ብላ
bla
The Amharic verb for 'eat' is ብላ (bla).
This verb is used when referring to the act of eating a meal.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present or future tense, use እበላለሁ for 'I eat' or 'I will eat' and ይበላል for 'he eats' or 'he will eat'. For the past tense, use በላ for 'he ate' and በላች for 'she ate'. To express a subjunctive mood, such as 'let him eat' or 'may he eat', use ይበል.
How do you pronounce it?
bla
Did you know?
- The custom of ጉርሻ involves feeding another person a morsel of food by hand, turning the act of ብላ into a gesture of love or respect.
- When expressing that someone has 'eaten' a lot of money or resources, Amharic speakers use a specific idiom that implies the person has 'swallowed' the wealth.
- If you are eating with your hands, which is traditional, the verb ብላ is accompanied by specific etiquette where you must only use your right hand to touch the food.
Examples in context
- ምሳህን ብላ።misahin bila.Eat your lunch.
- ሁሉንም ነገር ብላ።hulunim neger bila.Eat everything.
Example conversation
A mother tells her son to eat his food.
- ኤልሳቤጥ Elsabethናቲ፣ ምሳህን ብላ።Nati, misahin bila.Nati, eat your lunch.
- ናቲ Natiእሺ እማዬ።ishi emaye.Okay, mommy.
- ኤልሳቤጥ Elsabethቶሎ ብላ።tolo bila.Eat quickly.
- ናቲ Natiአሁን እበላለሁ።ahun ibelalehu.I am eating now.
