amharic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, geographical
Quick answer
What does “amharic” mean?
The official and principal language of Ethiopia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The official and principal language of Ethiopia.
The Semitic language used by the Amhara people, serving as the working language of the Ethiopian federal government and in widespread public life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling is identical.
Connotations
Neutral geographical/linguistic term in both dialects.
Frequency
Equal, low frequency in both, appearing mainly in specific contexts like linguistics, travel, or international affairs.
Grammar
How to Use “amharic” in a Sentence
[Subject] speaks/writes/studies Amharic.The document is translated [from/into] Amharic.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amharic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She is studying the Amharic script.
- An Amharic-English dictionary is essential.
American English
- He gave an Amharic language lesson.
- The embassy requires Amharic documentation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in localization or translation services for the Ethiopian market.
Academic
Common in linguistics, African studies, anthropology, and comparative Semitic studies.
Everyday
Low frequency; used when discussing travel to Ethiopia, language learning, or meeting an Ethiopian speaker.
Technical
Used in linguistics to describe its unique fidel script and grammatical features.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amharic”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amharic”
- Misspelling as 'Amaric' or 'Amhartic'.
- Using 'Amharic' as an adjective for people (e.g., 'Amharic people' is incorrect; use 'Amhara' or 'Ethiopian').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, distantly. Both are Semitic languages, but they are not mutually intelligible and use different writing systems.
Amharic uses the Ge'ez script, also known as 'fidel', which is an abugida (a syllabic writing system where each character represents a consonant+vowel combination).
Amharic has approximately 32 million native speakers and serves as a second language for millions more in Ethiopia, with around 57 million total speakers.
No. 'Amharic' refers only to the language. A person is 'Ethiopian' or, specifically, an 'Amhara' (member of the ethnic group).
The official and principal language of Ethiopia.
Amharic is usually formal, academic, geographical in register.
Amharic: in British English it is pronounced /æmˈhærɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑːmˈhɑːrɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AM HARRY' could speak Ethiopian, but AMHARIC is the real language.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A KEY (to Ethiopian culture and administration).
Practice
Quiz
Amharic is primarily spoken in which country?