Money & Exchange

1. ዋጋው ምን ያህል ነው?

   wagaw min yahil new?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Asking the price of something at a market or shop

   Grammar Note

   "ዋጋ" (price) + definite "-ው" = "ዋጋው" (the price). Amharic attaches the definite article as a suffix to nouns.

2. በካርድ መክፈል ይቻላል?

   be-kard mekefil yichilal?

   Can I pay by card?

   Usage

   Asking whether card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "ይቻላል" is impersonal "it is possible". Amharic yes/no questions use rising intonation rather than a separate question particle.

3. ብር ወደ ዶላር ይለውጡልኝ

   bir wede dolar yilewtulign

   Please exchange birr for dollars

   Usage

   Exchanging Ethiopian birr for foreign currency at a money changer

   Grammar Note

   "ብር" (birr) means "silver" in Amharic. It is Ethiopia's official currency; 1 birr = 100 santim.

4. ቅርብ ቦታ ኤቲኤም አለ?

   qirb bota etiem ale?

   Is there a nearby ATM?

   Usage

   Finding an ATM to withdraw cash

   Grammar Note

   ATMs from CBE, Dashen, and Awash banks are common in Addis Ababa. Not all ATMs accept foreign cards — check before use.

5. ደረሰኝ ይስጡኝ

   deresegn yisitugn

   Please give me a receipt

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt after making a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "ይስጡኝ" is the polite imperative "ይስጡ" of "ሰጠ" (give) plus the object marker "ኝ" (me). It is not the past tense "ሰጡኝ" (they gave me).

6. ዋጋ ቀንሱ

   waga qensu

   Please reduce the price

   Usage

   Bargaining for a lower price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   Bargaining is common in Ethiopian markets like Merkato. Initial prices are typically negotiable — polite haggling is expected.

7. ቅናሽ አለ?

   qinas ale?

   Is there a discount?

   Usage

   Asking if a discount or special price is available

   Grammar Note

   "ቅናሽ" (discount) derives from "ቀነሰ" (to reduce). "አለ / የለም" (there is / there isn't) are the basic existential expressions.

8. ምን ያህል ቀሪ ገንዘብ አለ?

   min yahil qeri genzeb ale?

   How much change is there?

   Usage

   Confirming the amount of change after payment

   Grammar Note

   "ቀሪ" (remaining) is derived from "ቀረ" (to remain). "ቀሪ ገንዘብ" = "remaining money = change".

9. ብዙ አስከፈሉኝ

   bizu askefelugn

   Too much was charged

   Usage

   Disputing an overcharge or incorrect amount charged

   Grammar Note

   "አስከፈሉኝ" is the third-person plural perfect of the causative "አስከፈለ" (to make pay = to charge), from "ከፈለ" (pay), plus "ኝ" (me): "they charged me too much".

10. ነፃ ነው ወይስ ዋጋ አለው?

    nesa new wayis waga alew?

    Is it free or does it cost money?

    Usage

    Asking whether an attraction or service is free or paid

    Grammar Note

    "ወይስ" is the conjunctive "or" in alternative (A or B) questions. It is the more formal/written form of "ወይ" (or).

11. ማስያዣ ገንዘብ

    Masyaja genzeb

    Deposit

    Usage

    A refundable deposit paid when checking into a hotel or renting equipment.

12. ገንዘብ መመለስ

    Genzeb memeles

    Refund

    Usage

    Use when asking to get money back.

13. በቅድሚያ ክፍያ

    Beqidmiya kifiya

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Use when referring to payment made in advance.

14. ተጨማሪ ክፍያ

    Techemari kifiya

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Use when referring to an additional fee charged afterward.

15. የአገልግሎት ክፍያ

    Ye'agelgilot kifiya

    Service fee

    Usage

    Use when referring to a fee charged for a procedure or service.

16. ጥሬ ገንዘብ

    tire genzeb

    Cash

    Usage

    States how you will pay; outside the cities cash is often the only option

17. ካርድ

    kard

    Card

    Usage

    For asking whether card payment is possible

18. ተካፍለን እንክፈል

    tekaflen inkifel

    Let us split the bill

    Usage

    For splitting the bill between you

19. ሂሳቡን አንድ ላይ

    hisabun and lay

    Put it all on one bill

    Usage

    For combining several people or orders into one bill

20. በጣም ውድ ነው

    betam wid new

    That is too expensive

    Usage

    The opening move in a price negotiation

21. ቀሪ ገንዘብ

    keri genzeb

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    Melis is the colloquial word but also means reply, so this phrasing is safer

Browse all TravelPhrases languages