Meaning
Command to a female to go away.
Cultural Background
Respect for age is paramount. Using 'Hiji' with someone older is a sign of disrespect. It's better to be too formal than too informal. In the capital, 'Hiji' is often used sarcastically among young women to mean 'No way!' or 'Stop lying!' In rural areas, commands are often more direct. 'Hiji' might be used more frequently in daily chores without it being considered rude among peers. In the diaspora, some of the strict gender and age rules soften, but 'Hiji' remains a core part of the 'home language' used by parents with daughters.
Gender Matters
Never call a man 'Hiji' unless you want to insult his masculinity.
The Elder Rule
If she has grey hair, don't say 'Hiji'. Say 'Yihidu'.
Meaning
Command to a female to go away.
Gender Matters
Never call a man 'Hiji' unless you want to insult his masculinity.
The Elder Rule
If she has grey hair, don't say 'Hiji'. Say 'Yihidu'.
Softening the Blow
Add 'እባክሽ' (Ebakish) before 'Hiji' to make it a request rather than a barked command.
Test Yourself
You are talking to your younger sister. How do you tell her to go to school?
ወደ ትምህርት ቤት ____።
Since you are talking to a female (sister) and it's informal, 'ሂጂ' is the correct form.
Complete the sentence to say 'Please go' to a female friend.
እባክሽ ____።
'እባክሽ' is the feminine 'please', so it must be followed by the feminine 'ሂጂ'.
Match the phrase to the person you are speaking to.
1. ሂጂ 2. ይሂዱ 3. ሂድ
Hiji is for girls, Yihidu is for elders (polite), and Hid is for boys.
Complete the dialogue.
A: የት ልሂድ? (Where should I go?) B: ወደ ገበያ ____።
The speaker is asking for a command/direction, so the imperative 'ሂጂ' is needed.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Gendered Commands
Practice Bank
4 exercisesወደ ትምህርት ቤት ____።
Since you are talking to a female (sister) and it's informal, 'ሂጂ' is the correct form.
እባክሽ ____።
'እባክሽ' is the feminine 'please', so it must be followed by the feminine 'ሂጂ'.
1. ሂጂ 2. ይሂዱ 3. ሂድ
Hiji is for girls, Yihidu is for elders (polite), and Hid is for boys.
A: የት ልሂድ? (Where should I go?) B: ወደ ገበያ ____።
The speaker is asking for a command/direction, so the imperative 'ሂጂ' is needed.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt depends on the tone. It can be a neutral direction or a rude dismissal.
Yes, it is perfectly normal for siblings.
In Amharic, you usually know, but if in doubt or being formal, use 'Yihidu'.
አትሂጂ (At-hiji).
Yes, very often in songs about leaving a lover.
No, 'Walk' is 'ተራመጂ' (Terameji), but 'Hiji' is used for the general act of going.
Yes, if the dog is female, though many people just use the masculine 'Hid' for animals.
ሂዱ (Hidu).
ከእኔ ሂጂ (Ke'ene hiji) or ሂጂልኝ (Hijilign).
It's better to use 'Yihidu' or 'Ebakish' to be polite.
Related Phrases
ሂድ
similarGo (masculine)
ሂዱ
similarGo (plural/polite)
ና
contrastCome (masculine)
ነይ
contrastCome (feminine)
ውጪ
specialized formGet out
ተኚ
builds onGo to sleep (feminine)
