ደህና እደር
dähna där
In Amharic, the English phrase "good night" is expressed as ደህና እደር (dähna där).
This phrase is used as a farewell when someone is going to sleep, rather than a general greeting for the evening.
Meaning: a farewell (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ደህና እደር literally means 'sleep well'.
Which one should you use?
The default form ደህና እደር is specifically for a single male listener.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use ደህና እደሪ when speaking to a female, and use ደህና እደሩ when speaking to a group of people or as a polite/formal address to one person.
How do you pronounce it?
dähna där
Did you know?
- Amharic is a Semitic language, making the structure of its verbs in phrases like ደህና እደር more similar to Arabic or Hebrew than to English.
- In Amharic, the concept of 'goodness' or 'wellness' is intrinsically tied to the state of being 'well' or 'healthy' rather than just a moral quality.
- The verb እደር comes from a root that refers to spending the night, not just the physical act of closing one's eyes to sleep.
Examples in context
- ደህና እደር.dehna eder.Good night.
- ደህና እደር፣ መልካም ህልም!dehna eder, melkam hilm!Good night, sweet dreams!
- አሁን መተኛት አለብኝ፣ ደህና እደር።ahun metenyat alebiggn, dehna eder.I must sleep now, good night.
Example conversation
Abel is leaving Helen's house at night.
- አቤል Abelእኔ ልሄድ እፈልጋለሁ።Ine lihed efeligalhu.I want to go.
- ሄለን Helenእሺ፣ ደህና እደር አቤል!Eshi, dehna eder Abel!Okay, good night Abel!
- አቤል Abelአንቺም ደህና እደሪ።Anchim dehna ederi.Good night to you too.
- ሄለን Helenበሰላም ሂድ።Beselam hid.Go in peace.
