Amhara

American  

[ahm-hahr-uh] / ɑmˈhɑr ə /

noun

1. Also called Amhara Region.  Official Name Amhara National Regional State.  a regional state in northern Ethiopia: site of Lake Tana. Bahir Dah.

2. a region of the former Ethiopian Empire comprising several provinces, large portions of which are part of the modern Amhara Region.

3. a member of an Amharic-speaking, traditionally agricultural, predominantly Christian people of central Ethiopia, descended from Cushitic peoples already living in the region and Semitic peoples who arrived in the sixth century b.c.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Amhara.

Amhara British  

/ æmˈhɑːrə /

noun

1. a region of NW Ethiopia: formerly a kingdom

2. an inhabitant of the former kingdom of Amhara

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Etymology

Origin of Amhara

First recorded in 1830–40; from Amharic Amara, a self-designation, from Geez ʾAmḥārā, the name of a historical province of central and northwestern Ethiopia

Example Sentences

In the three years since, Ethiopia's government has been grappling with a violent insurgency, waged by the Fano rebels, who now control large parts of its northern Amhara region.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

The BBC collected data from 43 health facilities in Amhara - roughly 4% of all health facilities in the region - and other medical sources to get a snapshot of what has been happening.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025

Some 20,000 square-kilometres of Afar is now invaded by the plant, which is "out of control" and spreading into Amhara and Oromia, he said.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

At an elevation of about 2500 meters on Ethiopia’s Amhara plain, villagers conduct an ancient ritual—harvesting delicate stalks of teff by hand.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 26, 2024

Gondar is the capital of Amhara, Adowa is the main town of Tigré, and Amkobar is the most important place in Shoa.

From Our Sailors Gallant Deeds of the British Navy during Victoria's Reign by Kingston, William Henry Giles