Dec
9
Today the girls told us that Santa is called “Da-MEE-na” in Ethiopia.Â
Can anyone with older Ethiopian kids confirm this? Their language sound ability is a lot different from this time last year and I’m wondering if they got it right; plus I’m pretty surprised they had word of Santa at all in ET-
Thanks for your replies!

December 9th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
The closest I know for that is cloudy, but it could be pronunciation differences and I’m going with the limited info I know. If I see my friend from Ethiopia tomorrow [as planned] I will ask her.
December 10th, 2009 at 3:31 am
on internetpolyglot I found this: (ya-ga-naa ?a-baa-te)
http://www.internetpolyglot.com/lesson-1152101110
I can’t seem to hear the audio, maybe you’ll have better luck.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:39 am
You are right that there is no such thing as Santa in Ethiopia, hence, no name of him. By the way, your kids are sweet!
December 10th, 2009 at 9:59 am
My kids are split.
Eskedar says No - she doesn’t know what Dameena is and there isn’t an Ethiopian name for Santa.
Bereket says Yes, he just remembered that.
Honestly, I think he’s just being loyal to your kids and doesn’t want people thinking they were mistaken! That’s very Bereket.
December 10th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Hmmm… looks like they migt have just conjured it up, then….
I did learn how to say my tatoo correctly on the website, though - thanks Anna!
December 10th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
My girls say there is no Santa in Ethiopia. One of the other children recieved a picture from their adoptive family that included Santa (if i got that story right).
They also don’t seem to recognize the word, unless they just don’t know the English word for it.
December 29th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
hello
santa in amharic is ‘aba ge-na’ interpitation is father christmas.
God Bless
happy holidays to you all