Vocabulary & Culture
Lesson 1: Basic Greetings
Master how to correctly greet males and females in Tigrinya.
The Golden Rule of Greetings
In Tigrinya, the way you say "How are you?" changes depending on whether you are speaking to a male, a female, or a group of people. This is one of the most important foundations to master as a beginner!
| English Meaning | Tigrinya Script | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? (To a male) | α¨αα α£αα»α§ |
Kemey alokha?
|
| How are you? (To a female) | α¨αα α£ααΊα§ |
Kemey alokhi?
|
| Very well, thank you. | α°ααα£ α¨ααα¨αα |
Senay, yeqenyeley.
|
See it in a Conversation
Here is what a standard greeting exchange looks like when passing a male friend on the street in Asmara:
α¨αα α£αα»α§
How are you?
kemey alokha?
α°ααα£ α¨ααα¨αα
Very well, thank you.
senay, yeqenyeley