Signification
Literally 'to lift the face', meaning to deny attention.
Contexte culturel
Hospitality (Mestengido) is a core value. Denying someone 'face' is considered a significant breach of social norms and is often used as a non-verbal way to signal that someone has committed a social 'sin'. In the fast-paced capital, 'fit mensat' is often associated with 'Arada' (city-slicker) culture, where social status changes quickly and people are accused of snubbing their old neighborhoods. In Ethiopian bureaucracy, 'fit mensat' describes the frustrating experience of being ignored by officials, a common theme in local complaints and social commentary. In village settings, 'fit mensat' can be a form of 'shunning' where the community collectively ignores an individual to enforce social rules.
Use with Suffixes
Always attach the object suffix to 'mensat' to sound natural. 'Esu fit nesa' sounds like an incomplete thought.
Don't over-use
It's a strong idiom. If someone is just busy, don't say they are 'fit mensat' or you might sound overly sensitive.
Signification
Literally 'to lift the face', meaning to deny attention.
Use with Suffixes
Always attach the object suffix to 'mensat' to sound natural. 'Esu fit nesa' sounds like an incomplete thought.
Don't over-use
It's a strong idiom. If someone is just busy, don't say they are 'fit mensat' or you might sound overly sensitive.
The 'Wax and Gold' approach
In poetry, you can use 'fit mensat' to mean 'rising above' something, but this is very advanced.
Hospitality first
In Ethiopia, even if you 'fit mensat' someone, you might still be expected to offer them water. The snub is in the attitude, not necessarily the service.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'fit mensat'.
ትላንት ጓደኛዬን መንገድ ላይ አገኘሁት፡ ግን እሱ ____ (snubbed me).
Since the speaker says 'I met him' (አገኘሁት), the friend snubbed 'me' (ነሳኝ).
Which situation best describes 'fit mensat'?
Which of these is 'fit mensat'?
'Fit mensat' is about intentional social ignoring.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ለምን እያለቀስሽ ነው? B: እህቴ ____ (is snubbing me).
The sister (feminine) is doing the action to 'me'.
Match the phrase to the context.
Match 'ፊት አትንሳኝ' to the right context.
It's a plea for attention or favor.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Snubbing vs. Welcoming
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesትላንት ጓደኛዬን መንገድ ላይ አገኘሁት፡ ግን እሱ ____ (snubbed me).
Since the speaker says 'I met him' (አገኘሁት), the friend snubbed 'me' (ነሳኝ).
Which of these is 'fit mensat'?
'Fit mensat' is about intentional social ignoring.
A: ለምን እያለቀስሽ ነው? B: እህቴ ____ (is snubbing me).
The sister (feminine) is doing the action to 'me'.
Match 'ፊት አትንሳኝ' to the right context.
It's a plea for attention or favor.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsThe act itself is considered rude or a sign of conflict, but using the phrase to describe the act is perfectly normal.
Yes, if your boss is ignoring your emails or presence, you can say 'Aleqaye fit nesagn'.
The opposite is 'ፊት መስጠት' (fit mestet), which means to give attention or encourage someone.
Mostly people, but it can apply to a city, a company, or 'fortune' (e.g., 'Fortune snubbed him').
You say 'ፊት ነሳሁት' (Fit nesahut).
Yes, it's a very common theme in Amharic Tizita (nostalgic) and love songs.
No, 'fit mensat' is intentional. Shyness is 'mafer'.
It's neutral-informal. In a legal document, you'd use different words.
Then you didn't 'fit mensat'. You just 'didn't see them' (alayehuat-im).
Yes, 'Fi aderegagn' is common among youth in Addis.
Yes, 'Fit nesun' (They snubbed us).
Yes, clearly but without a puff of air.
Expressions liées
ፊት መስጠት
contrastTo give face / to encourage
ፊቱን ማዞር
similarTo turn one's face away
ትኩረት መንፈግ
synonymTo withhold attention
አይን ለአይን መተያየት
builds onTo look eye to eye
