Signification
Referring to the evening of today.
Contexte culturel
The 'evening' (Mata) is the primary time for the Coffee Ceremony, a vital social ritual that can last 2-3 hours. Nightlife in Addis (Kizira) usually starts late. If someone says 'Zare Mata', they might mean meeting at 9:00 PM (3:00 local time). During fasting seasons, the 'Zare Mata' meal is often the first and only meal of the day for devout followers. Amharic speakers use 'Mata' to cover both 'evening' and 'night' until midnight, unlike English which distinguishes them more sharply.
The 6-Hour Rule
When someone gives you a time for 'Zare Mata', subtract 6 hours to get the Western time (or add 6 if you are looking at an Ethiopian clock).
Greeting Shift
After sunset, your greeting should change from 'Endet walk' (How was your day) to 'Endet amesheh' (How is your evening).
Signification
Referring to the evening of today.
The 6-Hour Rule
When someone gives you a time for 'Zare Mata', subtract 6 hours to get the Western time (or add 6 if you are looking at an Ethiopian clock).
Greeting Shift
After sunset, your greeting should change from 'Endet walk' (How was your day) to 'Endet amesheh' (How is your evening).
Safety First
In Addis, 'Zare Mata' is generally safe, but it's always better to use a ride-hailing app like Feres or Ride after 10 PM.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank to say 'I will eat dinner tonight.'
____ ____ እራት እበላለሁ።
ዛሬ ማታ means tonight, which fits the context of a future-leaning action in the present day.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a formal news broadcast?
Tonight's news...
'Mishet' is the more formal term for evening, often used in media.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ዛሬ ማታ ምን ታደርጋለህ? B: ________
The question asks what you are doing tonight, so the answer should be in the present/future tense about tonight.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to tell your friend the weather is nice tonight.
ዛሬ ማታ refers to tonight.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Amharic Time Periods
Evening
- • ዛሬ ማታ (Tonight)
- • ትላንት ማታ (Last Night)
- • ነገ ማታ (Tomorrow Night)
Banque d exercices
4 exercices____ ____ እራት እበላለሁ።
ዛሬ ማታ means tonight, which fits the context of a future-leaning action in the present day.
Tonight's news...
'Mishet' is the more formal term for evening, often used in media.
A: ዛሬ ማታ ምን ታደርጋለህ? B: ________
The question asks what you are doing tonight, so the answer should be in the present/future tense about tonight.
You want to tell your friend the weather is nice tonight.
ዛሬ ማታ refers to tonight.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but 'Mishet' is more formal. Think of 'Mata' as 'Night' and 'Mishet' as 'Evening'.
No, use 'Kese'at' for afternoon. 'Mata' starts after 6 PM.
Add 'le' to the beginning: 'Le-zare mata'.
It is two separate words: ዛሬ (Zare) and ማታ (Mata).
You can say 'ዛሬ ማታ በጣም ዘግይቶ' (Zare mata betam zeg-yito).
Only if you add 'Tlant' (Yesterday). By itself, it usually implies tonight or general night.
Usually no. 'Zare mata emetalehu' means 'I will come [at] tonight'.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral and polite.
ዛሬ ማታ አይመቸኝም (Zare mata ay-mechen-yim) - It's not convenient for me tonight.
ዛሬ ጥዋት (Zare Twat) - This morning.
Expressions liées
ነገ ማታ
similarTomorrow night
ትላንት ማታ
contrastLast night
ማታ ማታ
specialized formEvery night
ዛሬ ምሽት
synonymTonight (formal)
ዛሬ ጥዋት
contrastThis morning
