Pronunciation: [amhˈaɹɪk] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the language spoken in Ethiopia is Amharic (/æmˈhærɪk/). The first syllable "am" sounds similar to the word "ham" but with an "a" sound. The "h" in "Amharic" is aspirated, producing a breathy sound. The third syllable "ri" is pronounced like the word "ree" with a long "e" sound. The final syllable "c" sounds like the letter "k". Amharic is a Semitic language with its own unique alphabet consisting of 33 letters.
Amharic is a Semitic language primarily spoken in Ethiopia and serves as the official language of the country. It belongs to the Afroasiatic language family, specifically the South Semitic branch, and is closely related to other Ethiopian languages like Tigrinya and Gurage. Amharic is also unique in being one of the few written African languages, employing its own script known as the Amharic Fidel.
With over 25 million speakers, Amharic is the second most widely spoken Semitic language, preceded only by Arabic. It is particularly prevalent in the central and northwestern regions of Ethiopia, including the capital city, Addis Ababa. Additionally, it holds considerable cultural significance as it is the language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the world's oldest Christian denominations.
Amharic vocabulary is primarily composed of words derived from the root system, where modifications to the root word indicate tense, gender, and other grammatical features. The language utilizes a subject-object-verb sentence structure, distinguishing it from the more prevalent subject-verb-object structure found in many other languages.
In recent years, Amharic has gained recognition as a vital language for diplomatic and economic purposes within the African Union and other international organizations. Its rich oral and written tradition, coupled with its regional prominence, further solidifies its importance as a significant African language.
The word "Amharic" is derived from the term "Hərəma" (ሀረማ) in the Ge'ez language, which is an ancient South Semitic language that Amharic is descended from. "Hərəma" means "language" or "speech" in Ge'ez. Over time, this term evolved into "Amharic", which specifically refers to the language spoken by the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Amharic is now one of the most widely spoken Semitic languages in the world.
