If you want to be able to read and write in Amharic then the first step is learning the alphabet.
This can be daunting at first but with the right resources you’ll master it in no time.
This guide will give you the resources you need and tell you how to learn the Amharic alphabet.
So, how much do you actually need to learn?
Table of Contents
How Many Letters Are There In The Amharic Alphabet?
Amharic is closely related to the Ge’ez language and the alphabet is actually just a slightly modified version of the Ge’ez script. Ge’ez is the language used by the Ethiopian church.
The Amharic alphabet, also known as Fidäl, is an abugida which means each letter is made up of a consonant and a vowel. This is different to English where each letter is either a consonant or a vowel.
The Amharic alphabet has 33 basic letters however each letter has 7 different forms. These forms depend on which vowel is to be pronounced.
As an example, ሀ is the base letter for the letter ‘h’. This base letter (ሀ) has 7 different forms which depend on which vowel follows the ‘h’. For example, ሁ is pronounced ‘hu’ and ሆ is pronounced ‘ho’.
This might sound complicated, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn the Amharic alphabet. There’s lots of variety and resources that meet different peoples needs.
Let’s have a look at some.
Learn The Amharic Alphabet Online
There’s plenty of great online resources that will help you learn the Amharic alphabet, many of which are completely free.
Memrise
Memrise is an online language learning app that uses fun games to help it’s users learn their chosen language.
They have a free Amharic alphabet course that will teach you to recognise the Amharic letters and the sounds they make.
It’s really interactive and gradually introduces all the letters slowly so you have time to consolidate them all. There’s also plenty of opportunities to practice what you’ve learnt.
The only issue is that it doesn’t have sound so I’d suggest using another resource alongside it to ensure you have the correct pronunciation. The next resource is perfect for this.
Amharic Teacher
This website is a great reference point for the Amharic alphabet. It shows all the letters and every form of each letter in a handy table.
The best part is that you can click on any letter and hear the pronunciation. I’d suggest using this alongside Memrise to master the alphabet and the sounds each letter makes.
Click here to visit their website.
Learn The Amharic Alphabet With YouTube Videos
YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning any language as there’s so many videos uploaded everyday from all around the world.
I’ve selected a few handy videos that you can use to help you learn the Amharic alphabet.
Learn Amharic Ethiopian Language
This channel has a range of really useful videos that go over the pronunciation of each letter of the Amharic alphabet. Each bitesize video covers 1 letter and the 7 forms of that letter.
Click here to view the full playlist which includes every letter of the Amharic alphabet.
Below is an example of one of the videos in the playlist.
Aben Animations
This channel also has a fun series that goes over the Amharic alphabet. These videos are fun to watch and they also give examples of words that use each letter.
Click here to view the playlist which includes all the videos of the series.
Below is an example of one of the videos in the playlist.
Learn Amharic Alphabet With Worksheets And Books
Worksheets and workbooks are especially good for learning how to write Amharic letters.
You can use a children’s Amharic handwriting workbook, to practice writing the letters.
Another resource is this Amharic tracing book which goes over each letter of the alphabet and each of it’s 7 forms, giving you a clear and easy to understand example of how to use each letter. It also has plenty of space in the workbook for you to trace the letters as well as space for you to write them yourself.
If you’re looking for a free resource to practice your writing skills, then check out this free PDF Amharic Writing Practice Workbook by the LOJ Society. You can print it out and there’s plenty of space for you to practice writing each letter. It also comes with a handy pronunciation guide.
If you’re looking for a book that goes into lots of detail then try this Amharic alphabet book. It’s a great reference point that covers the alphabet in lots of detail and gives lots of examples so you can truly master the Amharic alphabet.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to learn the Amharic alphabet. I’ve covered a range of different resources for all different types of learners, hopefully you found something useful that suits your learning style.
If you want to learn some beginner phrases, try learning how to say ‘how are you’ in Amharic.
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