ደሓን ሕደር
dehan hider
The English phrase 'goodnight' is translated into Tigrinya as ደሓን ሕደር (dehan hider).
This phrase is a farewell used when someone is going to bed or leaving for the night. While it literally implies a wish for someone to sleep well, it is the standard way to say 'goodnight' when someone is retiring for sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ደሓን ሕደር is composed of ደሓን (dehan), meaning 'well' or 'good' and ሕደር (hider), which is the masculine imperative form of 'to sleep' or 'to stay'.
Which one should you use?
When addressing more than one person or a person of respect, use the form ደሓን ሓደሩ (dehan haderu).
How does it change in a sentence?
To address multiple people or to show respect to a single person, the form changes to ደሓን ሓደሩ (dehan haderu).
How do you pronounce it?
dehan hider
Did you know?
- Because Tigrinya is a gendered language, you must use ደሓን ሕደሪ (dehan hideri) when speaking specifically to a woman. Using the masculine ደሓን ሕደር for a female friend would be grammatically incorrect.
- While ደሓን ሕደር is the standard farewell, in very religious contexts, people may follow it with a blessing or a reference to God to ensure the person is protected throughout the night.
- The word ደሓን used in 'goodnight' is the same word used to say 'well' or 'healthy' in other contexts. Saying 'goodnight' is essentially wishing the other person remains in a state of wellness during the night.
Examples in context
- ደሓን ሕደር።dehan hider.Goodnight.
- ደሓን ሕደር፣ ጽቡቕ ዕረፍቲ።dehan hider, tsubuq 'refeti.Goodnight, have a good rest.
Example conversation
Ritsa is saying goodnight to Ephrem before he goes to bed.
- ርእሳ Re'esaኤፍሬም፡ ደሓን ሕደር።Ephrem, dehan hider.Ephrem, goodnight.
- ኤፍሬም Efremንዓኺ እውን ደሓን ሕደሪ።Naki iwin dehan hideri.Goodnight to you too.
- ርእሳ Re'esaጽቡቕ ትንቀሳቐስ።Tsibuq tinqesaqes.Sleep well.
- ኤፍሬም Efremየቐንየለይ፡ ርእሳ።Yeqenyelay, Ritsa.Thank you, Ritsa.
