 In
Ethiopia there are more than sixty languages and
dialects spoken.
The central languages are Amharic (official national
language), Tigrit, and Oromo. In the regions where
the Ethiopian Jews lived they spoke Amharic or Tigrit.
Those who came from the Tigri region spoke Tigrit
and those who were living in Gondar spoke Amharic.
The
Kessim and elders of the community also knew how
to speak 'Geez'. Geez is an ancient Semitic language
used exclusively in prayer.
Today in some of the institutes of higher learning
Geez is taught in order to preserve the written
and oral knowledge of this ancient tongue.
The Amharic language is rich
with proverbs and idioms allowing great insight
into the traditional culture.
Learn
some terms in Amharic
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