Signification
Shutting an entrance.
Contexte culturel
In the cold highlands, 'በር መዝጋት' is a survival skill. Keeping the door closed preserves the heat from the central fire (midija). The closing of the church gates or the sanctuary curtain is a moment of deep reverence, symbolizing the hidden nature of the divine. Unlike Western shops that might have a 'Closed' sign, Ethiopian shopkeepers might just pull the metal shutter halfway down to signal they are 'closing' but might still serve one last customer. Closing the door while neighbors are outside can be seen as 'un-Ethiopian' or secretive. It's common to leave doors ajar to show you are 'open' to the community.
Politeness Matters
Always use 'ይዝጉ' (Yizgu) with people you don't know well. It makes a huge difference in how you are perceived.
Security
In Addis Ababa, if someone says 'በሩን ዝጋ' (Close the door), they often imply 'and lock it'. Clarify if you are unsure!
Signification
Shutting an entrance.
Politeness Matters
Always use 'ይዝጉ' (Yizgu) with people you don't know well. It makes a huge difference in how you are perceived.
Security
In Addis Ababa, if someone says 'በሩን ዝጋ' (Close the door), they often imply 'and lock it'. Clarify if you are unsure!
Figurative Mastery
Use 'በር ዘጋብኝ' (He closed the door on me) to sound more like a native speaker when describing a rejection.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct imperative form of 'mezegat' for a male friend.
አቤቤ፣ እባክህ በሩን ____።
'ዝጋ' (Ziga) is the masculine singular imperative.
How do you say 'The shop is closed'?
ሱቁ ምን ሆኗል?
'ዘግቷል' (Zegtuwal) means 'has closed'.
Match the Amharic phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the three main imperative forms.
Complete the dialogue.
A: በሩን መዝጋት ረሳሁ። B: ችግር የለም፣ እኔ ____።
'እዘጋዋለሁ' (Izegawalehu) means 'I will close it'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesአቤቤ፣ እባክህ በሩን ____።
'ዝጋ' (Ziga) is the masculine singular imperative.
ሱቁ ምን ሆኗል?
'ዘግቷል' (Zegtuwal) means 'has closed'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the three main imperative forms.
A: በሩን መዝጋት ረሳሁ። B: ችግር የለም፣ እኔ ____።
'እዘጋዋለሁ' (Izegawalehu) means 'I will close it'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes! 'መስኮት መዝጋት' (Meskot mezegat) is the correct way to say 'close a window'.
'ዝጋ' is 'close', while 'ዝጋው' is 'close it'. The '-ው' adds the object 'it'.
Only if said as a harsh command. With 'እባክህ' (please), it is perfectly polite.
You say 'በሩ ዝግ ነው' (Beru zig new).
Yes, 'ላፕቶፑን መዝጋት' is common modern usage.
Expressions liées
በር መክፈት
contrastTo open a door / opportunity
በር መቆለፍ
similarTo lock a door
በር ማንኳኳት
builds onTo knock on a door
ዝምታ መዝጋት
specialized formTo shut down in silence
