🇪🇹 Amharic phrases

How to Say "I don't understand" in Amharic

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
አልተረዳኩም
"I don't understand" in Amharic · say it like ahl-teh-rah-dah-koom

The most natural way to say "I don't understand" in Amharic is አልተረዳኩም. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

አልተረዳሁም
more formal way to express the same sentiment
አልተረዳሁት
used when addressing someone respectfully

When to use it

Use this phrase when you genuinely do not understand something someone has said. It can be used in both casual and formal settings. It is polite to follow up with a request for clarification.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I don't understand" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Amharic

AmharicEnglish
እባክህ ይቅርታ አልተረዳኩምExcuse me, I don't understand
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this phrase with 'I don't know', which is different.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear አልተረዳኩም, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Amharic with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How can I ask someone to explain something again?

You can say 'እባክህ ይቅርታ እባክህ ይቀርበኝ' which means 'Please explain it to me again.'

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