A1 · مبتدئ فصل 7

The Definite Article

3 القواعد الإجمالية
1 دقيقة

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Transform general nouns into specific objects using simple suffixes attached directly to the end of words.

  • Identify whether a noun ends in a consonant or a vowel.
  • Attach the correct suffix to mean 'the' in Amharic.
  • Apply the specific feminine suffix for female subjects.
From 'a house' to 'the house' in one click.

ما ستتعلمه

How to say 'the' using suffixes. We explore how the definite article changes based on the final vowel of the noun.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: correctly add the suffix '-u' to nouns ending in consonants to specify them.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: modify nouns ending in vowels with the '-w' suffix for definite reference.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: distinguish and use the feminine article '-wa' for female humans and animals.

نصائح وحيل (2)

💡

Check Gender

Always identify the noun's gender first.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Consonant Endings
💡

Check Gender

Always identify if the noun is feminine before adding -wa.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Feminine Definite Article (-wa)

المفردات الرئيسية (7)

ቤት (bet) house መጽሐፍ (metshaf) book ውሻ (wusha) dog ዶሮ (doro) chicken ሴት (set) woman ላም (lam) cow ጠረጴዛ (terep'eza) table

Real-World Preview

hand

Pointing out an object

dog

Identifying a pet

Review Summary

  • Noun + -u
  • Noun + -w
  • Noun + -wa

أخطاء شائعة

English speakers often try to put a separate word for 'the' before the noun. In Amharic, it must be a suffix.

Wrong: The ቤት (The bet)
صحيح: ቤቱ (Betu)

If a word ends in a vowel, you cannot use '-u'. You must use '-w' to avoid a clunky vowel clash.

Wrong: ውሻኡ (Wushau)
صحيح: ውሻው (Wushaw)

While 'setu' is technically understood, 'setwa' is the correct way to refer to a specific woman in Amharic.

Wrong: ሴቱ (Setu)
صحيح: ሴቷ (Setwa)

Next Steps

You're doing fantastic! Adding specificity is a huge leap in language fluency. Keep practicing those suffixes!

Label objects in your room with their definite Amharic names.

Listen to a simple Amharic story and count how many times you hear '-u' or '-w'.

تدريب سريع (10)

Select correct.

Which is 'the chair'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ወንበሩ
Chair is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Vowel Endings

Add the correct suffix.

ቤት + ___ = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: u
House is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Vowel Endings

Add the correct suffix.

bet ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: u
Bet is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Consonant Endings

Which is correct?

ላምዋ ወይስ ላምኡ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ላምዋ
Cow is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Feminine Definite Article (-wa)

Choose the correct definite noun.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: betu
Bet is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Consonant Endings

Fix.

Find and fix the mistake:

መኪናው ነው

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: መኪናው ነው
Correct suffix.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Vowel Endings

Choose the correct definite noun.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: setwa
Set is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Consonant Endings

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

the betu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: betu
No 'the' needed.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Vowel Endings

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

set-u

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: setwa
Set is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Consonant Endings

Add suffix.

ሴት + ___ = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wa
Woman is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Definite Suffix for Vowel Endings

Score: /10

أسئلة شائعة (6)

It's for masculine nouns.
It's for feminine nouns.
No, it depends on gender.
Use a glide.
The suffix might merge. For example, 'enat' (mother) becomes 'enatwa'.
Only when the noun is definite.