Oromo phrasebook



Oromo is a language spoken in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Map of Oromo language varieties and dialects

Vowels[edit]

Consonants[edit]

Common diphthongs[edit]

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Common signs


OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN
Hello.
Akkam. ( )
Hello. (informal)
. ( )
How are you?
akkam jirta? ( )
Fine, thank you.
nagaa,galatoomaa. ( )
What is your name?
maqaan kee eenyu? ( )
My name is ___koo___ .
_maqaa____ . ( __dha___ .)
Nice to meet you.
walbaruu keenyatti gammadeera. ( )
Please.
maaloo ( )
Thank you.
galatoomaa ( )
You're welcome.
homaa miti ( )
Yes.
Eeyyee ( )
No.
Lakki ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention)
. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
dhiifama ( )
I'm sorry.
Ani ..dha Dhiifama ( )
Goodbye
nagaatti ( )
Goodbye (informal)
. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].
afaan oromoo dubbachuu hin danda'u [gaarii]. ( )
Do you speak English?
Afaan Ingilizii ni dubbatta? ( )
Is there someone here who speaks English?
asitti namni Afaan Oromoo dubbatu jiraa? ( )
Help!
gargaaruu! ( )
Look out!
ala ilaalaa! ( )
Good morning.
akkam bulte. ( )
Good evening.
akkam ooltan. ( )
Good night.
halkan gaarii. ( )
Good night (to sleep)
. ( )
I don't understand.
naaf hin galu. ( )
Where is the toilet?
? ( ?)

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone.
. (na dhiisi .)
Don't touch me!
! (na hin tuqinaa !)
I'll call the police.
. (Poolisii nan bilbila .)
Police!
! ( poolisii!)
Stop! Thief!
! ! (dhaabuu ! hattuu!)
I need your help.
. ( gargaarsa keessan barbaada.)
It's an emergency.
. (yeroo muddamaati .)
I'm lost.
. (Ani badeera .)
I lost my bag.
. (boorsaa koo dhabe .)
I lost my wallet.
. (boorsaa koo dhabe .)
I'm sick.
. ( Dhukkubseen jira.)
I've been injured.
. (ani miidhameera .)
I need a doctor.
. (doktora na barbaachisa .)
Can I use your phone?
? (bilbila keessan fayyadamuu nan danda'aa ?)

Numbers[edit]

1
(tokko )
2
(lama )
3
( sadii)
4
(afur )
5
(shan )
6
(ja'a )
7
(torba )
8
(saddeet )
9
(sagal )
10
(kudhan )
11
( kudha tokko)
12
(kudha lama )
13
(kudha sadii )
14
( )
15
( )
16
( )
17
( )
18
( )
19
( )
20
( )
21
( )
22
( )
23
( )
30
( )
40
( )
50
( )
60
( )
70
( )
80
( )
90
( )
100
( )
200
( )
300
( )
1,000
(kuma tokko )
2,000
(kuma lama )
1,000,000
( miliyoona tokko)
1,000,000,000
(biiliyoona tokko )
1,000,000,000,000
(tiriiliyoona tokko )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
(walakkaa )
less
(gad bu'aa )
more
(caalaa )

Time[edit]

now
(amma )
later
(booda )
before
( dura)
morning
(ganama )
afternoon
(dura )
evening
(galgala )
night
( halkan)

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock AM
(sa'aatii tokko ganama )
two o'clock AM
( sa'aatii lama ganama)
noon
( waaree)
one o'clock PM
(galgala sa'aatii tokkoo )
two o'clock PM
(galgala sa'aatii lama )
midnight
(halkan walakkaa )

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s)
(daqiiqaa )
_____ hour(s)
( sa'a)
_____ day(s)
(guyyaa )
_____ week(s)
(torbee )
_____ month(s)
(ji'a )
_____ year(s)
(waggaa )

Days[edit]

today
(har'a )
yesterday
(kaleessa )
tomorrow
( boor)
this week
(torban kana keessa )
last week
(torban darbe )
next week
(torban dhufu )
Sunday
(wiixata )
Monday
(isniina )
Tuesday
(kibxata )
Wednesday
(roobii )
Thursday
(kamisa )
Friday
(jimaata )
Saturday
(dilbata )

Months[edit]

January
( )
February
( )
March
( )
April
( )
May
( )
June
( )
July
( )
August
( )
September
( )
October
( )
November
( )
December
( )

Writing time and date[edit]

Colors[edit]

black
( )
white
( )
grey/gray
( )
red
( )
blue
( )
yellow
( )
green
( )
orange
( )
purple
( )
brown
( )

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____?
(meeqa ticket to )
One ticket to _____, please.
(tikkeettii tokko gara, maaloo. )
Where does this train/bus go?
(baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa deema )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
(baaburri/otoobisii eessa deema )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
(baaburri/otoobisii kun eessa seena )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ?
(akkamittan bira ga'a )
...the train station?
( buufata baaburaa?)
...the bus station?
(buufata konkolaataa? )
...the airport?
(buufata buufata xiyyaaraa? )
...downtown?
(magaalaa guddoo? )
...the youth hostel?
( hospitaala dargaggootaa?)
...the _____ hotel?
(-icha __hoteela? )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
(hospitaala )
...restaurants?
(mana nyaataa )
...bars?
(barruulee )
...sites to see?
(marsariitiiwwan ilaaluuf )
Can you show me on the map?
( kaartaa irratti natti agarsiisuu dandeessu)
street
( daandii)
Turn left.
(gara bitaatti garagali )
Turn right.
(gara mirgaatti garagali )
left
( bitaa)
right
(sirii )
straight ahead
( )
towards the _____
( )
past the _____
( )
before the _____
( )
Watch for the _____.
( )
intersection
( )
north
(kabaa )
south
(kibba )
east
(baha )
west
(dhihaatti )
uphill
( )
downhill
( )

Taxi[edit]

Taxi!
(taaksii )
Take me to _____, please.
(gara na geessi,maaloo. )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
(achi na geessi,maaloo )

Lodging[edit]

Do you have any rooms available?
(Kutaawwan jiran qabduu? )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
(Kutaan tokko nama tokkoof/nama lamaaf meeqa? )
Does the room come with...
(Kutaan sun waliin dhufaa? )
...bedsheets?
(siree siree? )
...a bathroom?
( mana fincaanii?)
...a telephone?
(bilbila tokko? )
...a TV?
(televijiinii tokko )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
(Ciree/irbaata ni dabalamaa? )
What time is breakfast/supper?
(Ciree/irbaata sa'aatii meeqatti? )
Please clean my room.
(Mee kutaa koo qulqulleessi. )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
(Doolaara Ameerikaa/Awustiraaliyaa/Kaanaadaa ni fudhattuu? )
Do you accept British pounds?
(Paawundii Biriteen ni fudhattuu? )
Do you accept euros?
(Yuuroo ni fudhattuu? )
Do you accept credit cards?
(Kaardii liqii ni fudhattaa? )
Can you change money for me?
(Maallaqa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa? )
Where can I get money changed?
(Maallaqa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a? )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
(Cheekiin imaltootaa naaf jijjiiruu dandeessaa? )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
(Cheekiin imaltootaa eessaa jijjiiruu danda'a? )
What is the exchange rate?
(Sadarkaan sharafa alaa maali? )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
(Maashiniin kaffaltii ofumaan (ATM) eessa jira? )

Eating[edit]

A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
( )
lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
( )
I want _____.
( )
I want a dish containing _____.
( )
chicken
( )
beef
( )
fish
( )
ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
( )
(fresh) vegetables
( )
(fresh) fruit
( )
bread
( )
toast
( )
noodles
( )
rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
( )
butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars[edit]

Do you serve alcohol?
( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
(bishaan )
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
(soodaa )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping[edit]

Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
(qaalii )
cheap
(rakasa )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
(Na gowwoomsaa jirta. )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
(shaampoo ilkaanii )
...a toothbrush.
( buruushiin ilkaanii)
...tampons.
. (tampons jedhaman )
...soap.
(saamuunaa )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
( )
...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )

Driving[edit]

I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
(saffisa daangeessuu )
gas (petrol) station
(gaazii )
petrol
(boba’aa )
diesel
(diizilaa )

Authority[edit]

I haven't done anything wrong.
( )
It was a misunderstanding.
( )
Where are you taking me?
( )
Am I under arrest?
( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
( )


This Oromo phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!