Signification
Literally 'bowing the neck', meaning feeling shame.
Contexte culturel
In traditional Amhara and Tigray cultures, 'Anget Medefat' is the opposite of 'Angetun Qena Madreg' (lifting the neck). A person with a 'lifted neck' is seen as honorable and brave. In Addis Ababa, this phrase is often used in the context of 'Yilunta'. If you do something that 'people will talk about,' you are said to be 'bowing your neck' before the neighbors. While 'Medefat' is used for shame, the church uses 'Mizga' or 'Sijdet' for bowing in prayer. It's important not to confuse the religious act of worship with the social act of shame.
Use the Possessive!
Always remember to say 'my neck' or 'his neck'. Amharic speakers never just say 'bowed neck' in a vacuum.
Not for Respect
Don't use this to describe a polite person. It sounds like they are guilty of a crime!
Signification
Literally 'bowing the neck', meaning feeling shame.
Use the Possessive!
Always remember to say 'my neck' or 'his neck'. Amharic speakers never just say 'bowed neck' in a vacuum.
Not for Respect
Don't use this to describe a polite person. It sounds like they are guilty of a crime!
The Power of Yilunta
Understand that 'Anget Medefat' is the ultimate social punishment in a culture that values community opinion.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct possessive form of 'Anget' and the verb 'Defa'.
እኔ ስህተት ስለሰራሁ ______ ______። (I bowed my neck because I made a mistake.)
Since the subject is 'እኔ' (I), you must use 'አንገቴን' (my neck) and 'ደፋሁ' (I bowed).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'Anget Medefat'?
Which of these people is 'bowing their neck'?
The idiom specifically refers to the posture of shame or guilt.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ልጁ ለምን እያለቀሰ ነው? (Why is the boy crying?) B: ሰባሪ ስለሆነ እና ቤተሰቡን ______ ______።
The boy made his family feel ashamed, so the causative 'Masdefat' is used.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesእኔ ስህተት ስለሰራሁ ______ ______። (I bowed my neck because I made a mistake.)
Since the subject is 'እኔ' (I), you must use 'አንገቴን' (my neck) and 'ደፋሁ' (I bowed).
Which of these people is 'bowing their neck'?
The idiom specifically refers to the posture of shame or guilt.
A: ልጁ ለምን እያለቀሰ ነው? (Why is the boy crying?) B: ሰባሪ ስለሆነ እና ቤተሰቡን ______ ______።
The boy made his family feel ashamed, so the causative 'Masdefat' is used.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNo, for a physical injury, use 'አንገቴን አመመኝ' (My neck hurts) or 'አንገቴ ተዛባ' (My neck is strained).
Yes, if you made a serious mistake, saying 'አንገቴን ደፍቻለሁ' shows you take the error seriously.
'Ifret' is the noun for shame. 'Anget Medefat' is the idiom describing the reaction to it.
95% of the time, yes. Occasionally it can mean extreme submission or defeat in a battle.
Expressions liées
አንገት ማስደፋት
builds onTo bring shame upon someone else.
ፊት መንሳት
similarTo deny someone attention/face.
አንገት ቀና ማድረግ
contrastTo be proud/honorable.
ምድር ይዋጠኝ
similarI wish the earth would swallow me.
