ሕራይ
hray
The Tigrinya word for 'okay' is ሕራይ (hray).
Meaning: OK (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
hray
Did you know?
- In some contexts, ሕራይ can be used to express a sense of 'enough' or 'that is sufficient' when someone is pouring a drink or serving food.
- In formal Tigrinya writing, ሕራይ is used more strictly as a modifier for 'only', while the conversational 'okay' is more common in spoken dialect.
- Repeating the phrase as ሕራይ ሕራይ does not reinforce the agreement. Instead, it often functions as a verbal nudge to tell the other person to move faster or get to the point.
Examples in context
- ሕራይ እዩ።ḥiray iyu.It is okay.
Example conversation
Ritsa and Efrem are deciding on a place to eat.
- ርእሳ Re'esaሎሚ ኣብቲ ሓድሽ ቤትመግቢ ንበልዕ?Lomi abti hadish betmegebi nibelu?Shall we eat at the new restaurant today?
- ኤፍሬም Efremሕራይ፡ ብሽዓት 12 ንራኸብ።Hiray, bishiat 12 nirakeb.Okay, let's meet at 12 o'clock.
- ርእሳ Re'esaክነምጽእ ይበቃኒ።Kinemtsi yibekani.I just need to come.
- ኤፍሬም Efremጽቡቕ፡ ንራኸብ።Tsibuq, nirakeb.Good, we will meet.
