ብላዕ
bla'
The Tigrinya word for 'eat' is ብላዕ (bla').
This verb is used to describe the act of eating a meal.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
bla'
When do people say it?
In Tigrinya culture, it is customary to wait for the eldest person present to start eating before you begin.
Did you know?
- If you are a guest, you may be expected to decline the offer to 'eat' several times before finally accepting, as a way of showing you are not greedy.
- Eating is a deeply communal act where several people often eat from one large plate of injera, and feeding a guest a morsel of food by hand is a gesture of affection.
- In Tigrinya, the verb ብላዕ is used metaphorically to describe someone 'eating' or consuming financial resources and budgets.
Examples in context
- ነዚ ምግቢ ብላዕ።nezi migbi bla'e.Eat this food.
- ቶም ብላዕ።Tom bla'e.Eat, Tom.
Example conversation
Selam is inviting Efrem to have lunch.
- ሰላም Selamኤፍሬም፡ ብላዕ።Efrem, bila'.Efrem, eat.
- ኤፍሬም Efremሕጂ ኣይርእየን።Hiji ayiriyeni.I don't feel like it now.
- ሰላም Selamብላዕ፡ ንጹሕ እዩ።Bila', nitsuh eyu.Eat, it is fresh.
- ኤፍሬም Efremሕራይ፡ እብላዕ እየ።Hiray, ibla' eye.Okay, I will eat.
