Wolayttattuwa (Wolaytta language) is spoken in Ethiopia by the Welayta people. It is the first language of the vast majority of people in the Wolayta region of Ethiopia.

Phrase list[edit]

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics[edit]

Hello.

Saroo.

How are you?

Ayi malee?

Fine, thank you

Loo, galataysi.

What is your name?

Ne sunttau oonee?

My name is ______ .

Ta sunttay___

Nice to meet you.

Gayttidoogan ufayttaas.

Please.

Hayyanaa,

Thank you.

Galataysi.

You're welcome.

Metoy baawa.

Yes.

Ee.

No.

Chii, Akkay.

Excuse me. Atto ga.

I'm sorry.

Tawu atto ga.

Goodbye

Saruwan

Where are you from? (country of origin)

Awu biittappe yaadii?

I can't speak Wolaytta language (Wolayttattuwa).

Wolayttattuwa haasayaa danddayikke. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

Ne Inggilizettuwa haasayay?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Hagan inggilizettuwa haasayi eriya asi de'ii? ( ?)

Help!

Maaddarkkii!

Good morning.

Saro aqadii?

Good afternoon.

Saro pee'adii?

Good evening.

Saro aqa.

Good night.

Lo"o qamma gido.

I understand.

Akeekaas, Geliis, Qoncciis.

I don't understand.

Tawu qonccibeenna.

Where is the toilet?

Sheeshsha keettay awugaara de'ii?

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone.

Buzo daana koyyaysi.

Don't touch me!

Tana bochchoppa.

I'll call the police.

Ta Xaaciya/ Polisiya xeegana.

Police!

Xaaciyawu!, Polisiyawu!

Stop! Thief!

Agga! Kaysiwa!

I need your help.

Ne maadoy tawu koshshees.

It's an emergency.

Ellello sohuwa.

I'm lost.

Tawu Ogee bayyiis.

I lost my bag.

Ta borssay bayyiis.

I lost my wallet.

Ta kiisiya borssay bayyiis.

I'm sick.

Taani sakettaysi.

I've been injured.

Taani qohettaasi.

I need a doctor.

Taayyoo Aakimiya koshshees.

Can I use your phone?

Ne cagaa/ silkkiya go'ettana danddayiyanaa?

Numbers[edit]

1

Issuwa

2

Naa"a

3

Heezza

4

Oydda

5

Ichchasha

6

Usuppuna

7

Laappuna

8

Hosppuna

9

Uddufuna

10

Tamma

11

Tammanne isiino

12

Tammanne naa"a

13

Tammanne heezza

14

Tammanne oydda

15

Tammanne ichchasha

16

Tammanne usuppuna

17

Tammanne laappuna

18

Tammanne hosppuna

19

Tammanne uddufuna

20

Laatama

21

Laatamanne isiino

22

Laatamanne naa"a

23

Laatamanne heezza

30

Hasttama

40

Oytama

50

Ishatama

60

Usuppun tamma

70

Laappun tamma

80

Hosppun tamma

90

Uddufun tamma

100

Xeeta

200

Naa"u xeeta

300

Heezzu xeeta

1,000

Sha'a

2,000

Naa"u Sha'a

1,000,000

Miilooniya

1,000,000,000

Biilooniya

1,000,000,000,000

Tiriilooniya

half

baggaa

less

guuttaa

more

daruwa

Time[edit]

now

ha'i

later

simmidi

before

kase

morning

guuraa

afternoon

gallassaa

evening

omarssaa

night

qammaa

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock AM

gallassappe issi saate

two o'clock AM

gallassappe naa"u saate

noon

poo'uwa

one o'clock PM

qammaappe issi saate

two o'clock PM

qammaappe naa"u saate

midnight

bilahe

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s)

_____ daqiiqaa/ta

_____ hour(s)

saatiya/ta

_____ day(s)

_____ gallassaa/ta

_____ week(s)

_____ giyaa/ta, saaminttaa/ta

_____ month(s)

_____ aginaa/ta

_____ year(s)

_____ layttaa/ta

Days[edit]

today

hachchi

yesterday

zino ( )

tomorrow

wontto ( )

this week

ha saaminttan

last week

aadhdhida saaminttan

next week

kaalliya saaminttan

Sunday

Woggaa

Monday

Sagga

Tuesday

Ciishsha

Wednesday

Woliila

Thursday

Shaaga

Friday

Bizza

Saturday

Qeeraa

Months[edit]

January

Shachchiya

February

Longgiya

March

Bullaalaa

April

Gabbaa

May

Laaboshaa

June

Guuliya

July

Caljjuwa

August

Kuushshaa

September

Gifaataa

October

Gooluwa

November

Baraataa

December

Duubbalaa

Writing time and date[edit]

Colors[edit]

black

Karetta

white

bootta

gray

giraaca

red

zo"o

blue

salo mera

yellow

adil"e ciishsha mera

green

maata mera

orange

loome meta

purple

( )

brown

tukke mera

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____?

______tiikkeetee woqqu biree?

One ticket to _____, please.

Issi tiikkeetiya___, hayyanaa

Where does this train/bus go?

Ha baaburee/kaamee awa bii?

Where is the train/bus to _____?

____biya baaburee/kaamee awugaara de'ii?

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

Ha baaburee/kaamee aean eqqii?

When does the train/bus for _____?

____baaburee/kaamee awude de'ii?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

Ha baaburee/kaamee ____ awude gakkii?

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ?

Taani ___ waana demmiyanaa

...the train station?

Baaburee eqqiyosaa?

...the bus station?

kaamee eqqiyosaa?

...the airport?

Horoophphilliya man"iyaa?

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

Yelagatu uuteeliya

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

Uuteeleta

...restaurants?

Quma keettata

...bars?

Ushsha keettata

...sites to see?

Be'iyobata

Can you show me on the map?

Karttan bessana danddayay?

street

Ogiya

Turn left.

Haddirssi simma

Turn right.

Ushachchi simma

left

haddirssa

right

ushachcha

straight ahead

sitti gaada ba

towards the _____

____kko

past the _____

____ppe

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

huupessa

south

tohossa

east

arshsho

west

arggo

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi[edit]

Taxi!

Taksiya

Take me to _____, please.

Tana ___ efuutee

How much does it cost to get to _____?

___baanawu woysu bira koshshii?

Take me there, please.

Tana hegawu efarkki hayyanaa

Lodging[edit]

Do you have any rooms available?

How much is a room for one person/two people?

Does the room come with...

...bedsheets?

...a bathroom?

...a telephone?

...a TV?

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?

What time is breakfast/supper?

Please clean my room.

Can you wake me at _____?

I want to check out.

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

Do you accept euros?

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

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

Qan"iya

lunch

laaxaa

supper

I want _____.

___koyyaysi.

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

kuttuwa

beef

mehiya ashuwa

fish

moliya

ham

sausage

cheese

eggs

phuuphulliya

salad

salaaxaa

(fresh) vegetables

(fresh) fruit

bread

daabbuwa

toast

pasta

spaghetti

pasttaa

rice

ruuziya

beans

ataraa

Hamburger

berggeriya

Orange

loomiya

Apple

appiliya

Banana

muuziya

Pineapple

ananaasiya

Grapes

woyniya

May I have a glass of _____?

May I have a cup of _____?

May I have a bottle of _____?

coffee

tukkiya

tea (drink)

shayiya

milk

maattaa

juice

juusiya

(bubbly) water

(still) water

beer

biiraa

wine

woyniya eessaa

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

maxiniya

black pepper

karetta bambbariya

butter

oyssaa

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

Mal"ees.

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

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

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?

Hagee ta likkiyan de'ii?

How much is this?

Hagee woqqee?

That's too expensive.

Keehippe al"iis.

Would you take _____?

___ekkuutee?

expensive

al"o

cheap

hirayso

I can't afford it.

Giigissana danddayikke.

I don't want it.

Taani hegaa koyyikke.

You're cheating me.

Tana balettaydda daasa.

I'm not interested.

Koyyabeykke.

OK, I'll take it.

Ero, ta ekkana.

Can I have a bag?

Borssaa oyqqana danddayiyanaa?

Do you ship (overseas)?

Wolwoluwa laaggay?

I need...

Taani__ koyyaysi

...toothpaste.

achchaa saamunaa

...a toothbrush.

Miiquwa

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

samuna

...shampoo.

shamppuwa

...pain reliever

( )

...cold medicine.

Oshinchchaa xaliya

...stomach medicine.

... Uluwa xaliya

...a razor.

Mulaacaa

...an umbrella.

Yanxxila

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

Maarafaa

...batteries.

Baatiraa

...writing paper.

Woraqataa

...a pen.

Biiriya

...English-language books.

Inggilizetto doonaa maxaafata

...English-language magazines.

Inggilizetto doonaa matseeteta.

...an English-language newspaper.

Inggilizetto doonaa gaazeexaa.

...an English-English dictionary.

Inggilizetto-Inggilizetto qaalaa kochchaa.

Driving[edit]

I want to rent a car.

Taani kaamiya keraa koyyaas

Can I get insurance?

Anshshuuranssiya demmana danddayiyanaa?

stop (on a street sign)

essa

one way

ogee baawa

yield

( )

no parking

essiyosi baawa

speed limit

salttuwa

gas (petrol) station

Binzziliya duuqqiyosaa

petrol

Binzzziliya

diesel

( )

Authority[edit]

I haven't done anything wrong.

Taani issu balaakka polabeykke.

It was a misunderstanding.

Hagee gelibeenna

Where are you taking me?

Tana awu efaydda de'ay?

Am I under arrest?

Tasni qashiwa de'iyanaa?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

Taani Amerkkaa/Awusttraliya/Inggilize/Kanaadaa biittawa.

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

Taani Amerkkaa/Awusttraliya/Inggilize/Kanaadaa imbbaasiya Zakkara gudaa.

I want to talk to a lawyer.

Seeraa eranchchaa hassayssana koyyaysi.

Can I just pay a fine now?

Taani ha'i miishshaa qanxxana danddayiyanaa?