መተኛት
metenyat
To sleep in Amharic is መተኛት (metenyat).
The term refers to the act of resting in a state of reduced consciousness.
Meaning: to rest in state of reduced consciousness (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form መተኛት is the infinitive, which can function as a verb meaning 'to sleep' or as a noun meaning 'sleeping' or 'sleep'. To express that someone is currently in the state of having fallen asleep, you should use the perfective form ተኝቷል (he has slept / he is asleep).
How do you pronounce it?
metenyat
Did you know?
- When saying 'goodnight' to someone, Ethiopians frequently skip the concept of sleep entirely, instead offering wishes for 'peace' or 'mercy'.
- In Amharic, the word for 'sleep' and the word for 'to lie down' share the same linguistic root, meaning the language focuses on the physical posture of the body rather than the mental state of unconsciousness.
- When asking if someone slept well, Ethiopians typically ask if they 'found rest' rather than whether they 'slept'.
Examples in context
- መተኛት እፈልጋለሁ።metegnat efeligalew.I want to sleep.
- ልጆቹ መተኛት ጀመሩ።lijochu metegnat jemeru.The children started to sleep.
Example conversation
Sara and Abel are talking before bed.
- ሳራ Saraአቤል፣ መተኛት ትፈልጋለህ?Abel, metenyat tifeligaleh?Abel, do you want to sleep?
- አቤል Abelአዎ፣ በጣም ደክሞኛል።Awo, betam dekmogniyal.Yes, I am very tired.
- ሳራ Saraእሺ፣ በሰላም ተኛ።Ishi, beselam tegna.Okay, sleep peacefully.
- አቤል Abelአንቺም በሰላም ተኚ።Anchim beselam tenyi.You sleep peacefully too.
