Hiikkaa Jechootaa
Afaan Oromoo Fi Afaan Ingiliizii
There are 5 vowels in the Oromo language.
a aa
aarii anger
e ee
eeboo spear
i ii
ilmoo offspring
o oo
olaanaa super
u uu
uffata dress/ cloth
There are also 21 basic consonants in Oromo language. .
b
baabbaa dad
d
damma honey
f
farda horse
g
gaala camel
h
harree donkey
j
jaamaa blind
k
kalee kideny
l lafa
earth
m
marga grass
n
nama human/man
q
qamalee ape
r
raammoo worm
s
saree dog
t
tabba hill
w
Waaqayyo God
x
xaxamaa complex
y
yakka crime
Diphthongs
Ch
gurraacha black
Dh
dhadhaa butter
Ny
nyaata food
Ph
salphaa easy
Sh
shan five
Foreign sounds
The sounds of the following characters are not found in Oromo language,
but they are used in the Oromo language as adopted sounds.
p
koppii copy
v
talavidzinii television
z
A key to pronunciation of any Oromo word
komee
complaint
kommee come
(2) If similar vowels are double in a word the sound
should be longer.
Laagaa roof of the mouth
laga river
Greeting words
Come back safely. Nagaan gali/galaa
Come in seen/seenaa
God bless you. Waaqayyo si haa
eebbisu.
Good afternoon? Attam oolte / ooltan?
Good morning? Attam bulte/bultan?
Goodbye Nagaan turi /
turaa
Have a good day. Guyyaa nagaa siif haa
ta'u.
Hello Ashamaa
Hi
Attam
How are you? Attam
jirta/jirtu?
I am fine, Praise the Lord. Nagaa, galata Waaqayyoo
I am fine. Nagaa. /
Fayyaa.
Please maaloo
Sit down taa'i/ taa'aa
Thank you. Galatoomi/
galatoomaa
Von voyage. Karaa nagaa.
Welcome baga nagaan
dhufte/ dhuftan
Transportation
Accident balaa
Address teessoo
Air port buufata xiyyaaraa
Airplane xiyyaara
Arrival dhufa, galma
Awake damaksuu
Baggage mi'a karaa
Bar mana buna
Bathroom mana dhiqannaa
Battery baatirii
Bed siree
Bicycle biskiliitii
Blanket uffata halkanii
Boat bidiruu
Brake fireenii
Bridge riqicha
Bus station buufata atoobisii
Bus atoobisii
Car konkolaataa
Cold water bishaan dilallaa'aa
Driver konkolaachisaa
Driving
license hayyama konkolaachisuu
Electricity elektiriika
Envelope poostaa
Fire ibidda
Flea tafkii
Gasoline benizila
Go deemuu
Guest house mana keessummaa
Guest keessummaa
Guide dura-deemaa
Horse farda
Hot water bishaan o'aa
Hotel hoteela
Information odeeffannoo
Insurance inshuraansii
Light ibsaa
Map maappii
Market gabaa
Message ergaa
Mud dhoqqee
Mule gaangee
Needle lilimmoo
Package ba'aa
Passenger karaa-deemaa
Petrol
station baka bobaa’aa bitatan
Police pooliisii
Post office mana poostaa
Railways karaa baaburaa
Receive fudhachuu
Restaurant mana nyaataa
Road daandii, karaa
Room kutaa
Send erguu
Ship doonii
Shop suuqii
Stop dhabadhu
Swimming pool bishaan daakaa
Taxi taaksii
Telephone bilbila
Tissue paper waraqaa mana fincaanii
Toilet mana fincaanii
Tout wayyaalaa
Towel fooxaa
Town, city magaalaa
Traffic tiraafikii
Train baabura
Umbrella dibaabee
Village ganda
Weather haala qillensaa
Directions
Back booda
East ba'a
Front fuuldura
Left bitaa
North kaaba
Right mirgaa
Side bukkee, cinaa
South kibba
West lixa
Time
Monday Wiixata
Tuesday Kibxata
Wednesday Roobii
Thursday Kamsa
Friday Jimata
Saturday Sanbata
Sunday Dilbata
3:00 am iyyaa handaaqqoo
Afternoon Waaree booda
Dawn Obboroo
Day Guyyaa
Evening Galgala
Mid night halkan walakkaa
Morning Ganama
Night Halkan
Twilight Dimimmisa
Months of the Year
January Amajjii
February Guraandhala
March Bitootessa
April Caamsaa
May Ebla
June Waaxabajjii
July Adooleessa
August Haggaya
September Fulbaana
October Onkoloolessa
December Muddee
Autumn birraa
Spring arfaasaa
Winter bona
General time related words
Afterwards gulana
Again ammas,
lammaffaa
Ago dur, qaata
Always yeroo hundaa
Appointment beellama
Century jaarraa
Early dafee
Hour saatii, saa'a
Last year waggaa darbe
Late yeroo dabarsuu
Minute daqiiqaa
Month ji'a, baatii
Next year waggaa dhufu
Shadow gaaddidduu,
gaaddisa
Sometimes takka takka,
darbee darbee
Sun rise ba'a biiftuu
Sunset lixa biiftuu
The day before yesterday dheengadda
Time yeroo
Today har'a
Tomorrow booru
Tonight galgala har'aa
When yoom
Year waggaa
Yesterday kaleessa
Numbers
1 tokko
2 lama
3 sadii
4 afur
5 shan
6 ja'a
7 torba
8 saddeet
9 sagal
10 kudha
11 kudha-tokko
12 kudha-lama
20 digdama
21 digdamii-tokko
22 digdamii-lama
30 sodoma
31 sodomii-tokko
32 sodomii-lama
40 afurtama
41 afurtamii-tokko
42 afurtamii-lama
50 shantama
51 shantamii-tokko
52 shantamii-lama
60 jaatama
61 jaatamii-tokko
62 jaatamii-lama
70 torbatama
71 torbatamii-tokko
72 torbatamii-lama
80 saddeettama
81 saddeettamii-tokko
82 saddeettamii-lama
90 sagaltama
91 sagaltamii-tokko
92 sagaltamii-lama
100 dhiba
101 dhibaa fi tokko
102 dhibaa fi lama
110 dhibaa fi kudhan
120 dhibaa fi digdama
200 dhiba- lama
300 dhiba- sadii
1000 kuma
1001 kumaa fi tokko
1002 kumaa fi lama
2000 kuma lama
3000 kuma sadii
100,000 kuma dhiba
1000,000 kitila, miliyoonii
add (+) idda'uu
subtract (-) irrisuu
divide ( ) hiruu
multiply (x) baay'isuu
equal (=) walqixxee
Money
Bank baankii
Borrow liqeessuu
Buy bituu
Cash kaashii, callaa
Check cheekii
Cheep gatii cabaa, rakasa
Coin saantima, niiree, taamunii
Cost gatii
Custom qaraxa
Dollar doolaarii
Exchange jijjiirraa
Expense baasii
Expensive mi'aa
Foreign currency qarshii biyya alaa
Form unkaa
Income galii
Identification card waraqaa eenyummaa
Loan liqii
Local currency qarshii biyya keessaa
Money qarshii
Passport paaspoortii
Profit bu'aa
Rate of exchange hamma jijjiirraa
Receipt naga'ee
Salary mindaa
Sell gurguruu
Signature mallattoo
Transfer dabarsuu
Food Related words
Appetite fedhii nyaataa
Banana muuzii
Beans baqilaa
Beef foon sangaa
Bread maxinoo, daabboo
Butter dhadhaa
Cabbage raafuu
Cake keekii
Cheese baaduu
Chicken handaaqqoo
Chili qeexoo, qaaraa
Chips waaddii dinnichaa
Coffee buna
Corn boqqoolloo
Drink dhugi
Eat nyaadhu
Egg hanqaaquu
Fish qurxummii
Fried barley qorii
Fruit ija mukaa
Garlic qulubbii adii
Grapes ija wayinii
Honey damma
Juice cuunfaa ija muka
Lamb foon hoolaa
Lemon loomii
Lentils misira
Local bread buddeena
Milk aannan
Mineral water bishaan Amoo
Onion qullubbii
Peanut ocholoonii
Pepper miximmixa
Pork foon booyyee
Potato dinnicha
Rice ruuzii
Roasted beef waaddii foonii
Salad salaaxaa
Salt soogidda
Sauce ittoo
Spices qimamii
Spoon fallaana
Sugar shukkaaraa
Tea shaayii
Vegetables ashaakkiltii
Water bishaan
Yogurt itittuu
Breakfast ciree
Lunch laaqana
Tea time fucha-butee
Supper irbaata
Dinning room kutaa nyaataa
Meal dhi'aana, nyaata,
Colors
Black gurraacha
Brown magaala
Gray daalacha
Green magarisa
Red diimaa
White adii
Yellow kelloo
Important phrases
A little.
Xinnoo – xinnoo.
Can you read this script for me? Qubee kana anaaf
dubbisuu ni dandeessaa?
Can you tell me his job? Hojii isaa
natti himtaa?
Congratulations. Baga
gammade/ gammaddan
Could you please help me? Maaloo na
gargaaruu ni dandeessaa?/dandeessuu?
Did you understand? Sii
galeeraa?/ Isinii galeeraa?
Do you drink coffee? Buna ni
dhugdaa?
Do you need more food? No. Nyaata biraa ni barbaaddaa? Waawuu/ lakkii.
He is a good person. Inni nama
gaarii dha.
He is not the man we are looking for. Lakkii, namichi nuyi
barbaadnu isa miti.
How much is it? Hammamii?/
Meeqa?
How was it? Attam
ture?
I agree
Tole.
I am a guest. Ani
keessummaa dha.
I am sorry. Nan
gadda.
I did not understand. Anaaf
hin galle./ Nuuf hin galle.
I do not need more food. Nyaata biraa hin
barbaadu.
Is it right? No, it is not right. Sirrii
dhaa? Waawuu, sirrii miti.
Is that the man we are looking for? Namichi
nuyi barbaadnu isa sanaa?
It is delicious food. Nyaata
miy'aa'aa dha.
It is good news. Oduu
gaarii dha.
No, I do not.
Waawuu./ Lakkii.
Pardon. Naa
dhiis.
Please, eat.
Maaloo, nyaadhu.
See you.
Walargina
The road is safe. Karaan nagaa
dha.
They left their baggage in the hotel. Isaan mi'a isaanii
hoteela kessatti dhiisan.
This is our church. Kun
mana kadhataa keenya.
This is very special. Argamee hin
beeku. Adda.
We are visitors. Nuyi
duwwattoota.
Well stay. Baga
nagaan turte/ turtan.
What is it? Maal
inni?
What is your name? Maqaan kee
eenyu?
What is your religion? Amantaan kee
maal inni?
When shall we meet? Yoom wal
argina?
Where are you coming from? Eessaa dhufta?/
dhufta?
Where does she come from? Isheen
eessaa dhufti?
Where is it?
Eessa?/ Eessa dha?
Where is my room? Kutaan kiyya
eessa?
Where is your residence? Iddoon jireeny
keessan eessa?
Who are you? Ati
eenyu dha?
Who is her husband? Abbaan
manaa ishee eenyu dha?
Who is that? Eenyu
inni?
Why are you come late? Maaliif yeroo
dabarsite?
Yes, I do.
Eeyyee.
You are my friend. Ati michuu
kiyya.
You lost your key. Ati bantuu
kee ni gatte.
Ankle koomee
Ape qamalee
Arm irree
Armpit bobaa
Baboon jaldeessa
Bachelor qeerroo
Back dugda
Beautiful bareedduu
Behind booda
Believer amanaa
Bible Macaafa Qulqulluu
Bird simbirroo
Blind jaamaa
Blood dhiiga
Body nafa, dhagna
Bone lafee
Book kitaaba
Boy gurbaa
Boyfriend michuu dhiiraa
Brother obboleessa
Buffalo gafaarsa
Business daldala
Businessperson Daldaalaa
Cat adurree
Cheek maddii
Chest qoma
Child Mucaa
Church building mana kadhataa
Church waldaa amantootaa
Clinic mana hakiimii
Cloth uffata
Cloud duumessa
Conference wal ga'ii
Constitution heera mootummaa
Cross fannoo
Culture aadaa
Dance sirba
Daughter intala
Deaf duudaa
Development misooma
Dew fixeensa
Dictionary galmee jechootaa
Dog saree
Door balbala
Dream abjuu
Ear gurra
Earth lafa
Economy dinagdee
Enemy diina
Example fakkeenya
Experience shaakala, muuxanno
Eye ija
Face fuula
Factory warshallee
Faith amantii
Family maatii
Famine beela
Far fagoo
Farmer Qotee bulaa
Father abbaa
Fear sodaa
Feast cidha, nyaachisa
Fence dallaa
Fiancée kaadhimaa
Finger quba
Flag alaabaa
Flood lolaa
Flower abaaboo, daraaraa
Fly titisa
Foot milla
Forehead adda
Foreign alagaa, orma
Forest bosona
Freedom bilisummaa
Friend michuu
Frown nyaara
Funeral sirna awaalaa
Garden manduubee
Genital qaama saalaa
Girl dubara
Girlfriend michuu durbaa
Gospel wangeela
Grandfather akaakayyuu
Grandmother akkayyaa
Group garee
Guard Waardiyyaa
Gun qawwee
Hair rifeensa
Hall galma
Hand harka
Handsome bareedaa
Head mataa
Heart onnee, garaa
Heaven bantii waaqaa
Here as
History seenaa
Holy qulqulluu
House mana
Husband abbaa manaa
Ice cabbii
In front fuul-dura
Inside keessa
Invitation waamicha
Itch cittoo
Job hojii
Joy gammachuu
Justice qajeelummaa
Kidding baaca, tapha
Kidney kalee
Kiss dhunguu
Knee jilba
Lady giiftii
Laughter kolfa
Law seera
Lawyer abbaa seeraa
Leader geggeessaa
Leaf baala
Leg luka
Lesson barumsa, barannoo
Library mana kitaabaa
License hayyama
Lip hidhii
Liver tiruu
Lung somba
Mad maraatuu
Man dhiira
Marriage gaa'ela
Mirror of ilaalee
Modern ammayyaa
Monument siidaa
Mosque masgiida
Mosquito bookee busaa
Mother haadha
Mountain tulluu
Mouth afaan
Nail qeensa
Near dhi’oo
Neck morma
News oduu
Nose funyaan
Notebook waraqaa yaadannoo
Now amma
Ocean garba guddaa
Office waajjira
Outside ala, diida
Palace