Signification
Boarding public transport.
Contexte culturel
In Addis Ababa, 'catching a bus' often involves a 'ረዳት' (assistant) who hangs out the door shouting the destination. You don't just wait; you listen for the destination and move quickly. In rural areas, catching a bus (often a 'Lada' or 'Level 3' bus) is a major event. People might wait for hours, and 'መያዝ' implies securing a spot for yourself and your luggage (which might include livestock). In the diaspora (e.g., DC or London), Ethiopians still use 'አውቶቡስ መያዝ' even if the local language uses 'take'. It's a linguistic marker of heritage. When you 'catch a bus', it is culturally expected to offer your seat to the elderly. The phrase 'ቦታ መያዝ' (holding a seat) is a key part of this social contract.
Use 'ባስ' for speed
In casual conversation, just say 'ባስ' (Bas) instead of 'አውቶቡስ'. It's much more common.
Don't say 'መውሰድ'
Avoid translating 'take a bus' literally. Native speakers will understand you, but it sounds very foreign.
Signification
Boarding public transport.
Use 'ባስ' for speed
In casual conversation, just say 'ባስ' (Bas) instead of 'አውቶቡስ'. It's much more common.
Don't say 'መውሰድ'
Avoid translating 'take a bus' literally. Native speakers will understand you, but it sounds very foreign.
The 'Lion' Bus
If you want to sound like a local in Addis, refer to the yellow buses as 'አንበሳ' (Anbessa).
Queue Etiquette
Always ask 'ማነው መጨረሻ?' (Who is last?) before 'holding the queue' to catch your bus.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'መያዝ' in the past tense.
ትናንት ወደ ገበያ ለመሄድ አውቶቡስ ______።
'ትናንት' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'ያዝኩ' (I caught).
Which sentence correctly says 'I want to catch a bus'?
Select the correct Amharic translation:
'መያዝ' is to catch/take, 'መንዳት' is to drive, and 'መብላት' is to eat!
Complete the dialogue.
A: እንዴት ነው የምትመጣው? B: አውቶቡስ ______ እየመጣሁ ነው።
'ይዤ' is the gerund form used here to mean 'by catching' or 'having caught'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a bus stop and the bus is leaving. What do you yell to your friend?
'ያዘው!' means 'Catch it!'
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Meyaz vs. Mendat
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesትናንት ወደ ገበያ ለመሄድ አውቶቡስ ______።
'ትናንት' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'ያዝኩ' (I caught).
Select the correct Amharic translation:
'መያዝ' is to catch/take, 'መንዳት' is to drive, and 'መብላት' is to eat!
A: እንዴት ነው የምትመጣው? B: አውቶቡስ ______ እየመጣሁ ነው።
'ይዤ' is the gerund form used here to mean 'by catching' or 'having caught'.
You are at a bus stop and the bus is leaving. What do you yell to your friend?
'ያዘው!' means 'Catch it!'
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, for planes we use 'መሳፈር' (to board) or 'በአውሮፕላን መሄድ' (to go by plane).
Yes, it is perfectly polite and neutral. You can use it with anyone.
'ባስ' is the informal short form, while 'አውቶቡስ' is the full, formal word.
You say 'አውቶቡሱ አመለጠኝ' (The bus escaped me).
In general statements, no. If you mean a specific bus, you add '-ኡ' (አውቶቡሱ).
No, for a bicycle you use 'ብስክሌት መንዳት' (driving/riding a bike).
Both are correct, but in daily speech, the '-ን' is usually dropped.
You say 'አውቶቡስ እየጠበቅኩ ነው'.
The 'ረዳት' is the person who collects money and helps people 'catch' the bus.
Yes, 'ጀልባ መያዝ' is acceptable for small boats/ferries.
Expressions liées
ታክሲ መያዝ
similarCatching a taxi
ባቡር መያዝ
similarCatching a train
ሰልፍ መያዝ
builds onHolding a place in line
ቦታ መያዝ
specialized formSecuring a seat
አውቶቡስ መንዳት
contrastDriving a bus
