Sudanese Arabic and Ethiopic Common Words
Overview
Ethiopia and Sudan share a long and complex common history dating back to antiquity, marked by periods of trade and cultural exchange, Ethiopia's main trade routes ran west through Sudan (ancient Nubia/Kush) to Egypt and the Mediterranean. The name "Ethiopia" was sometimes used by ancient Greeks to refer primarily to the people of the Nile Valley, in what is now Sudan, before it denoted the modern highland nation.
There are common words and linguistic similarities between languages spoken in Ethiopia and Sudanese colloquial Arabic, primarily due to shared "Semitic" linguistic roots, geographical proximity, and historical interactions. Amharic and Tigrinya are the major languages in the Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands, they share many cognates (words with a common origin) and similar grammatical structures, Sudanese Arabic, on the other hand, has a significant amount of vocabulary borrowed from local African languages.
Related Datasets & Solutions
- Arabic Words of Ethiopic Origin (Amharic)
- Arabic Words of Ethiopic Origin (Tigrinya)
- Arabic Words of Ethiopic Origin (Tigre)
- Arabic Words of Ethiopic Origin (Geez)
- Arabic Words of Asian Origin (Persian)
- Arabic Words of Asian Origin (Urdu)
- Arabic Words of Asian Origin (Hindi)
- Arabic Words of Asian Origin (Syriac )
- Sudanese Arabic and Ethiopic common words
- Amharic and Syriac common words
- Syriac Arabic Common Words
- Arabic Loanwords from Amharic and Syriac
- West-African Words in Sudanese Arabic
- Homophonic Synonyms in Arabic
Technical Specifications
Sample downloads:
- TXT: format full database Database of Sudanese Arabic and Ethiopic Common Words
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This database is part of the larger Database of Arabic Words of Ethiopic Origin (Amharic), in more details.
Reference: DBCOLETSD
Entries: 1500+
Last updated: 13/2/2026
Field Definitions
Ethiopic: Amharic entry
Arabic: Sudanese colloquial Arabic parallel word
Language: Ethiopic language, ISO 639-3 three-letter code
ETIPA: Reading for Ethiopic (International Phonetic Alphabet)
ARIPA: Reading for Sudanese Arabic (International Phonetic Alphabet)
Gloss: English meaning of the Ethiopic entry
License and copyright
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Sample
| ID | Ethiopic | Arabic | Language | ETIPA | ARIPA | Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | አርቲ፡ቡርቲ | أرْتِ | amh | /ʔɛrɨti፡burɨti/ | /ʔrti/ | ritual, incantation |
| 2 | አሰልቺ | أصْنَج | amh | /ʔɛsɛlɨtʃ/ | /ʔsˤnadʒ/ | dull |
| 3 | ባቡር | بَابُور | amh | /baburɨ/ | /baːbuːr/ | train |
| 4 | ባሽ | بَايِظ | amh | /baʃ/ | /baːjiðˤ/ | get worse |
| 5 | ብራቅ | بَرَّاق | amh | /bɨraːkʼ/ | /baraːq/ | flash of light |
| 6 | ብራ | بَرَّة | amh | /bɨraː/ | /barra/ | day light, sun-drenched, sunlight day or weather |
| 7 | በሽተኛ | بَشْتَنة | amh | /bɛʃɨtɛɲa/ | /baʃtana/ | invalid, unwell person, ill person |
| 8 | በዝባዥ | بَلْبَاص | amh | /bɛzɨbaʒ/ | /balbaːsˤ/ | robber, one who takes selfish or unfair advantage of another |
| 9 | ወንበር | بَنْبَر | amh | /wɛnɨbɛr/ | /banbar/ | seat with back |
| 10 | ብርቱካን | بُرْتُكان | amh | /bɨrɨtukan/ | /burtukan/ | citrus fruit (orange) |
| 11 | ዳዴ | تَاتِي | amh | /dade/ | /taːtiː/ | walking on four |
| 12 | ትጥቅ | تِتِك | amh | /tɨtˤɨkʼ/ | /titik/ | tools, uncials, ammunition |
| 13 | ትግል | تِقِل | amh | /tɨgɨl/ | /tiqil/ | great effort, rebellion |
| 14 | ጨቀጨቀ | تشَكْتشَكَ | amh | /tʃɛkʼɛtʃɛkʼɛ/ | /tʃaktʃaka/ | nag, pester, get into an argument |
| 15 | ጀበና | جَبَنَة | amh | /dʒɛbɛna/ | /dʒabana/ | small pot for making coffee |
| 16 | ቀለህ | جُلَّة | amh | /kʼɛlɛh/ | /dʒulla/ | shotgun shell, bullet, projectile |
| 17 | ጁሀ | جُوخ | amh | /dʒuhɛ/ | /dʒuːχ/ | cloth made of soft wool |
| 18 | ካባ | جِبَّة | amh | /kaba/ | /dʒibba/ | shroud, mantle, cloak, veil, cover |
| 19 | አውሪ | حُوَار | amh | /ʔɛwɨr/ | /ħuwaːr/ | talk, describe |
| 20 | ሐተታ | حِتِيتة | amh | /hɛtɛta/ | /ħiteta/ | details, particulars, information, the whole story |
| 21 | ድመራ | دَامْرَة | amh | /dɨmɛraː/ | /daːmra/ | totaling |
| 22 | ደፈረ | دَفَرَ | amh | /dɛfɛrɛ/ | /dafara/ | dare |
| 23 | ደፋሪ | دَفَّار | amh | /dɛfar/ | /daffaːr/ | dare |
| 24 | ዶለዶመ | دَلْدَمَ | amh | /dolɛdomɛ/ | /daldama/ | be blunt |
| 25 | ደነቀረ | دَنْقَرَ | amh | /dɛnɛkʼɛrɛ/ | /danqara/ | stick into |
| 26 | ዱልዱም | دُلْدُم | amh | /dulɨdum/ | /duldum/ | unsharpened, not bright |
| 27 | ዶልዷማ | دُلْدُمَة | amh | /dolɨdoamaː/ | /dulduma/ | unsharpened, not bright |
| 28 | ዛር | زَار | amh | /zar/ | /zaːr/ | an evil spirit that makes people yell or shout |
| 29 | ሰብሳቢ | سَبّاب | amh | /sɛbɨsab/ | /sabbaːb/ | person who collects money |
| 30 | ሴት | سِت | amh | /set/ | /sit/ | female |
| 31 | ስርቅታ | شَرْقَة | amh | /sɨrɨkʼɨta/ | /ʃarqa/ | hiccough, hiccup |
| 32 | ሽፍትነት | شَفْتَنَة | amh | /ʃɨfɨtɨnɛt/ | /ʃaftana/ | insurgence |
| 33 | ሾተል | شَوتَال | amh | /ʃotɛl/ | /ʃawtaːl/ | glaive dagger, sword |
| 34 | ሸላይ | شَيَّال | amh | /ʃɛlaːj/ | /ʃajjːal/ | chant war songs |
| 35 | ጭገር | شِعْرَة | amh | /tʃɨgɛr/ | /ʃiʕra/ | hair of a person around the genital organs |
| 36 | ፖሊስ፡ጣቢያ | طَابِية بُولِيس | amh | /polisɨ፡tˤabija/ | /tˤaːbiːja buːliːs/ | office of a local police officer |
| 37 | ጠነባ | طَنْبَج | amh | /tˤɛnɛba/ | /tˤanbadʒ/ | emit a bad smell, as in decay |
| 38 | አምና | عَامَن | amh | /ʔɛmɨna/ | /ʕaːman/ | the previous year |
| 39 | ፈንጋይ | فَنْقَال | amh | /fɛnɨgaj/ | /fanqaːl/ | upset, over turn |
| 40 | ፈነገለ | فَنْقَلَ | amh | /fɛnɛgɛlɛ/ | /fangala/ | upset, over turn |
| 41 | ፈንግሎ | فَنْقَلة | amh | /fɛnɨgɨlo/ | /fangala/ | upset, over turn |
| 42 | ፍንጃል | فِنْجَال | amh | /fɨnɨdʒal/ | /findʒaːl/ | cup |
| 43 | ጅራፍ | قُرَاف | amh | /dʒɨraːf/ | /quraːf/ | whip used by farmers for urging an ox on |
| 44 | ቅርቃብ | قُرْقاب | amh | /kʼɨrɨkʼab/ | /qurqaːb/ | loop, rope-like material used to tie a pack (load) |
| 45 | ቅል | قُلَّة | amh | /kʼɨl/ | /qulla/ | container, vessel, carafe |
| 46 | ቀረፋ | قِرْفة | amh | /kʼɛrɛfa/ | /qirfa/ | cinnamon |
| 47 | በግ | بِج | amh | /bɛg/ | /bɪd͡ʒ/ | lamb |
| 48 | ገዛሚ | كَزّام | amh | /gɛzami/ | /kəzːzaːm/ | ruler |
| 49 | ገዘገዝ | قَزْقَزة | amh | /gɛzɛgɛz/ | /qəzqəza/ | slow down |
| 50 | ድርድር | دَرْدَرة | amh | /dɨrdr/ | /dərdəra/ | negotiation, bargaining |
| 51 | ወዲ | وَدْ | tir | /wɛdi/ | /wad/ | son |
| 52 | ቈልዓ | قَلَّع | tir | /kʼoalɨʕa/ | /qəlːləʕ/ | child |
| 53 | እትየ | التاية | tir | /ətɨja/ | /ʔtaːiːa/ | lady |
| 54 | ደቅስ | دَقَس | tir | /dɛkʼɨs/ | /dəgəs/ | sleep |
| 55 | ስራሕ | سَرْحة | tir | /sɨraːħ/ | /sərħa/ | job |
| 56 | ብሓንሳእ | بالتَحْنِيس | tir | /bɨħaːnɨsa/ | /bʔtəħniːs/ | jointly |
| 57 | ጠንጠነ | طَنْطَنَ | tir | /tˤɛnɨtˤɛnɛ/ | /tˤəntˤənə/ | to abandon |
| 58 | ረጥረጠ | رَتْرَت | tir | /rɛtˤɨrɛtˤɛ/ | /rətrət/ | to abandon |
| 59 | ነሃረ | نَهْر | tir | /nɛhaːrɛ/ | /nəhr/ | accelerate, to |
| 60 | ኣበርትዐ | يبَرْطِع | tir | /ɑbɛrɨtɨʕɛ/ | /jbərtˤɪʕ/ | aggrevate |
| 61 | ትንተና | تَنْتَنَة | tir | /tɨnɨtɛnaː/ | /təntənaː/ | analysis |
| 62 | ተቐልቀለ | تَقلْقَل | tir | /tɛqlɨkʼɛlɛ/ | /təglgəl/ | appear |
| 63 | ኣንጨብጨብ | يِجَبْجِب | tir | /ɑnɨtʃɛbɨtʃɛb/ | /jɪtʃəbtʃɪb/ | applaud |
| 64 | ጨብጨባ | جَبْجَبَة | tir | /tʃɛbɨtʃɛbaː/ | /tʃəbtʃəbaː/ | applause |
| 65 | ተኸራኸረ | خَرْخَرَ | tir | /tɛχɛraːχɛrɛ/ | /χərχərə/ | argue |
| 66 | ደቀሰ | دَقْس | tir | /dɛkʼɛsɛ/ | /dəgs/ | asleep |
| 67 | ድቃስ | دَاقِس | tir | /dɨkʼaːs/ | /dɑːgɪs/ | asleep |
| 68 | ሃዋህው | هَواء | tir | /haːwaːhɨw/ | /həuːɑː/ | atmosphere |
| 71 | ሽፍታ | شِفْتَا | tir | /ʃɨfɨtaː/ | /ʃɪftɑ/ | bandit |
| 72 | ዉሕዉሕ | هَوْهَوَ | tir | /wuħɨwuħ/ | /həwhəuːə/ | bark |
| 73 | ዘምቢል | زَمْبِيل | tir | /zɛmɨbil/ | /zəmbiːl/ | basket |
| 74 | ሳምቡቕ | سُمْبُك | tir | /saːmɨbuq/ | /sumbuk/ | boat |
| 75 | ደፋር | دَافِر | tir | /dɛfaːr/ | /dɑːfɪr/ | bold |
| 76 | ኣጣቕዐ | طَقَع | tir | /ɑtˤaːqʕɛ/ | /tˤəgəʕ/ | clap |
| 77 | በርትዕ | بَرْطَاع | tir | /bɛrɨtɨʕ/ | /bərtˤɑːʕ/ | courageous |
| 78 | ግብረይ | جُبْراكة | tir | /gɨbɨrɛj/ | /d͡ʒubraːka/ | works |
| 79 | ገይሸ | غَاشِي | tir | /gɛjɨʃɛ/ | /ɣɑːʃi/ | stranger |
| 80 | ቀፊር | غَفِير | tir | /kʼɛfir/ | /ɣəfiːr/ | watch |
| 81 | ይጽበዩ | يَصُب | tir | /jɨsʼɨbɛju/ | /jəsˤub/ | wait |
| 82 | ጉረሮ | كُوراك | tir | /gurɛro/ | /kuːraːk/ | throat |
| 83 | ጉሮሮ | كُوراك | amh | /guroro/ | /kuːraːk/ | throat |
| 84 | ጎሮሮኻ | كُورَاك | tir | /gororoχaː/ | /kuːrɑːk/ | throat |
| 85 | ክህነትን | كُهْنَة | tir | /kɨhɨnɛtɨn/ | /kuhnaː/ | worn |
| 86 | ንጋሻ | نَكْش | tir | /nɨgaːʃaː/ | /nəkʃ/ | abuse |
| 87 | ናእሽቱን | نَتْشَة | tir | /naːɨʃɨtun/ | /nətʃaː/ | small |
| 88 | ንእሽቶይ | نَتْشَة | tir | /nɨʃɨtoj/ | /nətʃaː/ | small |
| 89 | ትንሽ | نَتْشَة | amh | /tɨnʃ/ | /nətʃaː/ | small |
| 90 | ንሕና | نِحْنَا | tir | /nɨħɨnaː/ | /nɪħnɑ/ | we |
| 91 | ስራሕ | سَرْحَة | tir | /sɨraːħ/ | /sərħaː/ | work |
| 92 | ጥንቁቕ | طَنْقَاع | tir | /tˤɨnɨkʼuq/ | /tˤəngɑːʕ/ | careful |
| 93 | ጥንቁቕ | طَنْقَاع | tir | /tˤɨnɨkʼuq/ | /tˤəngɑːʕ/ | cautious |
| 94 | ትም | تِمْ | tir | /tɨm/ | /tɪm/ | silent |
| 95 | እኔና | أنينَا | tir | /ənenaː/ | /ʔaniːnɑ/ | we |
| 96 | አጠራጠረ | أطْرَى | amh | /ətˤɛraːtˤɛrɛ/ | /ʔatˤraː/ | lead to think |
| 97 | ተጠራጢሩ፣ አጠራጠሩ | أطْرَى | tir | /tɛtˤɛraːtˤiru, ətˤɛraːtˤɛru/ | /ʔatˤraː/ | lead to think |