Ethiopia Languages: Difference between revisions

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{{Ethiopia-sidebar}}
{{CountrySidebar
{{breadcrumb
|Country=Ethiopia
|Name=Ethiopia
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Content=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Ethiopia Genealogy|Ethiopia]]
| link1=[[Ethiopia Genealogy|Ethiopia]]
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==Description==
==Description==


There are 90 individual languages spoken in Ethiopia. Most people in the country speak Afroasiatic languages of the...  <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=there%20are%2090%20individual%20languages%20spoken%20in%20Ethiopia., accessed 8 Sep 2021.</ref>
There are 90 individual languages spoken in Ethiopia. Most people in the country speak Afroasiatic languages of the following.  <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=there%20are%2090%20individual%20languages%20spoken%20in%20Ethiopia., accessed 8 Sep 2021.</ref>


*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushitic_languages Cushitic Branch]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushitic_languages Cushitic Branch]
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Other Afroasiatic lanquauges with a significant number of speakers include...<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages, accessed 25 Oct 2021.</ref>
Other Afroasiatic lanquauges with a significant number of speakers include...<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages, accessed 25 Oct 2021.</ref>
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidama_language '''Sidama language''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidama_language '''Sidama language''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_language '''Afar language'''] - spoken by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_people Afar People]. One of the five official languages of Ethiopia.
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_language '''Afar language'''] - spoken by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afar_people Afar People]. One of the five official languages of Ethiopia.}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadiyya_language '''Hadiyya language''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadiyya_language '''Hadiyya language''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaw_languages '''Agaw language''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaw_languages '''Agaw language''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurage_languages '''Gurage languages''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurage_languages '''Gurage languages''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harari_language '''Harari languages''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harari_language '''Harari languages''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silt%CA%BCe_language '''Siltʼe''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silt%CA%BCe_language '''Siltʼe''']}}
:*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argobba_language '''Argobba''']
{{Block indent|*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argobba_language '''Argobba''']}}


English is the most spoken foreign language and is used in schools and federal laws. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=English%20is%20the%20most%20widely%20spoken%20foreign%20language, accessed 25 Oct 2021.</ref>
English is the most spoken foreign language and is used in schools and federal laws. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=English%20is%20the%20most%20widely%20spoken%20foreign%20language, accessed 25 Oct 2021.</ref>
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|11.6%
|11.6%
|}
|}


==Word List(s)==
==Word List(s)==
* [http://mylanguages.org/oromo_phrases.php#:~:text=List%20of%20Phrases%20in%20Oromo Phrases in Oromo] - MyLanguages.org
* [http://mylanguages.org/oromo_phrases.php#:~:text=List%20of%20Phrases%20in%20Oromo Phrases in Oromo] - MyLanguages.org
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/somali.php#:~:text=Useful%20phrases%20in%20Somali Useful Phrases in Somali] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/somali.php#:~:text=Useful%20phrases%20in%20Somali Useful Phrases in Somali] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/tigrinya.php#:~:text=Useful%20phrases%20in%20Tigrinya Useful Phrases in Tigrinya] - Omniglot
* [http://ilanguages.org/amharic_phrases.php Amharic Phrases] - iLanguages
* [http://ilanguages.org/amharic_phrases.php Amharic Phrases] - iLanguages
* [http://learn101.org/amharic_phrases.php Amharic Phrases] - Learn101
* [http://learn101.org/amharic_phrases.php Amharic Phrases] - Learn101
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Amharic_phrasebook#:~:text=Phrase%20list Amharic Phrase list] - WikiTravel
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Amharic_phrasebook#:~:text=Phrase%20list Amharic Phrase list] - WikiTravel
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/tigrinya.php#:~:text=Useful%20phrases%20in%20Tigrinya Useful Phrases in Tigrinya] - Omniglot


==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
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* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/amharic.htm#:~:text=The%20syllables%20with%20the%20vowel%20transliterated Amharic Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/amharic.htm#:~:text=The%20syllables%20with%20the%20vowel%20transliterated Amharic Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/somali.htm#:~:text=Somali%2FOsmanya%20alphabet Somali/Osmanya Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/somali.htm#:~:text=Somali%2FOsmanya%20alphabet Somali/Osmanya Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/oromo.htm#:~:text=Ge'ez%20script%20for%20Oromo Ge'ez Script for Oromo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/oromo.htm#:~:text=Arabic%20script%20for%20Oromo Arabic Script for Oromo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/oromo.htm#:~:text=Latin%20alphabet%20for%20Oromo Latin Alphabet for Oromo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/tigrinya.htm#:~:text=The%20Tigrinya%20script The Tigrinya script] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/tigrinya.htm#:~:text=The%20Tigrinya%20script The Tigrinya script] - Omniglot


'''Pronunciation'''
'''Pronunciation'''
* [https://forvo.com/languages/om/#:~:text=Oromo%20pronunciation%20dictionary Oromo Pronunciation Dictionary] - Forvo
* [https://forvo.com/languages/so/#:~:text=Somali%20pronunciation%20dictionary Somali Pronunciation Dictionary] - Forvo
* [https://forvo.com/languages/am/#:~:text=Amharic%20pronunciation%20dictionary Amharic Pronunciation Dictionary] - Forvo
* [https://forvo.com/languages/ti/#:~:text=Tigrinya%20pronunciation%20dictionary Tigrinya Pronunciation Dictionary] - Forvo


==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Dictionaries''''
'''Dictionaries''''
* Mahdi Hamid Muudee, '''''Hamid Muudee's Oromo dictionary : English-Oromo''''', Atlanta, GA : Sagalee Oromoo Pub. Co., 1995 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/hamid-muudees-oromo-dictionary-english-oromo/oclc/33362146&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Muudee, Mahdi Hamid. ''Hamid Muudee's Oromo dictionary : English-Oromo.'' Atlanta, GA: Sagalee Oromoo Pub. Co., 1995. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/33362146 WorldCat].
* Abdirahman A Hashi, '''''Fiqi's Somali English dictionary''''', Jigjiga, Ethiopia : Fiqi Educational Materials, 1998 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/fiqis-somali-english-dictionary/oclc/44749914&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Hashi, Abdirahman A. ''Fiqi's Somali English dictionary.'' Jigjiga, Ethiopia: Fiqi Educational Materials, 1998. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/44749914 WorldCat].
* Wolf Leslau, '''''Concise Amharic dictionary : Amharic-English, English-Amharic''''', Berkeley : University of California Press, 2004 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/concise-amharic-dictionary-amharic-english-english-amharic/oclc/70877427&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Leslau, Wolf. ''Concise Amharic dictionary : Amharic-English, English-Amharic.'' Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/70877427 WorldCat].
* Amanuel Asfeha, '''''Mesob English Tigrinya dictionary''''', 2015 - [https://www.worldcat.org/title/mesob-english-tigrinya-dictionary/oclc/950006182&referer=brief_results Available at WorldCat]
* Asfeha, Amanuel. ''Mesob English Tigrinya dictionary.'' n.p.: n.p., 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/950006182 WorldCat].


'''Online Dictionaries'''
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://glosbe.com/en/om Dictionary English - Oromo] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/so/en Somali Online Dictionary] - Glosbe
* [https://www.lexilogos.com/english/somali_dictionary.htm Somali Online Dictionary] - Lexilogos
* [https://www.amharicpro.com/ English - Amharic Online Dictionary] - AmharicPro
* [https://www.amharicpro.com/ English - Amharic Online Dictionary] - AmharicPro
* [https://dictionary.abyssinica.com/ Amharic Online Dictionary] - Abyssinica
* [https://dictionary.abyssinica.com/ Amharic Online Dictionary] - Abyssinica
* [https://glosbe.com/so/en Somali Online Dictionary] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/ti Dictionary English - Tigrinya] - Glosbe
* [https://www.lexilogos.com/english/somali_dictionary.htm Somali Online Dictionary] - Lexilogos


'''Language Aids'''
'''Language Aids'''
* [http://learn101.org/oromo_grammar.php#:~:text=Oromo%20Grammar Oromo Grammar] - Learn101
* [http://learn101.org/somali_grammar.php Somali Grammar] - Learn101
* [http://polymath.org/somali_grammar_list.php Somali Grammar] - Polymath
* [http://learn101.org/amharic_grammar.php Amharic Grammar] - Learn101
* [http://learn101.org/amharic_grammar.php Amharic Grammar] - Learn101
* [https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/amharic/ Amharic Language Overview] - MustGo travel
* [http://aboutworldlanguages.com/somali Somali language overview] - MustGo travel
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/amharic.htm#:~:text=Punctuation Amharic Punctuation] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/amharic.htm#:~:text=Punctuation Amharic Punctuation] - Omniglot
* [http://learn101.org/somali_grammar.php Somali Grammar] - Learn101
* [https://www.linguashop.com/tigrinya-grammar Tigrinya Grammar] - LinguaShop
* [http://polymath.org/somali_grammar_list.php Somali Grammar] - Polymath


==Additional Resources==
==Additional Resources==
* [https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/oromo/ Oromo Language Overview] - MustGo travel
* [http://aboutworldlanguages.com/somali Somali Language Overview] - MustGo travel
* [https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/amharic/ Amharic Language Overview] - MustGo travel
* [https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/tigrinya/ Tigrinya Language Overview] - MustGo travel


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:42, 19 August 2025

Ethiopia Wiki Topics
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Geographylogo.png In other languages: Qafár af | ኣማርኛ | Afaan Oromoo

Description[edit | edit source]

There are 90 individual languages spoken in Ethiopia. Most people in the country speak Afroasiatic languages of the following. [1]

Together, these four groups make up about three-quarters of Ethiopia's population. [2]

Other Afroasiatic lanquauges with a significant number of speakers include...[3]

*Afar language - spoken by the Afar People. One of the five official languages of Ethiopia.

English is the most spoken foreign language and is used in schools and federal laws. [4]

Languages of Ethiopia
as of 2007 Census
Language Percentage

of Population

Oromo 33.8%
Amharic 29.3%
Somali 6.3%
Tigrinya 5.9%
Sidamo 4.0%
Wolaytta 2.2%
Gurage 2.0%
Afar 1.7%
Hadiyya 1.7%
Gamo-Gofa-Dawro 1.5%
Others 11.6%

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Dictionaries'

  • Muudee, Mahdi Hamid. Hamid Muudee's Oromo dictionary : English-Oromo. Atlanta, GA: Sagalee Oromoo Pub. Co., 1995. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Hashi, Abdirahman A. Fiqi's Somali English dictionary. Jigjiga, Ethiopia: Fiqi Educational Materials, 1998. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Leslau, Wolf. Concise Amharic dictionary : Amharic-English, English-Amharic. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Asfeha, Amanuel. Mesob English Tigrinya dictionary. n.p.: n.p., 2015. Available at: WorldCat.

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=there%20are%2090%20individual%20languages%20spoken%20in%20Ethiopia., accessed 8 Sep 2021.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=Together%2C%20these%20four%20groups%20make%20up%20about%20three-quarters%20of%20Ethiopia's%20population., accessed 8 Sep 2021.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages, accessed 25 Oct 2021.
  4. Wikipedia contributors, "Ethiopia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia#Languages#:~:text=English%20is%20the%20most%20widely%20spoken%20foreign%20language, accessed 25 Oct 2021.