Question Words

1. ምን?

   min?

   What?

   Usage

   A one-word request for clarification when you did not catch something

2. የት?

   yet?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a location. Point at a map or photo while you say it

3. መቼ?

   meche?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks for a time or date — useful for departure times

4. ማን?

   man?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who someone is or who is in charge

5. ለምን?

   lemin?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason. It can sound blunt, so soften it with a smile

6. እንዴት?

   endet?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks how to do something — ticket machines, for instance

7. ስንት?

   sint?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a count of items or people

8. ስንት ነው?

   sint new?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The standard price question. In markets ask them to show the number on a calculator

9. የትኛው?

   yetignaw?

   Which one?

   Usage

   For choosing between options — use it while pointing

10. ይህ ምንድን ነው?

    yih mindin new?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at a dish or product to ask what it is

11. መጸዳጃ ቤት የት ነው?

    metsedaja bet yet new?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used questions of any trip. Works in shops, stations and hotels

12. ሰዓቱ ስንት ነው?

    se'atu sint new?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the current time — useful when your phone is dead

13. አለ?

    ale?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    A short way to ask about stock or availability while pointing at something

14. ይቻላል?

    yichalal?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is possible — card payment, changing money and so on

15. ክፍያ አለው?

    kifiya alew?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Checks for an extra fee — luggage storage, Wi-Fi and the like

16. ነጻ ነው?

    netsa new?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirms something is free of charge — water or refills, for example

17. ይቻላል?

    yichalal?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Used to ask for permission; pair it with pointing

18. አይቻልም?

    ayichalim?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Used to double-check after being refused

19. ደህና ነህ?

    dehna neh?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Used to check on someone's wellbeing, unlike "yichalal?" which asks permission. Masculine form; for a woman: "dehna nesh?"

20. እውነት ነው?

    ewnet new?

    Really?

    Usage

    Used to confirm something surprising

21. እርግጠኛ ነህ?

    ergitegna neh?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Reconfirms a fact; more formal than "ewnet new?". Masculine form; for a woman: "ergitegna nesh?"

22. ከየት ነህ?

    keyet neh?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A good conversation opener. Masculine form; for a woman: "keyet nesh?"

23. ስምህ ማን ነው?

    simh man new?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A good conversation opener. Masculine form; for a woman: "simish man new?"

24. ስንት ዓመትዎ ነው?

    sint ametwo new?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking someone's age, especially a woman's or a stranger's, can be considered impolite. Best reserved for once you know someone or as a mark of respect toward elders. Uses the gender-neutral polite possessive suffix -ዎ (as in "ፓስፖርትዎን") instead of assuming the addressee's gender

25. አብረን ፎቶ መነሳት እንችላለን?

    abren foto menesat inchilalen?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Used to ask for permission

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