ethiopian

Everyday

1. From or to do with Ethiopia, a country in East Africa, or its people, languages and culture. tree →
2. (noun) A person from Ethiopia. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons: Ethiopia is in the Horn of Africa, its capital is Addis Ababa, and it has high mountains and an ancient history. Ethiopian food includes injera, a spongy flatbread. Many Ethiopian runners have won Olympic medals. In history, Ethiopia was one of very few African countries never colonised for long. Coffee probably first came from Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian churches.

Examples

• My friend's family is Ethiopian. tree →
• Ethiopian runners often win long-distance races. tree →
• We tried Ethiopian injera with spicy stew. tree →
• Coffee was first grown in the Ethiopian highlands. tree →
• The Ethiopian calendar is about seven years behind ours. tree →
• The Ethiopian flag is green, yellow and red. tree →

Note

Always a capital E. The main language is Amharic, but many languages are spoken there. Ethiopia is a country, not a city.

In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh it translates Cush, a land south of Egypt along the Nile, and its people.

Interpretation. Jeremiah's saying, that an Ethiopian cannot change his skin, is read as meaning that habits of sin are hard to change. Ebed-melech the Ethiopian is praised in tradition for saving Jeremiah.

Examples

• Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? (Prophets JER.13.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah: 'Put now these worn clouts and rags under thine armholes under the cords.' And Jeremiah did so. (Prophets JER.38.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah. (Writings 2CH.14.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Always a capital E. The main language is Amharic, but many languages are spoken there. Ethiopia is a country, not a city.