Signification
Telling a female to come closer.
Contexte culturel
In rural areas, calling someone 'Ney' is often accompanied by a specific hand gesture: palm facing down, fingers sweeping toward the body. Younger generations use 'Ney' very freely among peers, but still strictly observe the 'Yimtu' rule for anyone even 5-10 years older. In the US or Europe, some second-generation speakers lose the gender distinction, which sounds very jarring to native ears back home. The phrase is the 'soundtrack' of the coffee ceremony, used to invite neighbors to share in the three rounds of coffee.
Gender Check
Always check the gender of the person you are calling before you speak. Using 'Ney' for a man can be taken as an insult.
The 'Eski' Trick
Add 'እስኪ' (eski) after 'ነይ' to sound much more like a native speaker. 'ነይ እስኪ' sounds friendly and casual.
Signification
Telling a female to come closer.
Gender Check
Always check the gender of the person you are calling before you speak. Using 'Ney' for a man can be taken as an insult.
The 'Eski' Trick
Add 'እስኪ' (eski) after 'ነይ' to sound much more like a native speaker. 'ነይ እስኪ' sounds friendly and casual.
Hand Gestures
Don't use the 'palm up' finger curl common in the West; it's considered rude. Use the 'palm down' sweeping motion.
Teste-toi
You want to call your sister to come to you. Which is correct?
______ ወደዚህ።
'ነይ' is the feminine singular imperative used for sisters or female friends.
Complete the sentence to say 'Come here quickly' to a girl.
ነይ ወደዚህ ______።
'ቶሎ' (tolo) means quickly.
Match the phrase to the person you are addressing.
1. ነይ ወደዚህ 2. ና ወደዚህ 3. ይምጡ ወደዚህ
Gender and respect levels determine the correct verb form.
Fill in the missing word in this casual dialogue.
A: ሳራ! ______ ወደዚህ። B: እሺ፣ መጣሁ።
The context of 'I'm coming' (mettau) implies the command was 'Come' (Ney).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Amharic 'Come Here' by Subject
Banque d exercices
4 exercices______ ወደዚህ።
'ነይ' is the feminine singular imperative used for sisters or female friends.
ነይ ወደዚህ ______።
'ቶሎ' (tolo) means quickly.
1. ነይ ወደዚህ 2. ና ወደዚህ 3. ይምጡ ወደዚህ
Gender and respect levels determine the correct verb form.
A: ሳራ! ______ ወደዚህ። B: እሺ፣ መጣሁ።
The context of 'I'm coming' (mettau) implies the command was 'Come' (Ney).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, that would be disrespectful. Use 'እባክዎን ይምጡ' (Ebakwon yimtu).
No, you can just say 'ነይ' if it's obvious where you want her to come.
In Amharic, you usually know by looking, but if calling someone from afar, people often use the masculine 'Na' as a default or the polite 'Yimtu'.
Yes, it is very common to use 'Ney' for female pets.
No, 'No' in Amharic is 'አይ' (Ay) or 'አይደለም' (Aydellem).
Use 'ኑ ወደዚህ' (Nu wedezih).
It depends on the tone. If shouted aggressively, yes. If shouted across a distance to get attention, it's normal.
'ወደዚህ' means 'toward here' (movement), while 'እዚህ' means 'at here' (location).
No, it's too informal. Use 'ቢመጡ ደስ ይለኛል' (I would be happy if you came).
No, it is strictly the imperative of 'to come'.
Expressions liées
ና ወደዚህ
similarCome here (masculine)
ኑ ወደዚህ
similarCome here (plural)
ይምጡ ወደዚህ
specialized formCome here (polite)
ወዲህ ነይ
synonymCome this way
ቶሎ ነይ
builds onCome quickly
እባክሽ ነይ
builds onPlease come
