Merry Christmas in Tigrinya
ርሑስ በዓል ልደት
Ruhus be’al ledet
Say it like this: roo-HOOS beh-AHL leh-DET
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Tigrinya, Merry Christmas is ርሑስ በዓል ልደት (Ruhus be’al ledet), said like roo-HOOS beh-AHL leh-DET.
- People say it in Eritrea, Ethiopia (Tigray), United States.
What Ruhus be’al ledet means
'Ruhus' (joyful, pleasant) + 'be’al' (celebration, feast) + 'ledet' (birth, the word for Christmas). Together it means joyful Christmas celebration.
Tigrinya is written in the Ge'ez script, in which each symbol stands for a consonant plus a vowel, and it is read from left to right.
Other ways to say it in Tigrinya
To write in a Christmas card
ርሑስ በዓል ልደትን ሓድሽ ዓመትን
Ruhus be’al ledetin hadish ametin
Say it like this: roo-HOOS beh-AHL leh-DET-in hah-DISH ah-MET-in
Where people speak Tigrinya
EritreaEthiopia (Tigray)United States
Tigrinya (ትግርኛ) belongs to the Afroasiatic (Semitic) language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Tigrinya today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Tigrinya
- Zigni stew with injera: Families buy a sheep, goat or hen a day or two before Christmas. The main dish is zigni, a hot meat stew eaten with injera, a soft flatbread, and everyone eats with their hands.[1]
- Green straw and incense: After church, families spread fresh green straw, called setti, on the floor and often burn incense. Guests are welcomed with food and drink while the family cooks the Christmas meal.[1]
- White clothes at church: Many people attend church on Christmas Eve evening or early on Christmas morning, wearing white traditional clothing. Men and women sit on opposite sides, and the liturgy and readings are in Geez.[1]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Tigrinya
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- KinyarwandaNoheli nziza
- IgboEkeresimesi ọma
- MalagasyArahaba tratry ny Noely
- HausaBarka da Kirsimati
- Amharicመልካም ገና
- Twi (Akan)Afehyia pa
- AfrikaansGeseënde Kersfees
- ZuluUkhisimusi omuhle
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Tigrinya?
You can say "ርሑስ በዓል ልደት" (Ruhus be’al ledet). Ledet means birth, and it is the Tigrinya word for the Christmas feast. Omniglot lists a longer form that joins Christmas and the new year, and Orthodox Christians in Eritrea celebrate on January 7.[1][3]
How do you pronounce "Ruhus be’al ledet"?
Say it like this: roo-HOOS beh-AHL leh-DET. The capital letters show the part to stress. The ' in be’al marks a short pause between two vowels. Tigrinya has some sounds English lacks, so a recording from a native speaker helps.
What does "Ruhus be’al ledet" mean?
It means joyful Christmas celebration. Ruhus means joyful or pleasant, be’al means a celebration or feast, and ledet means birth, which is the Tigrinya word for Christmas. Together they wish a happy feast of the Nativity.[1][2]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Tigrinya?
In Tigrinya script it is ርሑስ በዓል ልደት. The Ge'ez script writes one symbol for each consonant and vowel pair, so there is no separate alphabet for vowels. In English letters, spellings vary, so you may see Ruhus Beal Ledet or Ruhus Beal Lidet.[1][3]
How do you say Happy New Year in Tigrinya?
The Omniglot phrase list joins both wishes in one greeting: ርሑስ በዓል ልደትን ሓድሽ ዓመትን (Ruhus be’al ledetin hadish ametin), meaning joyful Christmas and a new year. The word ሓድሽ ዓመት means new year, and Ethiopian-calendar New Year falls in September.[2]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Tigrinya?
Ruhus be’al ledet is respectful and fits everyone, from friends to grandparents. Omniglot also gives a longer combined form that wishes both a joyful Christmas and a new year. There is no separate casual version that children need to learn.[2]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Tigrinya?
People say it on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which for Eritrean Orthodox Christians is January 7. They say it at church, at the family meal and when visiting neighbours and relatives. It is also sent in messages to family abroad.[1]
Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Tigrinya speakers?
For Eritrean Orthodox Christians, Christmas is on January 7, not December 25. Many go to church on the evening before or early that morning, and the family feast follows. January 6 is the evening before.[1][4]
What is a Christmas tradition for Tigrinya speaking families?
Families prepare zigni, a hot meat stew eaten with injera, and spread green straw on the floor after church. Many people wear white to church, and the father or a senior family member says a prayer before the meal.[1]
How can I teach Tigrinya Christmas words to kids?
Start small. Teach ruhus first, which sounds a little like roo-hoos. Then add be’al and ledet, and remember that Orthodox Christmas is on January 7. Say the greeting together a few times, then write it on a card. A Tigrinya speaker can record the real sound.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
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We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Christmas in Eritrea, WhyChristmas.com
- Useful Tigrinya phrases, Omniglot
- Here are 25 African ways of saying Merry Christmas, Face2Face Africa
- Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, Eritrea celebrate Christmas, Africanews
