Significado
Stating a day off.
Contexto cultural
In cities like Addis Ababa, the 5-day or 6-day work week is standard. Saying you don't have work on a weekday often implies you work in a shift system or are a freelancer. On major Orthodox holidays (like Meskel or Genna), almost no one has work. In this case, people say 'ዛሬ በዓል ነው' (Today is a holiday) rather than 'I don't have work.' The 'Buna' (coffee) ceremony is the primary way people spend their time when they don't have work. It is a sign of hospitality to invite someone over when they are free. There is a growing 'hustle culture' in Ethiopia, but resting is still highly valued. Saying you don't have work is seen as a well-deserved break.
The 'im' is key
Never forget the 'm' at the end of 'yeleñim'. It's the marker that makes the sentence negative.
Job vs. Task
While 'sira' means work, if you want to say 'I have no chores,' you might say 'ምንም ስራ የለኝም' (I have no work at all).
Significado
Stating a day off.
The 'im' is key
Never forget the 'm' at the end of 'yeleñim'. It's the marker that makes the sentence negative.
Job vs. Task
While 'sira' means work, if you want to say 'I have no chores,' you might say 'ምንም ስራ የለኝም' (I have no work at all).
Add 'በቃ' (Beka)
Add 'በቃ' (Beka - that's it/just) to sound more native: 'ዛሬ ስራ የለኝም በቃ።' (I just don't have work today.)
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word to say 'I don't have work today.'
ዛሬ ____ የለኝም።
'Sira' means work. 'Buna' is coffee, 'Bet' is house, and 'Timhirt' is school.
How would you say 'He doesn't have work today'?
Which is correct?
'Yelewum' is the conjugation for 'He'. 'Yeleñim' is I, 'Yelehum' is You (m), and 'Yelenim' is We.
Complete the dialogue.
Friend: 'ነገ እንገናኝ?' (Shall we meet tomorrow?) You: 'አይ፣ ነገ ስራ አለኝ። ____ ስራ የለኝም።' (No, I have work tomorrow. I don't have work today.)
'Zare' (Today) provides the correct temporal contrast to 'Nege' (Tomorrow).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at home and your boss calls you to do a task on your day off.
You use this to inform them that you are not working today.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Personal vs General
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosዛሬ ____ የለኝም።
'Sira' means work. 'Buna' is coffee, 'Bet' is house, and 'Timhirt' is school.
Which is correct?
'Yelewum' is the conjugation for 'He'. 'Yeleñim' is I, 'Yelehum' is You (m), and 'Yelenim' is We.
Friend: 'ነገ እንገናኝ?' (Shall we meet tomorrow?) You: 'አይ፣ ነገ ስራ አለኝ። ____ ስራ የለኝም።' (No, I have work tomorrow. I don't have work today.)
'Zare' (Today) provides the correct temporal contrast to 'Nege' (Tomorrow).
You are at home and your boss calls you to do a task on your day off.
You use this to inform them that you are not working today.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasTechnically yes, but it sounds better to use 'ትምህርት' (timhirt) instead of 'ስራ' (sira).
It's neutral. For extra politeness, say 'ዛሬ የእረፍት ቀኔ ነው' (Today is my rest day).
Just swap 'ዛሬ' (Zare) for 'ነገ' (Nege): 'ነገ ስራ የለኝም'.
Remove 'ዛሬ' and just say 'ስራ የለኝም' (I don't have a job).
Usually, yes. It implies you are not occupied by your primary job.
Ask 'ዛሬ ስራ አለህ?' (masc) or 'ዛሬ ስራ አለሽ?' (fem).
Yes, but it can also mean 'deed' or 'action' in more poetic contexts.
Yes, especially on Saturdays when many people still work in Ethiopia.
'ዛሬ ኦፍ ነኝ' (Zare off neñ) is the most common modern slang.
Because it packs 'there is not', 'to me', and the 'negative marker' all into one word!
Frases relacionadas
ዛሬ እረፍት ነኝ
similarI am on rest today.
ዛሬ ስራ አለኝ
contrastI have work today.
ስራ ፈት
specialized formUnemployed/Idle person.
ነገ ስራ የለኝም
builds onI don't have work tomorrow.