Every base character has 7 forms — one for each vowel sound. This is the key to reading ALL Amharic. Learn the pattern once, apply it everywhere.
| Order | Symbol | Vowel | Sound | English hint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ä | short ä | neutral a | "a" in "about" |
| 2nd | u | u | oo sound | "oo" in "food" |
| 3rd | i | i | ee sound | "ee" in "feel" |
| 4th | a | a | ah sound | "a" in "father" |
| 5th | é | é | ay sound | "ay" in "day" |
| 6th | ə | schwa | neutral uh | very short "uh" — almost silent |
| 7th | o | o | oh sound | "o" in "go" |