ከመይ ኣምሲኻ
kemey Amsika
The English phrase "good evening" is translated into Tigrinya as ከመይ ኣምሲኻ (kemey Amsika).
This phrase is used as a greeting in the evening. While it functions as a way to say "good evening," it is used to inquire about how one has spent the time up to that point.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
Which one should you use?
The phrase changes based on whom you are addressing. Use ከመይ ኣምሲኻ for a single male, ከመይ ኣምሲኺ for a single female and ከመይ ኣምሲኹም when addressing a group of people or when using a polite form for one person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms are gendered and numbered: ከመይ ኣምሲኻ is the masculine form for one man, ከመይ ኣምሲኺ is the feminine form for one woman and ከመይ ኣምሲኹም is the plural form for a group or a polite singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
kemey Amsika
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not treat this phrase as a literal wish for someone to have a good evening. Instead, treat it as a question asking how the person has spent their time.
Did you know?
- Tigrinya uses different verbs for 'spending time' depending on the time of day, meaning you cannot use the root of ከመይ ኣምሲኻ to greet someone in the morning.
- A common non-verbal accompaniment to greetings in Eritrea and Ethiopia may include a light handshake or a slight nod of the head to signal respect.
- Because the phrase asks how you have spent your time, a common way to respond is not just 'fine', but by describing your evening's activities.
Example conversation
Efrem meets Ma'ar at a dinner party.
- ኤፍሬም Efremከመይ ኣምሲኺ፣ መዓር!Kemey amsiki, Ma'ar!Good evening, Ma'ar!
- መዓር Me'arሰላም ኤፍሬም፡ ከመይ ኣምሲኻ?Selam Efrem, kemey amsika?Hello Efrem, good evening!
- ኤፍሬም Efremጽቡቕ ኣምሲዐ፣ ንዓኺ ከመይ?Tsibuq amsie, n'aki kemey?I've had a good evening, how about you?
- መዓር Me'arኣነ እውን ጽቡቕ እየ።Ane eyun tsibuq eye.I am also doing well.
