ከመይ ኣለኻ?
kemey 'aleka?
How are you? in Tigrinya is ከመይ ኣለኻ? (kemey 'aleka?)
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression consists of the word ከመይ, which means 'how' and the verb form ኣለኻ, which means 'you are'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use depends on whom you are addressing. Use ከመይ ኣለኻ? when addressing a male, ከመይ ኣለኺ? when addressing a female and ከመይ ኣለኹም? when addressing a group of people or when using a polite form for a single person.
How do you pronounce it?
kemey 'aleka?
When do people say it?
A common response to this greeting is ጽቡቕ ኣለኹ, meaning 'I am well'.
Did you know?
- While ጽቡቕ ኣለኹ means 'I am well', many Tigrinya speakers respond with ኣምላክ ይመስገን, which means 'thanks be to God', regardless of their actual state.
- Tigrinya is written in the Ge'ez script, where the characters in ከመይ ኣለኻ? are called 'fidels' and represent a combination of a consonant and a vowel.
- In Tigrinya culture, it is common to repeat ከመይ ኣለኻ? and other greetings several times in a row during a single encounter before moving on to the main conversation.
Examples in context
- ከመይ ኣለኻ?kemey alekha?How are you?
- ከመይ ኣለኻ? ሰላም ዲኻ?kemey alekha? selam dikha?How are you? Are you well?
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- ኤፍሬም Efremሰላም ሰላም፣ ከመይ ኣለኻ?Selam Selam, kemey alekha?Hello Selam, how are you?
- ሰላም Selamጥዑም እየ፣ ንስኻ ከመይ ኣለኻ?Tuum em eye, niska kemey alekha?I am good, how are you?
- ኤፍሬም Efremእኔ እውን ደሓን እየ።Ine ewun dehan eye.I am also fine.
- ሰላም Selamብጣዕሚ ተሓጉሰ።Bitaymi tehaguse.I am very happy.
