Signification
Engaging in sports or games.
Contexte culturel
The 'Buna Tetu' is the primary venue for 'ch'ewata'. It is culturally expected that you stay for all three rounds (Abol, Tona, Baraka) to engage in full conversation. Genna is a traditional game similar to hockey played on Christmas. It is a major cultural event where 'ch'ewata' takes a physical, competitive form. Elders are respected as 'ch'ewata awaqi' (masters of conversation). Listening to their 'ch'ewata' is considered a way to gain wisdom. In Addis Ababa, 'kwas mech'owet' (playing ball) on the street is a rite of passage for young boys and a key part of urban social life.
The 'Chat' Hack
If you don't know how to start a conversation in Amharic, just say 'እስቲ እንጨዋወት' (Let's chat). It's the perfect icebreaker.
No Music!
Remember: You can play a game, but you hit a drum. Never use 'mech'owet' for instruments.
Signification
Engaging in sports or games.
The 'Chat' Hack
If you don't know how to start a conversation in Amharic, just say 'እስቲ እንጨዋወት' (Let's chat). It's the perfect icebreaker.
No Music!
Remember: You can play a game, but you hit a drum. Never use 'mech'owet' for instruments.
Reciprocal Form
Use 'ተጫወቱ' (plural imperative) to tell a group of people to enjoy themselves or keep chatting.
Coffee Context
When invited for coffee, the 'ch'ewata' is just as important as the drink. Don't rush off!
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence about music.
እሷ ፒያኖ ______ ትወዳለች።
In Amharic, you 'hit' (memtat) a piano, you don't 'play' (mech'owet) it like a game.
Fill in the blank to say 'Let's chat'.
እስቲ ትንሽ ______ እንጫወት።
'ጨዋታ መጫወት' is the standard collocation for having a chat.
Match the sentence to the context.
Sentence: 'በእኔ ላይ ጨዋታ አትጫወት!'
This is the figurative use of the phrase meaning 'don't toy with me'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ዛሬ ማታ ምን እናድርግ? B: ከጓደኞቻችን ጋር ______።
Chatting or playing a game with friends is a common social activity.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Uses of ጨዋታ መጫወት
Sports
- • Football
- • Basketball
- • Running (as a game)
Social
- • Coffee Chat
- • Joking
- • Storytelling
Games
- • Chess
- • Cards
- • Video Games
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesእሷ ፒያኖ ______ ትወዳለች።
In Amharic, you 'hit' (memtat) a piano, you don't 'play' (mech'owet) it like a game.
እስቲ ትንሽ ______ እንጫወት።
'ጨዋታ መጫወት' is the standard collocation for having a chat.
Sentence: 'በእኔ ላይ ጨዋታ አትጫወት!'
This is the figurative use of the phrase meaning 'don't toy with me'.
A: ዛሬ ማታ ምን እናድርግ? B: ከጓደኞቻችን ጋር ______።
Chatting or playing a game with friends is a common social activity.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, 'ቪዲዮ ጌም መጫወት' is perfectly natural and widely used by young Ethiopians.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, family, and even colleagues in a relaxed setting.
'Mech'owet' is general play or chat, while 'meqeled' specifically means to joke or tease.
You say 'እየተጫወትኩ ነው' (Eyyet'ech'owet-ku nhew).
It's better to use 'መተወን' (metewen) for professional acting.
Yes, if you say 'በእኔ ላይ ጨዋታ አትጫወት', it means 'don't toy with me' or 'don't be dishonest'.
It describes someone who is very funny, tells great stories, and is good at keeping a conversation alive.
Yes, 'ከውሻ ጋር መጫወት' is correct.
Yes, 'ስፖርት' (sport), but you still use 'መጫወት' to say you participate in them.
It's a grammatical feature of certain Amharic verbs that indicates a middle or reciprocal voice.
Expressions liées
ጨዋታ አዋቂ
specialized formA great conversationalist
ጨዋታ መያዝ
similarTo start/hold a conversation
መቀለድ
similarTo joke
መተወን
contrastTo act (in a play/movie)
ቁምነገር
contrastSerious matter
