Bedeutung
Reporting a power outage.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In cities like Addis Ababa, power outages are a frequent part of life. People often keep rechargeable lamps and charcoal stoves (Mankoriya) as backups. When the power comes back, children in the street often shout 'Metta! Metta!' (It has come!) in celebration. Many businesses have generators. If you see lights in one shop but not the next, the first one likely has a generator.
The Social Outage
Don't be frustrated by outages; use them as a time to practice your Amharic with neighbors who will also be outside!
Generator Noise
If you hear a loud humming but the lights are on, people might still say 'Mebrat yelem' to mean the city power is out, even if the generator is working.
Bedeutung
Reporting a power outage.
The Social Outage
Don't be frustrated by outages; use them as a time to practice your Amharic with neighbors who will also be outside!
Generator Noise
If you hear a loud humming but the lights are on, people might still say 'Mebrat yelem' to mean the city power is out, even if the generator is working.
The 'Metta' Shout
If you want to sound like a local, shout 'Metta!' the second the lights come back on.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence to say 'There is no light today.'
ዛሬ መብራት _______።
'Yelem' is the correct way to say 'there is not.'
Which phrase would you use the moment the lights flicker off?
The lights just went out!
'Tefa' is used for the action of disappearing/going out.
Fill in the waiter's response.
Guest: 'ስልኬን ቻርጅ ማድረግ እችላለሁ?' (Can I charge my phone?) Waiter: 'አይቻልም፤ _______።'
The waiter is explaining why you can't charge your phone.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Outage Essentials
Backups
- • ሻማ (Candle)
- • ባትሪ (Flashlight)
- • ጄነሬተር (Generator)
Aufgabensammlung
3 Aufgabenዛሬ መብራት _______።
'Yelem' is the correct way to say 'there is not.'
The lights just went out!
'Tefa' is used for the action of disappearing/going out.
Guest: 'ስልኬን ቻርጅ ማድረግ እችላለሁ?' (Can I charge my phone?) Waiter: 'አይቻልም፤ _______።'
The waiter is explaining why you can't charge your phone.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
3 FragenNo, for a flashlight you would say 'ባትሪው አለቀ' (The battery finished).
Yes, it is a neutral statement of fact.
የኤሌክትሪክ ኃይል ተቋርጧል (Ye-elektrik hayl tekwaritwal).
Verwandte Redewendungen
መብራት ጠፋ
similarThe light went out
መብራት መጣ
contrastThe light came back
ሻማ አብራ
builds onLight a candle
ፈረቃ
specialized formRationing/Shift
