Significado
Asking about the time.
Contexto cultural
Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock that starts at 6:00 AM. So, 1:00 AM in Ethiopia is 7:00 AM Western time. When you ask 'Mäche?', be sure to clarify if the answer is in 'Habesha' time or 'European' time. Asking 'When are you getting married?' (መቼ ነው የምታገባው?) is a very common social question in Ethiopia, often asked by elders to younger people as a sign of care, though it can feel like pressure to outsiders. Many events in Ethiopia are timed according to the religious calendar. Asking 'Mäche?' about a festival might result in an answer like 'On the day of St. Michael'. In business, 'Mäche' is often met with 'Insha'Allah' (if God wills) or 'Egziabher biwed' (if God loves/wills), reflecting a cultural reliance on divine timing.
The 'Is it' shortcut
If you forget how to conjugate a verb, just say the noun + 'መቼ ነው?' (e.g., 'Party mäche näw?'). It's grammatically correct and very common.
Don't use for 'If'
In some languages, 'when' and 'if' are similar. In Amharic, 'if' is 'ከሆነ' (kähonä). Never use 'መቼ' for 'if'.
Significado
Asking about the time.
The 'Is it' shortcut
If you forget how to conjugate a verb, just say the noun + 'መቼ ነው?' (e.g., 'Party mäche näw?'). It's grammatically correct and very common.
Don't use for 'If'
In some languages, 'when' and 'if' are similar. In Amharic, 'if' is 'ከሆነ' (kähonä). Never use 'መቼ' for 'if'.
Habesha Time
Always double-check if someone means Ethiopian time or International time by asking 'በኢትዮጵያ አቆጣጠር?' (By Ethiopian reckoning?).
Rhetorical Mäche
If someone says 'Mäche särto yawqal?' with a sigh, they aren't asking for a date; they are complaining that someone is lazy.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct word for 'When'.
_______ ነው የምንገናኘው?
The sentence asks 'When are we meeting?'. 'መቼ' is the word for 'When'.
Which sentence correctly asks 'When did you arrive?' to a man?
Choose the correct sentence:
'መጣህ' is the masculine singular past tense for 'you came/arrived'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ፊልሙ ______ ነው? B: ፊልሙ ዘጠኝ ሰዓት ነው።
Since the answer is a time (9 o'clock), the question must be 'When'.
Match the Amharic phrase to the situation.
You want to know when a shop opens.
'ይከፈታል' means 'it opens'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Common Questions with መቼ
Travel
- • መቼ ይነሳል? (When does it leave?)
- • መቼ ይደርሳል? (When does it arrive?)
Social
- • መቼ እንገናኝ? (When shall we meet?)
- • መቼ ትመጣለህ? (When are you coming?)
Work
- • መቼ ያልቃል? (When will it finish?)
- • መቼ ነው ስብሰባው? (When is the meeting?)
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejercicios_______ ነው የምንገናኘው?
The sentence asks 'When are we meeting?'. 'መቼ' is the word for 'When'.
Choose the correct sentence:
'መጣህ' is the masculine singular past tense for 'you came/arrived'.
A: ፊልሙ ______ ነው? B: ፊልሙ ዘጠኝ ሰዓት ነው።
Since the answer is a time (9 o'clock), the question must be 'When'.
You want to know when a shop opens.
'ይከፈታል' means 'it opens'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasNo, 'መቼ' stays the same. Only the verb changes (e.g., መቼ ትመጣላችሁ?).
It's rare. Amharic usually puts question words before the verb or at the start.
Use 'በፈለግህበት ጊዜ' (at the time you want) or 'በመቼውም ጊዜ'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
'መቼ' is a question (When?). 'መቼም' is an adverb (Never/Ever).
Use 'ከመቼ ጀምሮ?' (Kämäche jämmïro?).
'መቼ ነው' means 'When is it?'. It is used when there is no other verb in the sentence.
No, never. Use 'ከሆነ' for 'if'.
Not really, but 'መቼዬ' is sometimes used playfully among close friends.
Use 'እስከ መቼ?' (Ïskä mäche?).
The first syllable 'Mä' is like 'met', and 'che' is like 'chain'. So it's close but not identical.
Yes, it is perfectly appropriate. Just use polite verb forms with it.
Frases relacionadas
ስንት ሰዓት?
similarWhat time?
መቼም
builds onNever / Ever / Anyway
እስከ መቼ?
specialized formUntil when?
ከመቼ ጀምሮ?
specialized formSince when?
