The Harari name for the Harari language is “gey sinan,” which literally means “language of the city.” Aside from the diaspora, Harari is a language associated with just one city — Harar — and many people in Harar also speak Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, English or one of Ethiopia’s many other languages.
Harari was first written with an adapted version of the Arabic script, and but is now commonly written with fidel (the same script as Amharic). However, writing Harari with Latin characters is also common, and for simplicity, that’s the version we will use here.
| GREETINGS and FAREWELLS Hello = Aman/Ahalan How are you? (formal) = Amentekhu? I’m fine (formal) = Amanintegn. I’m fine (informal) = Aman. Goodbye! = Allahule amana! See you later. = Atahari natra. |
| INTRODUCTIONS What is your name? = Sumkha-khesh manta? My name is ______. = Sume ______ enta. Where are you from? = Ay badbentakh-tash? I am from ______. = ______ be inebrakh. |
| BEING POLITE please = allakhaw-khashu sorry = oofi excuse me = ahadgir thank you = gaza yagabzal yushen/alla magah no problem = taab elam/ahadum yes = ee // no = mei |
| ANIMALS dog = buchi cat = aduru donkey = wachara hyena = waraba | GIVING YOUR OPINION like (verb) = mawded good = or bad = ari beautiful = yaqumsi |
| FOOD food = hangur breakfast = qura’ lunch = laqen dinner = hirat eat = mabla water = miy coffee = bun | VISITING HARAR culture = ada mosque = masjid church = kanisa baazar/market = magala wall = jugal road = uga door(s)/gate(s) = bari(yach) |
| FAMILY relative = ahli mother = ai/ay father = aw | OTHER PEOPLE close friend = dad ahli classmate = ashiday neighbour(s) = toya(ch) |
| HOMES AND HOTELS home = gar door = gambari window = shubakh inside = ustu outside = abat | OUTSIDE THE CITY countryside = bari qachi village = bandar river = zar desert = udma mountain = sari |
