Amharic, a Semitic language related to Arabic, Hebrew, and Tigrinya, is predominantly spoken in Ethiopia and parts of Eritrea. As one of the official working languages of Ethiopia, Amharic serves critical functions in commerce, government, media, and national education. The language is written in the Ge’ez script, which reads from left to right. For many, Amharic is either a first language (L1) or a second language (L2). Additionally, it holds a significant place as a holy language in the Rastafari religion and is widely used in both music and religious contexts. This multifaceted role underscores its cultural and spiritual importance within and beyond its native regions.
Writing and Reading: Amharic is a non-alphabetic language and is written from left to right.
Structure: Sentence structure is different and considered 'verb final'. For expample: The boy is short (English) → boy the short is (Amharic).
Language Exposure: Many students learn English and Amharic in school even if not their native language
Important dates: Enkutatash - September 11th: first day of the new year in Ethiopia and Eritrea.