ሰላም
sälam/ˈsəlam/
The Amharic word for "peace" is ሰላም (sälam).
ሰላም refers to a state of being free from war. Beyond its literal meaning, it is commonly used as a standard greeting, similar to saying "Hello" or "Peace be upon you."
Meaning: state of being free from war (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sälam and the IPA is /ˈsəlam/.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with ሰላም, it is natural to respond with the same word, ሰላም.
Did you know?
- In traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, which are centered on social harmony, the concept of ሰላም is often invoked to settle disputes before the coffee is served.
- The word ሰላም shares the same ancient Semitic root as the Hebrew word 'shalom' and the Arabic 'salam'.
- The word ሰላም is often used in names, such as 'Selam', which can be given to children to signify a wish for a peaceful life.
Examples in context
- ሰላም ለሀገራችንPeace to our country
- በአገሪቱ ሰላም እንዲኖር ጸለይኩ።be'ageritu selam indinor tseliyiku.I prayed for peace to be in the country.
Example conversation
Helen and Nati are discussing world events.
- ሄለን Helenናቲ፣ ዓለም ላይ ሰላም መኖር አለበት።Nati, alem lay selam menor alebet.Nati, there must be peace in the world.
- ናቲ Natiአዎ ሄለን፣ ሰላም በጣም አስፈላጊ ነው።awo Helen, selam betam asfelagi new.Yes Helen, peace is very important.
- ሄለን Helenእንዴት ሰላም እናመጣለን?endet selam inametallan?How do we bring peace?
- ናቲ Natiበፍቅር እና በክብሮት ይቻላል።befikir ina bekibrot yichalal.It is possible through love and respect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peace” translations and entries ሰላም, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ሰላም, CC BY-SA 4.0.
