩ" (special) is an Amharic adjective that precedes the noun it modifies — adjectives come before nouns in Amharic.

10. ለልጆቼ ሐኪም ያስፈልጋል

    lelijoce hakim yasfileginal

    I need a doctor for my children

    Usage

    Urgently requesting a doctor for a sick child while traveling

    Grammar Note

    "ያስፈልጋል" is the impersonal "it is necessary". Combined with dative markers, it specifies who needs something.

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