Bedeutung
Greeting someone who has arrived safely from a journey.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Greetings are often long. After saying 'Enkwan beselam metah', it is expected to ask about health, family, and the journey in detail. During religious holidays, this phrase is often combined with 'Enkwan aderesachihu' (Congratulations on reaching this holiday). The phrase is the 'starting gun' for the coffee ceremony. Once said, the incense is usually lit. For Ethiopians living abroad, this phrase carries a heavy sense of 'homecoming' and nostalgia when visiting family.
The Response is Key
Always remember the response 'Enkwan beselam qoyhegn'. It makes you sound like a native speaker instantly.
Gender Matters
Don't forget to change 'metah' to 'metash' for women. It's the most common error for English speakers.
Bedeutung
Greeting someone who has arrived safely from a journey.
The Response is Key
Always remember the response 'Enkwan beselam qoyhegn'. It makes you sound like a native speaker instantly.
Gender Matters
Don't forget to change 'metah' to 'metash' for women. It's the most common error for English speakers.
Smile and Kiss
In Ethiopia, this phrase is almost always said with a big smile and, if you know the person, three cheek kisses.
Teste dich selbst
You are welcoming your female friend, Sara, at the airport. What do you say?
Sara, _______!
Sara is female, so you must use the feminine ending '-ash'.
Complete the response to the greeting.
Host: እንኳን በሰላም መጣህ! Guest: እንኳን በሰላም _______.
The standard response is 'Enkwan beselam qoyhegn' (Fortunately you waited for me in peace).
Match the phrase to the correct person.
Who would you say 'እንኳን በሰላም መጡ' to?
'መጡ' is the formal/respectful conjugation.
Fill in the missing line in this family dialogue.
Mother: (To her children returning from school) እንኳን በሰላም መጣችሁ! Children: _______!
Since they are talking to their mother (feminine), they use 'qoyeshin'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Verb Conjugations for 'Metta'
Masculine
- • መጣህ (metah)
Feminine
- • መጣሽ (metash)
Plural
- • መጣችሁ (metachu)
Formal
- • መጡ (metu)
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenSara, _______!
Sara is female, so you must use the feminine ending '-ash'.
Host: እንኳን በሰላም መጣህ! Guest: እንኳን በሰላም _______.
The standard response is 'Enkwan beselam qoyhegn' (Fortunately you waited for me in peace).
Who would you say 'እንኳን በሰላም መጡ' to?
'መጡ' is the formal/respectful conjugation.
Mother: (To her children returning from school) እንኳን በሰላም መጣችሁ! Children: _______!
Since they are talking to their mother (feminine), they use 'qoyeshin'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, 'Welcome' alone doesn't work in Amharic. You must use the full phrase or at least 'Enkwan metah'.
No, that would sound sarcastic or funny. Use it for someone who has been away for at least a few hours.
If you are addressing a stranger, use the formal 'መጡ' (metu) to be safe.
Yes, 'እንኳን መጣህ' (Enkwan metah) is a common shorter version.
Yes, in this context it means 'safely' or 'without trouble'.
Use 'እንኳን በሰላም መጣችሁ' (Enkwan beselam metachu).
Yes, it is very common in the opening of an email to someone who has just returned.
While it has spiritual roots, it is used by everyone in Ethiopia regardless of religion.
'Beselam' is slightly more formal/traditional, while 'dehna' is very common in daily speech.
Because the act of arriving is already completed when you see them.
Verwandte Redewendungen
እንኳን ደስ አለህ
similarCongratulations
እንኳን አደረሰህ
similarHappy Holiday
መልካም ጉዞ
contrastHave a good trip
ሰላም ሁን
contrastGoodbye (Stay in peace)
