A1 Expression Neutral

ስንት?

ስንት

How many?

Significado

Asking about quantity.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In markets like Merkato, the first price given is rarely the final price. Using 'sint' is the start of a social negotiation where both parties are expected to be flexible. Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock that starts at 6:00 AM (sunrise). So, when you ask 'Sint se'at new?' and they say 'Arat' (4), it is actually 10:00 AM. Asking 'Sint' about someone's children or family size is a sign of warmth and interest. However, asking 'Sint' about salary is considered rude. During fasting seasons (like Lent), you might ask 'Sint ቀን ቀረው?' (How many days are left?) to know when the feast begins. Fasting is central to Orthodox life.

🎯

The Singular Rule

Always keep the noun singular after 'sint'. It's the easiest way to sound like a native speaker immediately.

⚠️

The Time Trap

When asking 'Sint se'at new?', be prepared for an answer that is 6 hours off from your watch. Don't panic, just add 6!

Significado

Asking about quantity.

🎯

The Singular Rule

Always keep the noun singular after 'sint'. It's the easiest way to sound like a native speaker immediately.

⚠️

The Time Trap

When asking 'Sint se'at new?', be prepared for an answer that is 6 hours off from your watch. Don't panic, just add 6!

💬

Bargaining is Social

Don't just ask 'Sint' and walk away. If the price is high, smile and ask 'Besint?' to start a friendly negotiation.

💡

Age Inquiry

Always use the word 'Idme' (age) when asking how old someone is. 'Sint neh?' alone is confusing.

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct way to ask for the price of an orange.

_______ ነው ብርቱካኑ?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ስንት (Sint)

'Sint' is used for prices. 'Min' means what, 'Yet' means where, and 'Man' means who.

Fill in the blank to ask 'What time is it?'.

ስንት _______ ነው?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ሰዓት (Se'at)

'Se'at' means hour/time. 'Sint se'at new?' is the standard phrase for 'What time is it?'.

Complete the bargaining dialogue.

Buyer: ይህ ሸሚዝ በጣም ውድ ነው። ______ ትሸጣለህ? Seller: በሁለት መቶ ብር እሰጥሃለሁ።

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: በስንት (Be-sint)

'Be-sint' means 'For how much' and is used to ask for a counter-offer.

Match the question to the situation.

1. ስንት ልጅ አለህ? 2. ስንት ኪሎ ነው? 3. ስንት ሰዓት ነው?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

Lij (child) matches meeting a parent; Kilo matches the store; Se'at matches the watch.

Which of these is grammatically CORRECT in Amharic?

Asking for 'How many books?'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ስንት መጽሐፍ? (Sint mets'haf?)

In Amharic, nouns stay singular after 'sint'.

🎉 Puntuación: /5

Ayudas visuales

Common Uses of ስንት (Sint)

💰

Money

  • Price
  • Salary
  • Fare
🕒

Time

  • Clock time
  • Duration
  • Date
👥

People

  • Family size
  • Crowds
  • Age

English vs Amharic Grammar

English
How many books? Plural noun
Amharic
Sint mets'haf? Singular noun

Banco de ejercicios

5 ejercicios
Choose the correct way to ask for the price of an orange. Choose A1

_______ ነው ብርቱካኑ?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ስንት (Sint)

'Sint' is used for prices. 'Min' means what, 'Yet' means where, and 'Man' means who.

Fill in the blank to ask 'What time is it?'. Fill Blank A1

ስንት _______ ነው?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ሰዓት (Se'at)

'Se'at' means hour/time. 'Sint se'at new?' is the standard phrase for 'What time is it?'.

Complete the bargaining dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

Buyer: ይህ ሸሚዝ በጣም ውድ ነው። ______ ትሸጣለህ? Seller: በሁለት መቶ ብር እሰጥሃለሁ።

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: በስንት (Be-sint)

'Be-sint' means 'For how much' and is used to ask for a counter-offer.

Match the question to the situation. situation_matching A1

1. ስንት ልጅ አለህ? 2. ስንት ኪሎ ነው? 3. ስንት ሰዓት ነው?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

Lij (child) matches meeting a parent; Kilo matches the store; Se'at matches the watch.

Which of these is grammatically CORRECT in Amharic? Choose A2

Asking for 'How many books?'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ስንት መጽሐፍ? (Sint mets'haf?)

In Amharic, nouns stay singular after 'sint'.

🎉 Puntuación: /5

Preguntas frecuentes

14 preguntas

No, 'sint' is invariant. It stays the same regardless of the gender of the person or object you are asking about.

Yes, 'Sint sew?' (How many person?) is the standard way to ask.

You can say 'ስንት ነው?' (Sint new?) or more politely 'ስንት ነው እባክዎን?' (Sint new ibakwon?).

'Sint' is for countable things or prices. 'Min yahil' is for 'how much' in an abstract or measurable sense (e.g., 'How much do you love me?').

Yes, generally it is considered private information in Ethiopia, much like in Western cultures.

Use 'Sint gize?' (Sint = how many, Gize = time/occasion).

Usually, you would use 'Min yahil rket new?' (How much distance is it?), but 'Sint kilo meter?' is also understood.

'Besint' means 'For how much' and is specifically used when you are suggesting a transaction or bargaining.

Use the ordinal form: 'Sintignaw lij neh?'.

Only in the context of time ('What time is it?') or date ('What is the date?'). Otherwise, use 'Min'.

Yes, very often! It's used to express 'how many' heartbreaks or 'how much' love.

Yes, 'Sint kilo?' is the standard way to ask for weight.

There is no plural form of 'sint'. It is always 'sint'.

You can say 'ጠቅላላው ስንት ነው?' (Teklallaw sint new?).

Frases relacionadas

🔗

ምን ያህል?

similar

To what extent? / How much?

🔗

ስንተኛ?

specialized form

Which number in a sequence?

🔗

ስንትና ስንት

builds on

So many / Countless

🔗

በስንት?

specialized form

For how much?

🔗

ስንት ጊዜ?

builds on

How many times? / How often?

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