እግዚኣብሔር
'əgzi'abəḥer
The English word "God" is translated into Tigrinya as እግዚኣብሔር ('əgzi'abəḥer).
The term እግዚኣብሔር is used almost exclusively to refer to the monotheistic God within Christian and Islamic contexts in Tigrinya-speaking regions.
Meaning: deity (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of እግዚእ, which means lord or master and ኣብሔር, which means God.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
'əgzi'abəḥer
Did you know?
- While እግዚኣብሔር refers to the monotheistic God, the word ኣምላኽ is often used to describe a deity in a more general or pagan sense, similar to the English word 'god' when not capitalized.
- The script used to write እግዚኣብሔር is called Ge'ez, and unlike the English alphabet, each character represents a consonant and a vowel combined into one symbol.
- Tigrinya speakers often use phrases involving እግዚኣብሔር to express hope for the future, such as እግዚኣብሔር ይርዳእና meaning 'May God help us', even in non-religious daily conversations.
Examples in context
- እግዚኣብሔር ጥዑም እዩ።Egziabher t'u'em eyu.God is good.
- እግዚኣብሔር ሰላም ይሃብካ።Egziabher selam yihabka.God give you peace.
- እግዚኣብሔር ይመርከብ።Egziabher yimerkeb.God bless (you/him).
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their faith in a living room.
- ኤፍሬም Efremእግዚኣብሔር ንኹሉ ሰብ ይርክቦ።Egziabhier n'kulu seb yirikbo.God finds everyone.
- ሃይማኖት Haymanotእወ ኤፍሬም፣ እግዚኣብሔር ርህም እዩ።Ewe Efrem, Egziabhier rihim eyu.Yes Efrem, God is merciful.
- ኤፍሬም Efremብሓቂ ብዓቢ ተስፋ እኣምን እየ።B'haqi b'abi tesfa e'amen eye.Truly, I believe with great hope.
- ሃይማኖት Haymanotእቲ እምነት ይሃበና ሰላም።Eti emnet yihabena selam.That faith gives us peace.
