Basic Nouns

1. ውሃ

   wiha

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. ምግብ

   migib

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. ገንዘብ

   genzeb

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. መጸዳጃ ቤት

   metsedaja bet

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. ሶፍት

   soft

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. መድኃኒት

   medhanit

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom

7. ሻንጣ

   shanta

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. ቁልፍ

   qulf

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. ቲኬት

   tiket

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. ፓስፖርት

    pasport

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. ስልክ

    silk

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. ቻርጀር

    charjer

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. ጣቢያ

    tabiya

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. ሆስፒታል

    hospital

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. ፖሊስ

    polis

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. ሱቅ

    suq

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. ክፍል

    kifil

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. መንገድ

    menged

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. ቤተሰብ

    beteseb

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. ስም

    sim

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. ራስ

    ras

    Head

    Usage

    For pointing out where it hurts

22. ዓይን

    ayin

    Eye

    Usage

    For pointing out where it hurts

23. ጥርስ

    tirs

    Tooth

    Usage

    For a visit to the dentist

24. ጉሮሮ

    gororo

    Throat

    Usage

    For pointing out where it hurts

25. ሆድ

    hod

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    For reporting a stomach ache

26. ጀርባ

    jerba

    Back

    Usage

    For pointing out where it hurts

27. ወገብ

    wegeb

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    The area below the back proper

28. እግር

    igir

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot — point at yourself to narrow it down

29. እጅ

    ij

    Hand

    Usage

    Can extend to the arm, so point to be precise

30. ደረት

    deret

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest as in the ribcage, for reporting chest pain

31. ሆቴል

    hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    For showing a taxi driver where you are going

32. አውሮፕላን ማረፊያ

    awroplan marefiya

    Airport

    Usage

    For showing a taxi driver where you are going

33. የአውቶቡስ ማቆሚያ

    ye'awtobus makomiya

    Bus stop

    Usage

    For asking where one is

34. ቀላል ባቡር

    kelal babur

    Light rail (Addis Ababa LRT)

    Usage

    Ethiopia has no subway; the Addis Ababa LRT is the nearest thing

35. ኤምባሲ

    embasi

    Embassy

    Usage

    The destination to show if you lose your passport

36. ኤቲኤም

    etiem

    ATM

    Usage

    Pronounced like the English letters ATM

37. የገንዘብ መመንዘሪያ

    yegenzeb memenzeriya

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    The exchange counter at a bank or airport

38. ቆንስላ

    qonsla

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go for passport or visa matters in a city with no embassy ("embasi")

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