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Tigrinya Grammar for Beginners

Tigrinya grammar generally follows a subject–object–verb (SOV) word order, uses gendered pronouns, and marks tense and person through prefixes and suffixes attached to the verb root.

Sentence word order

Unlike English, Tigrinya typically places the verb at the end of the sentence: subject, then object, then verb. Getting comfortable with this order early makes sentences easier to build.

Pronouns and gender

Tigrinya pronouns and some verb forms change based on the gender of the person you are speaking to or about, so "you" and certain verb endings differ for male and female subjects.

Verb conjugation basics

Tigrinya verbs are built from a root, with prefixes and suffixes added to show who is doing the action and when. Learning common verb patterns is more useful early on than memorizing exceptions.

Asking questions

Questions are often formed by adding a question word or particle rather than fully reordering the sentence, which makes them more approachable once you know basic word order.

Practice tips

Learn grammar through real sentences, not isolated rules — seeing a pattern used in context makes it far easier to remember and reuse.

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