Oromo phrasebook

Oromo is a language spoken in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs

; OPEN : ; CLOSED : ; ENTRANCE : ; EXIT : ; PUSH : ; PULL : ; TOILET : ; MEN : ; WOMEN : ; FORBIDDEN :

; Hello. : Akkam. () ; Hello. (informal) : . () ; How are you? : akkam jirta? () ; Fine, thank you. : nagaa,galatoomaa. () ; What is your name? : maqaan kee eenyu? () ; My name is koo . : maqaa_ . (_ dha_ .) ; Nice to meet you. : walbaruu keenyatti gammadeera. () ; Please. : maaloo () ; Thank you. : galatoomaa () ; You're welcome. : homaa miti () ; Yes. : Eeyyee () ; No. : Lakki () ; Excuse me. (getting attention) : . () ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : dhiifama () ; I'm sorry. : Ani ..dha Dhiifama () ; Goodbye : nagaatti () ; Goodbye (informal) : . () ; I can't speak name of language [well]. : afaan oromoo dubbachuu hin danda'u [gaarii]. () ; Do you speak English? : Afaan Ingilizii ni dubbatta? () ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : asitti namni Afaan Oromoo dubbatu jiraa? () ; Help! :gargaaruu! () ; Look out! : ala ilaalaa! () ; Good morning. : akkam bulte. () ; Good evening. : akkam ooltan. () ; Good night. : halkan gaarii. () ; Good night (to sleep) : . () ; I don't understand. : naaf hin galu. (__) ; Where is the toilet? : ? (?_)

Problems

; Leave me alone. : . (na dhiisi .) ; Don't touch me! : ! (na hin tuqinaa !) ; I'll call the police. : . (Poolisii nan bilbila .) ; Police! : ! (poolisii!) ; Stop! Thief! : ! ! (dhaabuu ! hattuu!) ; I need your help. : . (gargaarsa keessan barbaada.) ; It's an emergency. : . (yeroo muddamaati .) ; I'm lost. : . (Ani badeera .) ; I lost my bag. : . (boorsaa koo dhabe .) ; I lost my wallet. : . (boorsaa koo dhabe .) ; I'm sick. : . (Dhukkubseen jira.) ; I've been injured. : . (ani miidhameera .) ; I need a doctor. : . (doktora na barbaachisa .) ; Can I use your phone? : ? (bilbila keessan fayyadamuu nan danda'aa ?)

Numbers

; 1 : (tokko) ; 2 : (lama) ; 3 : (sadii) ; 4 : (afur) ; 5 : (shan) ; 6 : (ja'a) ; 7 : (torba) ; 8 : (saddeet) ; 9 : (sagal) ; 10 : (kudhan) ; 11 : (kudha tokko) ; 12 : (kudha lama) ; 13 : (kudha sadii) ; 14 : () ; 15 : () ; 16 : () ; 17 : () ; 18 : () ; 19 : () ; 20 : () ; 21 : () ; 22 : () ; 23 : () ; 30 : () ; 40 : () ; 50 : () ; 60 : () ; 70 : () ; 80 : () ; 90 : () ; 100 : () ; 200 : () ; 300 : () ; 1,000 : (kuma tokko) ; 2,000 : (kuma lama) ; 1,000,000 : (miliyoona tokko) ; 1,000,000,000 : (biiliyoona tokko) ; 1,000,000,000,000 : (tiriiliyoona tokko) ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : (__) ; half : (walakkaa) ; less : (gad bu'aa) ; more : (caalaa)

Time

; now : (amma) ; later : (booda) ; before : (dura) ; morning : (ganama) ; afternoon : (dura) ; evening : (galgala) ; night : (halkan)

Clock time

; one o'clock AM : (sa'aatii tokko ganama) ; two o'clock AM : (sa'aatii lama ganama) ; noon : (waaree) ; one o'clock PM : (galgala sa'aatii tokkoo) ; two o'clock PM : (galgala sa'aatii lama) ; midnight : (halkan walakkaa)

Duration

; _____ minute(s) : (daqiiqaa) ; _____ hour(s) : (sa'a) ; _____ day(s) : (guyyaa) ; _____ week(s) : (torbee) ; _____ month(s) : (ji'a) ; _____ year(s) : (waggaa)

Days

; today : (har'a) ; yesterday : (kaleessa) ; tomorrow : (boor) ; this week : (torban kana keessa) ; last week : (torban darbe) ; next week : (torban dhufu)

; Sunday : (wiixata) ; Monday : (isniina) ; Tuesday : (kibxata) ; Wednesday : (roobii) ; Thursday : (kamisa) ; Friday : (jimaata) ; Saturday : (dilbata)

Months

; January : () ; February : () ; March : () ; April : () ; May : () ; June : () ; July : () ; August : () ; September : () ; October : () ; November : () ; December : ()

Writing time and date

Colors

; black : () ; white : () ; grey/gray : () ; red : () ; blue : () ; yellow : () ; green : () ; orange : () ; purple : () ; brown : ()

Transportation

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to _____? : (meeqa ticket to) ; One ticket to _____, please. : (tikkeettii tokko gara, maaloo.) ; Where does this train/bus go? : (baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa deema) ; Where is the train/bus to _____? : (baaburri/otoobisii eessa deema) ; Does this train/bus stop in ___? : (baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa seena) ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : () ; When will this train/bus arrive in ___? : ()

Directions

; How do I get to _____ ? : (akkamittan bira ga'a) ; ...the train station? : (buufata baaburaa?) ; ...the bus station? : (buufata konkolaataa?) ; ...the airport? : (buufata buufata xiyyaaraa?) ; ...downtown? : (magaalaa guddoo?) ; ...the youth hostel? : (hospitaala dargaggootaa?) ; ...the _____ hotel? : (-icha __hoteela?) ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : () ; Where are there a lot of... : () ; ...hotels? : (hospitaala) ; ...restaurants? : (mana nyaataa) ; ...bars? : (barruulee) ; ...sites to see? : (marsariitiiwwan ilaaluuf) ; Can you show me on the map? : (kaartaa irratti natti agarsiisuu dandeessu) ; street : (daandii) ; Turn left. : (gara bitaatti garagali) ; Turn right. : (gara mirgaatti garagali) ; left : (bitaa) ; right : (sirii) ; straight ahead : () ; towards the _____ : () ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : () ; Watch for the _. : () ; intersection : () ; north : (kabaa) ; south : (kibba) ; east : (baha) ; west : (dhihaatti) ; uphill : () ; downhill : ()

Taxi

; Taxi! : (taaksii) ; Take me to _____, please. : (gara na geessi,maaloo.) ; How much does it cost to get to ___? : () ; Take me there, please. : (achi na geessi,maaloo)

Lodging

; Do you have any rooms available? : (Kutaawwan jiran qabduu?) ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : (Kutaan tokko nama tokkoof/nama lamaaf meeqa?) ; Does the room come with... : (Kutaan sun waliin dhufaa?) ; ...bedsheets? : (siree siree?) ; ...a bathroom? : (mana fincaanii?) ; ...a telephone? : (bilbila tokko?) ; ...a TV? : (televijiinii tokko) ; May I see the room first? : () ; Do you have anything quieter? : () ; ...bigger? : () ; ...cleaner? : () ; ...cheaper? : () ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : () ; Can you suggest another hotel? : () ; Do you have a safe? : () ; ...lockers? : () ; Is breakfast/supper included? : (Ciree/irbaata ni dabalamaa?) ; What time is breakfast/supper? : (Ciree/irbaata sa'aatii meeqatti?) ; Please clean my room. : (Mee kutaa koo qulqulleessi.) ; Can you wake me at _? : () ; I want to check out. : ()

Money

; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : (Doolaara Ameerikaa/Awustiraaliyaa/Kaanaadaa ni fudhattuu?) ; Do you accept British pounds? : (Paawundii Biriteen ni fudhattuu?) ; Do you accept euros? : (Yuuroo ni fudhattuu?) ; Do you accept credit cards? : (Kaardii liqii ni fudhattaa?) ; Can you change money for me? : (Maallaqa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa?) ; Where can I get money changed? : (Maallaqa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a?) ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : (Cheekiin imaltootaa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa?) ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : (Cheekiin imaltootaa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a?) ; What is the exchange rate? : (Sadarkaan sharafa alaa maali?) ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : (Maashiniin kaffaltii ofumaan (ATM) eessa jira?)

Eating

; A table for one person/two people, please. : () ; Can I look at the menu, please? : () ; Can I look in the kitchen? : () ; Is there a house specialty? : () ; Is there a local specialty? : () ; I'm a vegetarian. : () ; I don't eat pork. : () ; I don't eat beef. : () ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : () ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. : () ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : () ; beef : () ; fish : () ; ham : () ; sausage : () ; cheese : () ; eggs : () ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : () ; (fresh) fruit : () ; bread : () ; toast : () ; noodles : () ; rice : () ; beans : () ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee : () ; tea (drink) : () ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water : () ; (still) water : () ; beer : () ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? : () ; salt : () ; black pepper : () ; butter : () ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. : () ; It was delicious. : () ; Please clear the plates. : () ; The check, please. : ()

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol? : () ; Is there table service? : () ; A beer/two beers, please. : () ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : () ; A pint, please. : () ; A bottle, please. : () ; _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : () ; whiskey : () ; vodka : () ; rum : () ; water : (bishaan) ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : (soodaa) ; Do you have any bar snacks? : () ; One more, please. : () ; Another round, please. : () ; When is closing time? : () ; Cheers! : ()

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size? : () ; How much is this? : () ; That's too expensive. : () ; Would you take _? : () ; expensive : (qaalii) ; cheap : (rakasa) ; I can't afford it. : () ; I don't want it. : () ; You're cheating me. : (Na gowwoomsaa jirta.) ; I'm not interested. : (..) ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... : () ; ...toothpaste. : (shaampoo ilkaanii) ; ...a toothbrush. : (buruushiin ilkaanii) ; ...tampons. : . (tampons jedhaman) ; ...soap. : (saamuunaa) ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : () ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : () ; ...English-language books. : () ; ...English-language magazines. : () ; ...an English-language newspaper. : () ; ...an English-English dictionary. : ()

Driving

; I want to rent a car. : () ; Can I get insurance? : () ; stop (on a street sign) : () ; one way : () ; yield : () ; no parking : () ; speed limit : (saffisa daangeessuu) ; gas (petrol) station : (gaazii) ; petrol : (boba’aa) ; diesel : (diizilaa)

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong. : () ; It was a misunderstanding. : () ; Where are you taking me? : () ; Am I under arrest? : () ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : () ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : () ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : () ; Can I just pay a fine now? : ()