Signification
Welcoming a female guest to a home or event.
Contexte culturel
Hospitality (Mastengid) is a core cultural value. Welcoming a guest is not just polite; it's a moral duty. The phrase is often accompanied by the smell of roasting coffee and frankincense. In rural areas, the greeting may be followed by a deep bow (Gurshegn) if the guest is an elder woman. In the capital, the phrase is used in modern service industries like cafes and boutiques, often with a more 'Western' customer-service tone. In the US or Europe, this phrase is a powerful way for the community to maintain their cultural identity and warmth in a foreign environment.
The 'SH' Rule
Whenever you are talking to a woman in Amharic, look for the 'sh' sound at the end of verbs. It's your best friend for gender accuracy!
Don't be a Robot
Say it with a smile! In Ethiopia, the warmth of the delivery is just as important as the words themselves.
Signification
Welcoming a female guest to a home or event.
The 'SH' Rule
Whenever you are talking to a woman in Amharic, look for the 'sh' sound at the end of verbs. It's your best friend for gender accuracy!
Don't be a Robot
Say it with a smile! In Ethiopia, the warmth of the delivery is just as important as the words themselves.
The Response
If someone says this to you, the correct response is 'Enkwan dehna qoyyishegn' (if they are female) or 'qoyyishen' (if they are male).
Add 'Lin'
Say 'Enkwan dehna mettashillin' to sound like a native. It makes the guest feel like their arrival is a gift to you.
Teste-toi
You are welcoming your sister home. Which phrase is correct?
_______ ደህና መጣሽ።
'እንኳን' is the necessary particle to complete the 'welcome' expression.
Fill in the correct verb ending for a female guest.
እንኳን ደህና መጣ__ (sh/h/chu)
The suffix '-sh' is used for second-person feminine singular.
Match the phrase to the person being greeted.
1. እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ 2. እንኳን ደህና መጣህ 3. እንኳን ደህና መጣችሁ
Mettash (F), Mettah (M), Mettachu (Plural).
Complete the response to the welcome.
Host: እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ! Guest: እንኳን ደህና _______.
'Enkwan dehna qoyyishegn' is the standard response, meaning 'I found you well.'
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
The 'Welcome' Family
To a Woman
- • እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ
To a Man
- • እንኳን ደህና መጣህ
To a Group
- • እንኳን ደህና መጣችሁ
Formal/Elder
- • እንኳን ደህና መጡ
Banque d exercices
4 exercices_______ ደህና መጣሽ።
'እንኳን' is the necessary particle to complete the 'welcome' expression.
እንኳን ደህና መጣ__ (sh/h/chu)
The suffix '-sh' is used for second-person feminine singular.
1. እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ 2. እንኳን ደህና መጣህ 3. እንኳን ደህና መጣችሁ
Mettash (F), Mettah (M), Mettachu (Plural).
Host: እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ! Guest: እንኳን ደህና _______.
'Enkwan dehna qoyyishegn' is the standard response, meaning 'I found you well.'
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is perfect for sisters, mothers, and female friends.
In Amharic, you almost always know, but if you are welcoming a group of unknown gender, use the plural 'Mettachu'.
Yes, you can just say 'Enkwan mettash', but it's less formal.
Change 'Mettash' to 'Mettah'.
It's a particle that expresses 'even' or 'congratulations on...'.
Yes, it's very common in shops and hotels to welcome female customers.
Only if the woman is much older than you or of very high status.
Yes, it's a very polite way to start a welcoming email.
እንኳን ደህና መጣችሁ (Enkwan dehna mettachu).
Selam is just 'Hello'. 'Enkwan dehna mettash' is much more hospitable for an arrival.
Expressions liées
እንኳን ደህና መጣህ
similarWelcome (to a male)
እንኳን ደህና መጣችሁ
similarWelcome (to a group)
እንኳን ደህና ቆየሽኝ
contrastThe response to 'Welcome'
እንኳን ደስ አለሽ
builds onCongratulations
ሰላም ላንቺ ይሁን
similarPeace be unto you
