المعنى
Asking for the drug store.
خلفية ثقافية
In cities like Addis Ababa, pharmacies are often landmarks. People use them to give directions (e.g., 'Turn left at the pharmacy'). It is common to ask the pharmacist for a 'mix' of pills for a cold, known locally as 'ኮክቴል' (cocktail). Many pharmacies are closed on major Orthodox Christian holidays. Always check if it's a holiday before searching. Despite the rise of pharmacies, many Ethiopians still use 'Damakesse' or 'Tena Adam' (herbs) for minor ailments before heading to a 'Farmasi'.
Look for the Green Cross
In Ethiopia, pharmacies are almost always marked with a green cross. If you can't remember the phrase, point to a green cross and say 'Yet näw?'
Check Expiry Dates
Always check the 'Expiry Date' (ያለፈበት ቀን) on medicine bottles in smaller shops.
المعنى
Asking for the drug store.
Look for the Green Cross
In Ethiopia, pharmacies are almost always marked with a green cross. If you can't remember the phrase, point to a green cross and say 'Yet näw?'
Check Expiry Dates
Always check the 'Expiry Date' (ያለፈበት ቀን) on medicine bottles in smaller shops.
Use 'Medhanit Bet' for Respect
Using the native term 'Medhanit Bet' when talking to elderly people shows a higher level of cultural integration and respect.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to ask where the pharmacy is.
ፋርማሲ [____] ነው?
'የት' (Yet) is the Amharic word for 'where'.
Which of these is the most polite way to start the question?
[____] ፋርማሲ የት ነው?
'ይቅርታ' (Yikirta) means 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry'.
Match the Amharic word to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the core components of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ራሴን አሞኛል። B: [____]
If someone has a headache (ራሴን አሞኛል), asking for a pharmacy is the logical next step.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينፋርማሲ [____] ነው?
'የት' (Yet) is the Amharic word for 'where'.
[____] ፋርማሲ የት ነው?
'ይቅርታ' (Yikirta) means 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry'.
طابق كل عنصر على اليسار مع زوجه على اليمين:
These are the core components of the phrase.
A: ራሴን አሞኛል። B: [____]
If someone has a headache (ራሴን አሞኛል), asking for a pharmacy is the logical next step.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, in all urban areas and most large villages, 'Farmasi' is universally understood. In very remote areas, 'Medhanit Bet' is safer.
For basic meds like painkillers or antibiotics, many pharmacies are quite flexible, though technically a prescription (ሬሲፒ) is required for stronger drugs.
You say 'ፋርማሲው ክፍት ነው?' (Farmasi-u kift näw?).
In Ethiopia, a 'Pharmacy' is a higher-level establishment than a 'Drugstore', but for a learner asking for directions, 'Farmasi' works for both.
No, for people you must use 'የት ነው?' (where is he) or 'የት ናት?' (where is she). 'Farmasi' is always masculine 'näw'.
It's not rude, but adding 'Yikirta' (Excuse me) makes it much more polite and likely to get a helpful response.
Add 'ቅርብ' (Kirb) before 'Farmasi': 'ቅርብ ፋርማሲ የት ነው?'.
Ask for 'የምሽት ፋርማሲ' (Yemishit Farmasi) or 'ክፍት ፋርማሲ'.
Amharic is an SOV language. The verb 'to be' (näw) almost always concludes the sentence.
Yes, it is very common in texting. You might see it written as 'pharmacy yet nw?' using Latin script.
عبارات ذات صلة
መድኃኒት ቤት የት ነው?
synonymWhere is the medicine house?
መድኃኒት እፈልጋለሁ
builds onI want medicine.
ሐኪም ቤት የት ነው?
similarWhere is the doctor's house (clinic/hospital)?
ክፍት ፋርማሲ
specialized formOpen pharmacy
