Tigrinya and Amharic, Interpreting for ‘Rare Languages’ from Ethiopia and Eritrea
At Vandu Languages, we often get asked, “Do you have anyone who speaks Tigrinya or Amharic?”, usually with a touch of hope, and sometimes urgency. These are not languages you’ll hear on every UK high street, but for the people who speak them, they are central to daily life.
Tigrinya and Amharic are two rich, expressive languages spoken by communities from Eritrea and Ethiopia, and they are among the less commonly catered-for languages in public services across the UK. That's why we make it our mission to provide professional interpreting and translation services that truly meet the needs of the people behind the words.
We will take you on a journey through Tingriya’s and Amharic’s linguistic roots and their shared heritage.
What country is Tigrinya spoken in?
Tigrinya is the primary language spoken in Eritrea, with around 7 million speakers. It's also used in parts of northern Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray region. If you're desperately googling “Tigrinya language country”, Eritrea is your answer.
What country is Amharic spoken in?
Amharic is the official working language of Ethiopia, spoken by more than 22 million people as a first language and by many more as a second. So when people ask you “What language is Amharic?”, you now know what to say!
The ancient connection: Ge’ez and the shared script
The story of Tigrinya and Amharic doesn’t begin in modern-day capitals, it goes way back to ancient times.
Amharic is a descendant of the Ge’ez script, which is thought to date back to the 9th Century BC, the link is easily recognisable when looking at the Amharic alphabet, which shares many characters with Ge’ez.
While Ge’ez and Tigrinya also share many alphabetical characters, the relationship between the two is less straightforward. Many historians and linguists believe that Tigrinya is just as old as Ge’ez, but the earliest surviving written records in Tigrinya date only to the 13th century, several centuries after Ge’ez inscriptions first appeared.
While the Amharic alphabet, which many find elegant and ornate, borrows heavily from Ge’ez, Tigrinya, while visually similar, follows its own grammar and rhythm. Their alphabets look alike on the page, but once spoken aloud, they take on very different musicality.
People often ask, “What does Tigrinya sound like?” Think of a melody filled with sharp consonants and flowing vowels, a sound that’s both ancient and modern, familiar and striking. It’s no wonder linguists find these languages so fascinating.
Conflict and reconciliation between Eritrea and Ethiopia
Despite the linguistic ties between Tigrinya and Amharic, the political relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia has been shaped by a long and painful history. Eritrea was an Italian colony from 1890 until the end of World War II, when it was placed under British administration.
In 1952, it was federated with Ethiopia under a UN resolution, but this union was short-lived. By 1962, Ethiopia’s former Emperor Haile Selassie dissolved the Eritrean parliament and annexed the territory, triggering a 30-year war for independence.
The Eritrean War of Independence lasted from 1961 to 1991 and was one of Africa's longest conflicts. After Eritrea finally secured independence in 1993, tensions remained high. Just five years later, war broke out again, this time over the disputed border town of Badme. The 1998–2000 conflict left tens of thousands dead and displaced countless civilians on both sides.
Although a peace agreement was signed in 2000, it failed to fully normalise relations. For nearly two decades, both countries lived in a state of suspended hostility, no direct conflict, but no diplomatic ties either. It wasn’t until 2018 that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accepted the terms of a long-ignored UN boundary decision and announced that Ethiopia would relinquish control of Badme to Eritrea.
This agreement reopened embassies, re-established flights between the two countries, and rekindled cross-border communication between families long divided. As you may understand, Tigrinya and Amharic are languages that carry not just heritage, but also the trauma and healing of their nations' past.
Eritrea is known for its low crime rate and abundant natural resources, while Ethiopia has been actively investing in light manufacturing and industrial development. Both economies experienced notable growth between 2000 and 2015, and each country is rich in geographical diversity, from mountain ranges to desert plains and lush forests, should the two countries look to seriously invest in its tourism industries.
The decision by Ethiopia to acknowledge Eritrea’s claim to Badme, a long-disputed border town makes one wonder what these two neighbours could achieve if their cooperation continues to deepen.
UK Diaspora
In towns and cities across the UK, from Brighton to South London, communities of Eritrean and Ethiopian origin have made a home. Whether through the asylum system, education routes, or family connections, many have arrived in the last 20 years, bringing with them languages that are rarely available on standard interpreting lists.
For those who speak little or no English, even the simplest everyday tasks such as booking a GP appointment, applying for housing, or enrolling children in school, can become confusing and isolating.
That’s where Vandu Languages steps in. Over the years, we've worked with hospitals, councils, and charities to provide interpreters who speak these languages.
Why rare languages need real support
Languages like Tigrinya and Amharic are sometimes labelled “rare” because they aren’t part of the mainstream interpreting infrastructure in the UK. This leads to frequent gaps in service provision.
Without access to trained interpreters, speakers of these languages often find themselves:
- Missing out on healthcare or getting misdiagnosed
- Unable to explain their situation during legal processes
- Left out of critical conversations with schools or social workers
- Feeling anxious, confused, and powerless
Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. Every time we match someone with a Tigrinya or Amharic interpreter, we’re doing more than completing a service request. We’re helping someone explain their symptoms, share their fears, stand up for their rights, or simply feel human in a place where they often feel isolated.
Our founder, Mebrak Ghebreweldi, was part of the Eritrean Liberation Front, fighting for her country’s independence. After coming to the UK and completing her studies, she began working as a Tigrinya interpreter, helping newly arrived Eritrean communities navigate life in a new country.
It was through this work, seeing the real, everyday impact of accessible language support and the huge need in the area, that Vandu Languages was born. To this day, Mebrak continues to provide interpreting herself, staying connected to the people and the purpose that first inspired her to set up this organisation.
Let’s keep the conversation going
If you’re working with someone who speaks Tigrinya or Amharic, or if you need help navigating services in these languages, we’re here.
- Call us on 01273 473986
- Or email info@vandu.co.uk
