Signification
Asking someone to reduce speaking speed.
Contexte culturel
Respect for elders is paramount. Using the singular 'tenager' with an elder is a significant social faux pas. In the capital, people speak very fast and mix in English words. They are used to foreigners and will appreciate the effort of using Amharic. Speech is often more melodic and slower naturally. Using 'በዝግታ ተናገር' here might be less necessary but still useful for complex topics. Priests and deacons use a very formal, Ge'ez-influenced Amharic. If speaking to them, the polite form is mandatory.
Use your hands
Pair the phrase with a 'calm down' hand gesture (palms facing down) for maximum clarity.
Gender matters
Don't forget to change 'tenager' to 'tenageri' when speaking to a woman.
Signification
Asking someone to reduce speaking speed.
Use your hands
Pair the phrase with a 'calm down' hand gesture (palms facing down) for maximum clarity.
Gender matters
Don't forget to change 'tenager' to 'tenageri' when speaking to a woman.
Smile
Ethiopians are very friendly; a smile while saying this makes it a request for help rather than a complaint.
Add 'Ebakih'
Always add 'Ebakih' (please) to the start to sound more natural and polite.
Teste-toi
How do you ask an elderly man to speak slowly?
_______ በዝግታ ይናገሩ።
'እባክዎ' (Ebak-iwo) is the polite form of 'please' used for elders.
Fill in the missing verb for a female friend.
እባክሽ በዝግታ _______።
'ተናገሪ' (tenageri) is the feminine singular imperative.
Match the Amharic phrase to its English meaning.
Phrases: 1. በዝግታ ተናገር, 2. አልገባኝም, 3. ድገመው, 4. እባክህ
These are the core components of a 'slow down' conversation.
Complete the dialogue in a taxi.
Driver: 'ቦሌ ነው የምትሄደው?' (Are you going to Bole?) Learner: 'ይቅርታ፣ _______ ተናገር።'
'በዝግታ' (slowly) is the correct response when you need the driver to repeat the question slower.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Conjugation of 'Speak Slowly'
To a Man
- • በዝግታ ተናገር
To a Woman
- • በዝግታ ተናገሪ
Polite/Group
- • በዝግታ ይናገሩ
Banque d exercices
4 exercices_______ በዝግታ ይናገሩ።
'እባክዎ' (Ebak-iwo) is the polite form of 'please' used for elders.
እባክሽ በዝግታ _______።
'ተናገሪ' (tenageri) is the feminine singular imperative.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the core components of a 'slow down' conversation.
Driver: 'ቦሌ ነው የምትሄደው?' (Are you going to Bole?) Learner: 'ይቅርታ፣ _______ ተናገር።'
'በዝግታ' (slowly) is the correct response when you need the driver to repeat the question slower.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is not rude at all. In fact, it shows you are trying to learn and respect the language.
You can say 'እባክህ፣ በጣም ፈጣን ነው' (Please, it is very fast) or ask them to repeat: 'ድገመው?'
Yes, but use the polite form: 'ይቅርታ፣ እባክዎ በዝግታ ይናገሩ።'
'Zigita' is more formal/literal for 'slowness', while 'qes' is more common in daily speech and also means 'gentle'.
Use the plural form: 'በዝግታ ተናገሩ' (Bezigita tenageru).
Yes, you can just say 'ቀስ በል' (Qes bel), which means 'Slow down'.
It means both. Amharic doesn't distinguish between 'talk' and 'speak' in this context.
The 'be' is a preposition that turns the noun 'slowness' into the adverb 'slowly'.
Yes, the informal 'tenager' or 'tenageri' is perfect for children.
'በፍጥነት ተናገር' (Be-fitnet tenager), which means 'Speak quickly'.
Expressions liées
ቀስ በል
similarSlow down / take it easy
ድገመው
builds onRepeat it
አልገባኝም
similarI don't understand
ድምፅህን ከፍ አድርግ
contrastSpeak louder
በዝግታ ይናገሩ
specialized formSpeak slowly (polite)
