Tigrinya overview

Free Tigrinya starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

A one-page Tigrinya cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Tigrinya spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. Eritrea and northern Ethiopiaaround 9 million.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • ሰላምHello/seh-LAM/
  • የቐንየለይThank you/yeh-qan-yeh-LAY/
  • እንቋዕ ደሓን መጻእካWelcome/en-QWA deh-HAN meh-tsa-EH-ka/
  • ደሓን ኹንGoodbye/deh-HAN hoon/
  • እወYes/EH-weh/
  • ኣይፋልንNo/eye-FAH-lin/
  • በጃኻPlease/beh-JA-kha/
  • ይቕሬታSorry/yee-khee-REH-ta/

Free starter kit

Get all 25 Tigrinya phrases

Enter your email and the full printable Tigrinya starter kit opens right here — every phrase, meaning and pronunciation respelling. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks. Unsubscribe from any email.

No card, no account needed. We never sell your email.

Is Tigrinya hard to learn?

  • Uses the same Ge'ez script family as Amharic, with some extra characters.
  • Ejective consonants are made with a sharp release of air.
  • Verb forms mark gender for both speaker and listener.