ከመይ ኣለኻ
kemey alekha
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Tigrinya as ከመይ ኣለኻ (kemey alekha).
This is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ከመይ, which literally means "how" and ኣለኻ, a masculine singular verb meaning "you are" or "you exist".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on who you are addressing. Use ከመይ ኣለኺ (kemey alekhi) when addressing a woman, and use ከመይ ኣለኹም (kemey alekum) when addressing a group of people or when using a formal or polite tone with one person.
How do you pronounce it?
kemey alekha
When do people say it?
A common response to this greeting is ጽቡቕ ኣለኹ (tsibuq aleku), which means "I am well".
Did you know?
- Tigrinya greetings often extend into long, repetitive sequences of questions and answers about health and family. A simple ከመይ ኣለኻ can spark a ritualized exchange that lasts several minutes before the main conversation begins.
- The phrase is spoken in a language that uses the Ge'ez script, one of the oldest writing systems still in active use today. Unlike English, this script is an abugida, where each character represents a consonant and a vowel together.
- In Tigrinya, the verb ኣለኻ used in this greeting literally means 'you exist'. This reflects a worldview where asking how someone 'is' is an inquiry into their state of existence and presence.
Examples in context
- ከመይ ኣለኻ?kemey alekha?Hi, how are you?
- ከመይ ኣለኻ? ሰላም?kemey alekha? selam?How are you? Peace?
- ከመይ ኣለኻ? ሓዱሽ ነገር ዶ ኣሎ?kemey alekha? hadush neger do alo?How are you? Is there anything new?
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- ርእሳ Re'esaሰላም ሳሚኤል፣ ከመይ ኣለኻ?Selam Samuel, kemey alekha?Hi Samuel, how are you?
- ሳሚኤል Samuelጥዑም እየ፣ ርእሳ ከመይ ኣለኺ?T'um eye, Ritsa kemey alekhi?I am fine, Ritsa how are you?
- ርእሳ Re'esaእኔ እውን ጥዑም እየ።Ene ewun t'um eye.I am also fine.
- ሳሚኤል Samuelብጣዕሚ ደስ ይብለኒ።Bitami des yibleni.I am very glad.
