What is the cultural etiquette in Ethiopia?

Basic Etiquette Avoid passing objects with the left hand . This is customary in some parts of the country. It is advisable to always use the right hand or both hands together in case. It is often considered polite to stand up when someone who is highly respected or of higher status enters the room.

What are the most important values in Ethiopia?

Ethiopians are tolerant, respectful, and patriotic . The country is also diverse with different ethnic groups and 98% of the people said that religion is very important in their life. This means that religion is a very sensitive subject. Even if you strike up a conversation with someone like your guide or driver.

How do Ethiopians greet each other?

Ethiopian greetings are courteous and somewhat formal. The most common form of greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact . The handshake is generally much lighter than in Western cultures. After a close personal relationship has been established people of the same sex may kiss three times on the cheeks.

What are some taboos in Ethiopia?

It is forbidden for a woman to enter any church while menstruating , and there are also taboos on entering certain churches on certain days if you have had sex the night before or already eaten that day.

What does ATO mean in Ethiopian?

The equivalent of “ Mister ” is Ato; “Mrs” or “Madame” would be Woyzero. The Emperor, when spoken of in the third person, may be referred to as Janhoy, literally “the emperor”.

What do Ethiopians call foreigners?

ADDIS ADABA, Ethiopia—“Forengi” is the word for “foreigner” here, something I learned when I heard a few locals say it to me on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

What is the Ethiopian word for beautiful?

language of Amharic, Konjo means BEAUTIFUL.

What does salaam mean in Ethiopian?

A casual greeting is to say “Salam” ( Hello ).

How do you say bye bye in Ethiopia?

In a simplest way we can say ቻዎ (chawo) to say goodbye. ደህና ሁኑ(Dehna hunu)- for second person plural. ደህና ሁን(Dehna hun)-for second person male singular. ደህና ሁኝ(Dehna hugn)-for second person female singular.

What is the personality of Ethiopian people?

Tolerance, Patience and Stoicism Ethiopians are often perceived to be considerate, modest, mild-mannered or unconfrontational people .

What are the cultural beliefs of Ethiopia?

About 63% of the population adhere to Christianity. About 34% of the population are Muslim, with other religions covering another 3% .

What is cultural etiquette?

Cultural etiquette refers to the customs, behaviors, and social norms that are considered appropriate in a particular culture . By navigating these norms with sensitivity and respect, individuals can foster positive cross-cultural dialogues and avoid misunderstandings.

What is the cultural policy of Ethiopia?

Acknowledging the constitutional recognition of the rights of nations, nationalities, and peoples to preserve and promote their cultures, the policy aims to strengthen cultural values against globalizing influences .

What is traditional etiquette?

“ The customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group .” Etiquette, the Oxford English Dictionary definition.

Ethiopian - Etiquette (2024)

Etiquette

Primary Author

Nina Evason,2018

Basic Etiquette

Avoid passing objects with the left hand. This is customary in some parts of the country. It is advisable to always use the right hand or both hands together in case.
It is often considered polite to stand up when someone who is highly respected or of higher status enters the room.
Refer to people by their titles until they have indicated that it is appropriate for you to move on to a first-name basis.
People show greater respect to elders and superiors by kissing their hands in some rural areas, although this may not be expected in cities.
When offering something, Ethiopians generally extend an invitation multiple times. It is expected that you politely decline the gesture initially before accepting the second or third offer. This exchange is polite as the insistence to extend the invitation shows hospitality, and the initial refusal to accept shows humbleness, and that one is not greedy.
Consider that Ethiopians may refuse your offer initially out of politeness. Therefore, try and offer gestures more than once to give them the opportunity to accept something on the second or third attempt.
Strict punctuality is not expected in casual settings, but considerable lateness is also unacceptable.
It is considered inappropriate to ask to split a bill. If you wish to pay for someone’s meal, say “Let me take you out” rather than “Let’s go out”. The person who invites others to a meal or organises it is expected to pay at the restaurant. If it is not clear who invited one another, there may be bickering as each person tries to pay out of politeness. Consider that even if you say you will pay upfront, people may still resist and try to pay out of politeness.
It is considered inappropriate for women to whistle.
It is best not to compliment something (particularly children) more than once or continue to admire it once you have acknowledged it. This may cause an Ethiopian to be wary that the evil eye will be jealous of it (see Traditional Beliefs in Religion).
If you have a young child who does not like to be touched by strangers, explain this to an Ethiopian. It is the cultural norm in Ethiopia to pick up and kiss children out of admiration.
Do not walk past someone you know without acknowledging them.

Visiting

Visits are important to building relationships in Ethiopia. You can expect people to be extremely welcoming and hospitable.
In Ethiopia, it is normal for friends and family to visit each other's houses without giving prior notice, although people in urban areas may pre-arrange visits.
It is common to receive an invitation to socialise in the evening.
Be mindful that an Ethiopian person’s home is also their private place for prayer. Therefore, it is important to be clean and respectful.
Remove your shoes before entering someone's home, any church or mosques.
If the guest arrives during a family mealtime, Ethiopians will usually invite them to join the meal.
When visiting someone’s home for the first time, it is best to bring a gift (see Gift Giving below).
Upon arrival, guests are always served something to drink, usually coffee or occasionally tea (see Drinking Coffee below).
Coffee drinking is a very social and familial activity. It often allows hosts to introduce their guests to neighbours and family.
Men and women usually socialise freely together. However, in some Muslim homes, the two genders may separate and have different discussions.
Expect any visit to last at least an hour if not multiple. It takes at least an hour to serve coffee in the traditional manner.

Eating

You are almost always expected to eat when you visit someone’s house. It is considered rude to decline an offer to eat. If you cannot accept food for a legitimate reason, decline it politely with a bow to show gratitude.
It is rude to eat in front of people without offering them any food, especially guests.
It is important to wash your hands before a meal. Sometimes, a bowl is brought to guests so they can wash their hands at the table.
Women should offer to help the female host prepare and clean up after the meal.
People are served in order of their age or status, with the eldest or esteemed guests served first.
Hosts may not sit down until their guests have been seated.
Wait for people to bless the food with a prayer before you start eating.
All guests usually help themselves to food from a shared platter, eating directly from the dish instead of from separate plates.
Ethiopian food generally does not require utensils to eat. Everyone normally uses their right hand to serve themselves from a dish, using their fingers to scoop the food.
Never pass or eat food with your left hand alone.
People often useinjeraas a scoop. This sponge-like pancake is used to soak up the remains of food, like a tortilla. It is eaten with almost everything.
If given utensils, it is important to hold them towards the end so your fingers do not touch the food.
Guests may be hand-fed the tastiest parts of meals. This process is called gursha and is custom to demonstrate respect. The host or another person seated at the meal will place the food in the guest’s mouth with their hands. It is polite to smile and accept the offering.
It is rude to rush a meal and leave immediately after.
In northern Ethiopia, it is polite to leave a little bit of food on your plate to indicate that the host has provided adequately. However, this custom may differ in other regions.
It is common for people to eat similar ingredients for breakfast (kuris), lunch (mesa) and dinner (erat).
Common foods include spicy meat stew (wat), bread mixed with sauce (firfir), spaghetti, and roasted bread (kita). Lamb, goat, and fowl are also commonly eaten. However, turkey, pork, and ham are less common.
Many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians do not consume meat or animal products during fasting days, which include every Wednesday and Friday. See the Orthodox Christian profile for more information on Dietary Practices.
If you are unclear about whether a guest at your meal is fasting or not, it is a good idea to provide a vegan-based option for them to eat. Fish is not prohibited.
Ethiopian Muslims do not consume pork or alcohol. See the Islam profile for more information on Dietary Practices.
Some Pentecostal Christians refrain from drinking alcohol. See the Protestant Christian profile for more information on Dietary Practices.

Drinking Coffee

Coffee (keffa) is the national drink and symbol of Ethiopia. It is served on a daily basis to facilitate conversation among relatives and neighbours. Many people drink it up to three times a day. Coffee is served in an elaborate way, whereby each step to serving has to be performed in a specific order. The ritualised process takes at least an hour. Formal coffee ceremonies (buna maflat) often follow the following steps:

You are likely to be seated on the floor, sitting on pillows or another soft surface, with traditional incense burning in the background.
The woman of the household performs all the main steps and actions. This is considered a prestigious role.
First, the coffee beans are washed and roasted in front of the guests. They are then hand-ground, added to boiling water and strained.
The grounds are brewed and served three separate times. The first round is called ‘abol’ in Tigrinya, the second is called ‘tonna’and the third is called ‘baraka’(meaning ‘to be blessed’).
The same coffee pot (jebena) is refilled each time, meaning the coffee grounds become weaker with each serving.
Each round of coffee is poured with the eldest person first.
When you are served, hold the cup up to your lips and inhale the aroma before tasting it. Sip the coffee slowly and patiently.
It is inappropriate to leave after the first round of coffee.

Gift Giving

Pass and receive gifts with two hands, or the right hand only. It is rude to use the left hand alone.
Gifts are not opened at the time they are received.
It is a nice gesture to bring food when visiting an Ethiopian home.
If you are returning or visiting from a different place, it is a good idea to bring a gift from your country of origin or the places you have travelled.
Gifts are often given whenever something bad or good happens to a family (e.g. a birth, a family member’s death or someone falling ill). A ‘firag’is a gift given when someone is in mourning.
It is considered very rude not to return a gift. For example, if someone gives you a birthday present, you are expected to give them a present on their birthday of a similar standard.
Think about the other person’s expectations when giving gifts. A gift is also seen as a debt that one will have to repay to a friend. Therefore, avoid giving very lavish or expensive gifts. This may embarrass the recipient if they cannot afford to give you the same standard of gift.
It is best not to give alcohol as a gift to Muslim or Protestant Ethiopians.
There may be an expectation upon the wealthy to offer money as a gift instead of another material item.