Signification
Asking a male if he is prepared.
Contexte culturel
Punctuality can be fluid (Ethiopian Time). Asking 'Are you ready?' is often a way to signal that the 'social time' is ending and 'action time' is beginning. Readiness is often associated with spiritual preparation for holidays like Fasika (Easter) or Enkutatash (New Year). In the fast-paced capital, this phrase is used sharply and quickly, often accompanied by a hand gesture towards a watch or the door. Readiness may refer to being prepared for a long trek or agricultural work. It implies physical stamina.
Gender Check
Always look at the person's face before speaking. If it's a man, use 'neh'. If it's a woman, use 'nesh'.
Respect Matters
Don't use 'neh' with your teacher or an elderly person. It can be seen as a sign of poor upbringing.
Signification
Asking a male if he is prepared.
Gender Check
Always look at the person's face before speaking. If it's a man, use 'neh'. If it's a woman, use 'nesh'.
Respect Matters
Don't use 'neh' with your teacher or an elderly person. It can be seen as a sign of poor upbringing.
The 'Ready' Response
If someone asks you this, answer 'አዎ፣ ዝግጁ ነኝ' (Awo, zigju negn) to sound like a pro.
Softening the Question
Adding 'እሺ' (Eshi - Okay) before the question makes it sound friendlier: 'እሺ፣ ዝግጁ ነህ?'
Teste-toi
You are talking to your male best friend. Which one do you say?
____ ነህ?
'ዝግጁ' is the correct adjective form for 'ready'.
Complete the sentence for a female colleague.
ዝግጁ ____?
'ነሽ' is the feminine singular copula.
Match the phrase to the person you are speaking to.
1. ዝግጁ ነህ? 2. ዝግጁ ኖት? 3. ዝግጁ ናችሁ?
Neh is for a brother (informal male), Not is for a boss (polite), Nachu is for friends (plural).
Complete the dialogue.
A: ታክሲው መጥቷል። B: እሺ፣ ____ ነኝ።
The speaker is saying 'I am ready'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
State vs. Action
Banque d exercices
4 exercices____ ነህ?
'ዝግጁ' is the correct adjective form for 'ready'.
ዝግጁ ____?
'ነሽ' is the feminine singular copula.
1. ዝግጁ ነህ? 2. ዝግጁ ኖት? 3. ዝግጁ ናችሁ?
Neh is for a brother (informal male), Not is for a boss (polite), Nachu is for friends (plural).
A: ታክሲው መጥቷል። B: እሺ፣ ____ ነኝ።
The speaker is saying 'I am ready'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsUse 'ዝግጁ ናችሁ?' (Zigju nachu?).
It is neutral/informal. Use it with peers. Use 'ዝግጁ ኖት?' for formal situations.
'ዝግጁ ነህ?' asks about your current state. 'ተዘጋጅተሃል?' asks if you have completed the process of preparing.
Yes, it is very common in texting. You can even just write 'ዝግጁ?' if you are very close.
Say 'ገና ዝግጁ አይደለሁም' (Gena zigju aydelehum).
In standard Amharic, the adjective 'ዝግጁ' usually stays the same; only the copula (neh/nesh) changes.
Yes, if the pet is male, you can playfully use 'neh'.
Close friends might just say 'በቃ?' (Beqa?) or 'እንሂድ?' (Enhid?).
It literally means 'ready' or 'prepared'.
Yes, but it is a very soft, breathy sound at the end of the word.
Yes, but use the polite 'ዝግጁ ኖት?' if writing to a client or superior.
The opposite is 'ያልተዘጋጀ' (yaltezegaje - unprepared).
Expressions liées
ተዘጋጅተሃል?
similarHave you prepared?
ጨርሰሃል?
similarHave you finished?
በቃህ?
specialized formAre you done?
ዝግጁ አይደለሁም
contrastI am not ready
ዝግጁ ሁን
builds onBe ready!
