Relational Affixes /l(i)-/ and /-(i)ll(i)-/

This unit focuses on the relational affixes /l(i)-/ with the short imperfective and /-(i)ll(i)- ~ -(i)lle-/. These affixes express purpose (“in order to”), benefactive meaning (“for someone”), and obligatory or purposive constructions. They are common in everyday Amharic and allow you to express intent and obligation.

Basic Sentences (መሠረታዊ ዓረፍተ ነገሮች)

Amharic	English
lıhed ıfəlligallehu	I want to go (in order to go)
lıbla hedku	I went in order to eat
lıgəzza mekina fəlləgə	He looked for a car to buy
yıhədıllıñal	He goes for me
yıbəlallıñal	He eats for me
yıgəzzalləhal	He buys for you (masc.)
yıSafilləñal	He writes for me
ıbəlallıhallehu	I eat for you (masc.)
ıhedıllıšallehu	I go for you (fem.)
lımmar hedku	I went in order to learn
lısıra meTTa	He came in order to work

Key Vocabulary

Amharic	English
lı-	in order to (+ short imperfective)
-ıllı- / -ılle-	for (benefactive suffix)
fəlləgə	he wanted, he looked for
gəzza	he bought
šeTTa	he sold
kəffəla	he paid
Təyyəqə	he asked
məlləsə	he returned
šəTa	he ran
KəTTərə	he continued
gabeeza	invitation
gəbya	market
suK	shop
sıga bet	butcher shop
dabo	bread
wəTəT	price

Grammar Notes

/l(i)-/ with Short Imperfective — “in order to”

The prefix lı- attached to the short imperfective expresses purpose:

Short imperfective	With lı-	English
ıhed	lıhed	in order to go
ıbla	lıbla	in order to eat
ıSaf	lıSaf	in order to write
ımmar	lımmar	in order to learn
ısıra	lısıra	in order to work

Person is marked on the lı- form:

Person	Example (hed-)
1sg	lıhed (for me to go)
2sg m.	lıthəd
3sg m.	lıhəd
3sg f.	lıthəd
1pl	lınnəhed
3pl	lıhedu

/-(i)ll(i)- ~ -(i)lle-/ — Benefactive

The suffix -ıllı- (or -ılle-) is inserted between the verb stem and the person marker to express “for someone”:

Amharic	English
yıhədıllıñal	he goes for me
yıgəzzallıñal	he buys for me
yıSafıllıñal	he writes for me
ıgəzzallıhallehu	I buy for you (m.)
ıgəzzallıšallehu	I buy for you (f.)
yıgəzzallıwal	he buys for him
yıgəzzallatal	he buys for her

The benefactive suffixes follow the same person markers as object suffixes:

Beneficiary	Suffix
for me	-ıllıñ-
for you (m.)	-ıllıh-
for you (f.)	-ıllıš-
for him	-ıllıw-
for her	-ıllat-
for us	-ıllın-
for them	-ıllaččəw-

Drills (ልምምዶች)

Drill 1: Form Purpose Clauses with lı-

English	Amharic
in order to go	lıhed
in order to eat	?
in order to write	?
in order to buy	?
in order to learn	?

Drill 2: Benefactive Constructions

Add the benefactive for the indicated person:

Verb	For whom	Amharic
gəzza (buy)	for me	yıgəzzallıñal
Safə (write)	for you (m.)	?
hedə (go)	for her	?
bəlla (eat)	for us	?

Drill 3: Translation

Translate into Amharic:

English	Amharic
I went to the market to buy	wədə gəbya lıgəzza hedku
He came to learn	?
She writes for me	?
We went to eat	?

Narrative

zare Kən wədə gəbya hedku. ınjəra-inna sıga lıgəzza hedku. bə-gəbya bəzu nəgər allə. sıga gəzzahu. ınjəra-m gəzzahu. ləwədaje-m bunnna gəzzallıhut. ıssu kə-sıra sımeTTa ınjəra bəlləñ. bunnna-m TeTTəñ. ında bete lıza wədaje Kebede bunnna gəzzallıñ nəbbər. ahun ıne lıssu ıgəzzallıwallehu.

Today I went to the market. I went to buy injera and meat. At the market there are many things. I bought meat. I also bought injera. I also bought coffee for my friend. When he came from work, I fed him. We also drank coffee. Before, to come to my house, my friend Kebede used to buy me coffee. Now I buy it for him.