ደህና ሁን
dehna hun
In Amharic, goodbye is said as ደህና ሁን (dehna hun).
The phrase is used as a farewell.
Meaning: farewell (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ደህና (dehna) meaning 'well' and ሁን (hun) meaning 'be'.
Which one should you use?
ደህና ሁን is used for one person, whereas ደህና ሁኑ is used for multiple people or to show respect to an elder or superior.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on whom you are addressing. Use ደህና ሁን (dehna hun) when speaking to a single male. To say goodbye to more than one person or to use a polite/formal form, use ደህና ሁኑ (dehna hunu) instead of ደህና ሁን.
How do you pronounce it?
dehna hun
Did you know?
- The word ደህና used in this farewell also serves as the primary way to ask 'How are you?' in a greeting, making the same word essential for both arriving and leaving.
- In casual settings among close friends of the same age, using the formal ደህና ሁኑ can actually feel strangely distant or even cold.
- In many Ethiopian social contexts, saying ደህና ሁን might be accompanied by a slight nod or a hand over the heart to emphasize the sincerity of the wish.
Examples in context
- ደህና ሁን።deḥna hun.Goodbye.
- ሂድና ደህና ሁን።hid-inna deḥna hun.Go and stay well (goodbye).
- ደህና ሁን፣ ነገ እንገናኝ።deḥna hun, nege in-ge-na-ny.Goodbye, let's meet tomorrow.
Example conversation
Betelhem and Nati are finishing a conversation at a cafe.
- ቤተልሔም Betelhemናቲ፣ እኔ መሄድ አለብኝ።Nati, ene mehed alebiny.Nati, I have to go.
- ናቲ Natiእሺ፣ ደህና ሁኚ።Eshi, dehna hugni.Okay, goodbye.
- ቤተልሔም Betelhemአንተም ደህና ሁን!Antem dehna hun!You be well too (goodbye)!
- ናቲ Natiበኋላ እንገናኝ።Behwala enigenany.We will meet later.
