Oromo

20 Oromo phrases for greetings and everyday courtesy, from Hello (Akkam) to Do you speak English? (Afaan Inglizii dubbattaa?).

Hello

Akkam, pronounced ak-KAM

Good morning

Akkam bultee, pronounced ak-KAM bul-TE

Good evening

Galgala gaarii, pronounced gal-GA-la ga-RI

Good night

Halkan gaarii, pronounced hal-KAN ga-RI

How are you?

Akkam jirta?, pronounced ak-KAM jir-TA

I'm fine, thank you

Gaarii jira, galatoomi, pronounced ga-RI ji-RA ga-la-TO-mi

What is your name?

Maqaan kee eenyu?, pronounced ma-QAN ke EN-yu

My name is...

Maqaan koo..., pronounced ma-QAN ko...

Nice to meet you

Si arguu gammadeera, pronounced si ar-GU gam-ma-DE-ra

Please

Maaloo, pronounced ma-LO

Thank you

Galatoomi, pronounced ga-la-TO-mi

You're welcome

Nagaa, pronounced na-GA

Yes

Eeyyee, pronounced ey-YE

No

Lakki, pronounced lak-KI

Sorry

Dhiifama, pronounced dhi-FA-ma

Excuse me

Dhiifama, pronounced dhi-FA-ma

Goodbye

Nagatti dhiisi, pronounced na-GAT-ti dhi-SI

See you later

Booda wal arginee, pronounced BO-da wal ar-gi-NE

I don't understand

Hin hubadhu, pronounced hin hu-BA-dhu

Do you speak English?

Afaan Inglizii dubbattaa?, pronounced a-FAN ing-li-ZI dub-ba-TA

20 Oromo phrases for getting around, from Where is the airport? (Buufata xiyyaaraa eessa jira?) to Police station (Buufata poolisaa).

Where is the airport?

Buufata xiyyaaraa eessa jira?, pronounced bu-FA-ta xiy-ya-RA es-SA ji-RA

How much does this cost?

Gatiin isaa meeqa?, pronounced ga-TIN i-SA me-QA

I need a taxi

Taaksii barbaada, pronounced tak-SI bar-BA-da

Where is the hotel?

Hoteelli eessa jira?, pronounced ho-TEL es-SA ji-RA

I have a reservation

Bakka qabadheera, pronounced bak-KA qa-ba-DHE-ra

Train station

Buufata tiraanatii, pronounced bu-FA-ta ti-ra-NA-ti

Bus stop

Bakka buusii dhaabbatu, pronounced bak-KA bu-SI dhab-BA-tu

Ticket

Tikeeta, pronounced ti-KE-ta

Passport

Paaspoortii, pronounced pas-POR-ti

Help!

Gargaari!, pronounced gar-GA-ri

I'm lost

Karaa dhabadhe, pronounced ka-RA dha-BA-dhe

Turn left

Bitaa garagali, pronounced bi-TA ga-ra-GA-li

Turn right

Mirgaan garagali, pronounced mir-GAN ga-ra-GA-li

Straight ahead

Kallattiidhaan deemi, pronounced kal-lat-TI-dhan de-MI

How far is it?

Fageenya isaa meeqa?, pronounced fa-GEN-ya i-SA me-QA

Museum

Muuziyeemii, pronounced mu-zi-YE-mi

Beach

Cagaf galaanaa, pronounced CA-gaf ga-LA-na

Hospital

Hospitaala, pronounced hos-pi-TA-la

Pharmacy

Farmaasiidhumaa, pronounced far-ma-SI-dhu-ma

Police station

Buufata poolisaa, pronounced bu-FA-ta po-LI-sa

20 Oromo phrases for eating and drinking, from I'm hungry (Beela'eera) to Dessert (Midhaan mi'aawaa).

I'm hungry

Beela'eera, pronounced be-LA-e-ra

I'm thirsty

Dheebuu na'eera, pronounced dhe-BU na-E-ra

The menu, please

Menyuu, maaloo, pronounced me-NYU ma-LO

Water

Bishaanii, pronounced bi-SHA-ni

Coffee

Bunaa, pronounced bu-NA

Bread

Daabboo, pronounced dab-BO

Meat

Foon, pronounced FON

Vegetarian

Foon hin nyaatu, pronounced FON hin NYA-tu

Delicious

Baay'ee mi'aawa, pronounced bay-YE mi-A-wa

The bill, please

Baasii, maaloo, pronounced BA-si ma-LO

I am allergic to...

Alerjii nan qaba..., pronounced a-ler-JI nan QA-ba...

No sugar

Shugaara malee, pronounced shu-GA-ra MA-le

Breakfast

Qurxumii, pronounced qur-XU-mi

Lunch

Laaqii, pronounced la-QI

Dinner

Halkan nyaata, pronounced hal-KAN NYA-ta

Restaurant

Reesturaantii, pronounced res-tu-RAN-ti

Table for two

Teessoo namoota laman, pronounced tes-SO na-MO-ta LA-man

Beer

Biiraa, pronounced bi-RA

Wine

Wayinii, pronounced wa-YI-ni

Dessert

Midhaan mi'aawaa, pronounced mi-DHAN mi-A-wa

15 Oromo phrases for emergencies and health, from Help! (Gargaari!) to I'm sick (Dhukkubsadheera).

Help!

Gargaari!, pronounced gar-GA-ri

Call the police!

Poolisaa waami!, pronounced po-LI-sa WA-mi

I need a doctor

Dokitara barbaada, pronounced do-ki-TA-ra bar-BA-da

Fire!

Ibidda!, pronounced i-BID-da

Ambulance

Ambulaansii, pronounced am-bu-LAN-si

I've been robbed

Na hataniiru, pronounced na ha-ta-NI-ru

I'm injured

Madaa'eera, pronounced ma-DA-e-ra

Emergency

Yeroo hatattamaa, pronounced ye-RO ha-tat-TA-ma

Where is the hospital?

Hospitaalli eessa jira?, pronounced hos-pi-TAL es-SA ji-RA

Lost passport

Paaspoortiin dhabame, pronounced pas-POR-tin dha-BA-me

I need help

Gargaarsa barbaada, pronounced gar-GAR-sa bar-BA-da

Danger

Balaa, pronounced ba-LA

Stop!

Dhaabi!, pronounced DHA-bi

Thief!

Hattuun!, pronounced hat-TUN

I'm sick

Dhukkubsadheera, pronounced dhuk-kub-SA-dhe-ra

14 Oromo phrases for work and money, from Good morning (Akkam bultee) to Thank you for your time (Yeroo keetiif galatoomi).

Good morning

Akkam bultee, pronounced ak-KAM bul-TE

I have a meeting

Walga'ii qaba, pronounced wal-GA-i QA-ba

Business card

Kaardii hojii, pronounced kar-DI HO-ji

What is your email?

Imeeliin kee maali?, pronounced i-ME-lin ke MA-li

I work for...

Nan hojjedha..., pronounced nan hoj-JE-dha...

Manager

Meneejarii, pronounced me-ne-JA-ri

Meeting

Walga'ii, pronounced wal-GA-i

Office

Ofiisii, pronounced o-FI-si

Budget

Baajatii, pronounced ba-JA-ti

Invoice

Invooyisii, pronounced in-vo-YI-si

Contract

Kontiraataa, pronounced kon-ti-RA-ta

Deadline

Guyyaa xumuraa, pronounced guy-YA xu-MU-ra

Partnership

Waliin hojjechuu, pronounced wa-LIN hoj-je-CHU

Thank you for your time

Yeroo keetiif galatoomi, pronounced ye-RO ke-TIF ga-la-TO-mi

20 Oromo phrases for numbers, days and time, from One (Tokko) to Friday (Jimaata).

One

Tokko, pronounced tok-KO

Two

Lama, pronounced LA-ma

Three

Sadii, pronounced SA-di

Four

Afur, pronounced a-FUR

Five

Shan, pronounced SHAN

Six

Ja'a, pronounced JA-a

Seven

Torba, pronounced TOR-ba

Eight

Saddet, pronounced sad-DET

Nine

Sagal, pronounced sa-GAL

Ten

Kudhan, pronounced ku-DHAN

Twenty

Digdama, pronounced dig-DA-ma

Fifty

Shantama, pronounced shan-TA-ma

One hundred

Dhibba, pronounced DHIB-ba

One thousand

Kuma, pronounced KU-ma

What time is it?

Sa'atiin meeqa?, pronounced sa-A-tin me-QA

Today

Har'a, pronounced HA-ra

Tomorrow

Boriif, pronounced bo-RIF

Yesterday

Kaleessa, pronounced ka-LES-sa

Monday

Wiixata, pronounced wix-XA-ta

Friday

Jimaata, pronounced ji-MA-ta

house

mana, pronounced MA-na

water

bishaani, pronounced bi-SHA-ni

bread

buddeena, pronounced bud-DEE-na

time

yeroo, pronounced ye-ROO

person

namni, pronounced NAM-ni

day

guyyaa, pronounced guy-YAA

road / way

karaa, pronounced ka-RAA

work

hojii, pronounced ho-JII

money

maallaqaa, pronounced maal-la-QAA

city

magaalaa, pronounced ma-gaa-LAA

school

mana barumsaa, pronounced MA-na ba-rum-SAA

book

kitaaba, pronounced ki-TAA-ba

name

maqaa, pronounced ma-QAA

child

daa'ima, pronounced daa-i-MA

friend

hiriyyaa, pronounced hi-riy-YAA

food

nyaata, pronounced nyaa-TA

language

afaan, pronounced a-FAAN

earth / land

lafaa, pronounced la-FAA

hand

harka, pronounced HAR-ka

dog

saree, pronounced sa-REE

person

nama, pronounced NA-ma

water

bishaanii, pronounced bi-SHA-ni

son / child

ilma, pronounced IL-ma

father

abbaa, pronounced AB-ba

mother

haadha, pronounced HA-dha

country / land

biyya, pronounced BIY-ya

tree

muka, pronounced MOO-ka

river

laga, pronounced LA-ga

friend

hiriyaa, pronounced hi-RI-ya

night

halkan, pronounced HAL-kan

fire

ibiddaa, pronounced ee-BID-da

sky

samii, pronounced SA-mi

to be

ta'uu, pronounced ta-UU

to go

deemuu, pronounced dee-MUU

to come

dhufuu, pronounced dhu-FUU

to speak

dubbachuu, pronounced dub-ba-CHUU

to eat

nyaachuu, pronounced nyaa-CHUU

to drink

dhuguu, pronounced dhu-GUU

to see

arguuU, pronounced ar-GUU

to know

beekuu, pronounced bee-KUU

to want

barbaaduu, pronounced bar-baa-DUU

to give

kennuu, pronounced ken-NUU

to take

fudhachuu, pronounced fu-dha-CHUU

to do

gochuu, pronounced go-CHUU

to think

yaaduu, pronounced yaa-DUU

to live

jiraachuu, pronounced ji-raa-CHUU

to read

dubbisuu, pronounced dub-bi-SUU

to write

barreessuu, pronounced bar-rees-SUU

to work

hojjechuu, pronounced hoj-je-CHUU

to help

gargaaruu, pronounced gar-gaa-RUU

to find

argachuu, pronounced ar-ga-CHUU

to hold

qabachuu, pronounced qa-ba-CHUU

to go

deemu, pronounced DE-moo

to come

dhufu, pronounced DHOO-foo

to sleep

rafuu, pronounced RA-foo

to see

arguu, pronounced AR-goo

to buy

bituu, pronounced BEE-too

to learn

barachuu, pronounced ba-RA-choo

to hear

dhagahuu, pronounced dha-GA-hoo

to run

fiiguu, pronounced FEE-goo

to sit

taa'uu, pronounced TA-oo

to stand

dhaabachuu, pronounced dha-BA-choo

to do / make

godhuu, pronounced GO-dhoo

good

gaarii, pronounced gaa-RII

bad

badaa, pronounced ba-DAA

big

guddaa, pronounced gud-DAA

small

xiqaa, pronounced xi-QAA

new

haaraa, pronounced haa-RAA

old

moofaa, pronounced moo-FAA

beautiful

bareedaa, pronounced ba-ree-DAA

fast

saffisaa, pronounced saf-fi-SAA

slow

gidgidaa, pronounced gid-gi-DAA

long / tall

dheeraa, pronounced dhee-RAA

short

gabaabaa, pronounced ga-baa-BAA

warm / hot

ho'aa, pronounced ho-AA

cold

qabbanaa'aa, pronounced qab-ba-naa-AA

strong

cimaa, pronounced ci-MAA

easy

salphaa, pronounced sal-PHAA

difficult

rakkisaa, pronounced rak-ki-SAA

important

barbaachisaa, pronounced bar-baa-chi-SAA

interesting

nama hawwatu, pronounced NA-ma haw-WA-tu

happy

gammadaa, pronounced gam-ma-DAA

expensive

qaalii, pronounced qaa-LII

small

xiqqaa, pronounced XIQ-qa

white

adii, pronounced A-di

black

gurraacha, pronounced gur-RA-cha

red

diimaa, pronounced DEE-ma

hard / strong

jabaataa, pronounced ja-BA-ta

soft / easy

laafaa, pronounced LA-fa

many

baay'ee, pronounced BA-ye

few / a little

xiqqoo, pronounced XIQ-qo

sweet

mi'aawaa, pronounced mi-A-wa

beautiful

bareedduu, pronounced ba-RED-doo

now

amma, pronounced AM-ma

today

har'a, pronounced HA-ra

tomorrow

boru, pronounced BO-ru

yesterday

kaleessa, pronounced ka-LES-sa

here

asitti, pronounced a-SIT-ti

there

achitti, pronounced a-CHIT-ti

quickly

saffisaan, pronounced saf-fi-SAAN

slowly

gidgidaan, pronounced gid-gi-DAAN

well

gaarii, pronounced gaa-RII

very / a lot

baay'ee, pronounced BA-ye

also / too

ittis, pronounced IT-tis

not / no

hin, pronounced hin

yes

eeyyee, pronounced ey-YE

already

duraan, pronounced du-RAAN

still / yet

ammas, pronounced AM-mas

only / just

qofa, pronounced QO-fa

really

dhugumatti, pronounced dhu-gu-MAT-ti

a little

xiqqoo, pronounced XIQ-qo

immediately

hatattamaan, pronounced ha-tat-ta-MAAN

tomorrow

bori, pronounced BO-ri

always

yeroo hundaa, pronounced ye-RO HUN-da

only / alone

qofaa, pronounced QO-fa

also / but

ammoo, pronounced AM-mo

quickly

dafanii, pronounced da-FA-ni

slowly

gara garaan, pronounced GA-ra ga-RAN

together

waliin, pronounced wa-LIN

because

sababii, pronounced sa-BA-bi

if

yoo, pronounced yo

but

garuu, pronounced GA-roo

and

fi, pronounced fi

also / likewise

akkasumas, pronounced ak-ka-SOO-mas

first

jalqaba, pronounced jal-QA-ba

after / later

booda, pronounced BO-da