Learn Oromo

Learn Oromo online today with the uTalk app, which gets you speaking in minutes. You'll build confidence with practical lessons on essential language skills that you can use with family and friends or for business and travel.

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"Imagine greeting someone with akkam jirta in Addis Ababa or across the Horn of Africa this week and being understood (and maybe even complimented on your accent)."

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Speak Oromo with confidence

Many people want to learn Oromo to connect with family or prepare for travel to Ethiopia. But it’s difficult to get started when you can’t find quality resources that focus on speaking Oromo.

uTalk is the solution. We'll help you avoid:

Missing out on everyday conversations with native speakers in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa
Wasting time with grammar books that don't teach you how people really talk in real life situations
Losing motivation because resources ignore practical phrases and widely spoken vocabulary

Learn Oromo language skills fast and open the door to new connections. Start today.

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Three steps to learn Oromo online

With uTalk, there are no classes to schedule and no complicated setup. We provide a clear path to learning your next language.

Start in minutes

Subscribe now, download the app or open our website. It’s easy to choose Oromo and select your first category.

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Practise real phrases

You’ll learn through short lessons that use native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Periodic review sessions focus on the words you need more practice with so you learn faster.

Speak like a local

Try your new Oromo skills in real life. Both beginners and more experienced learners can build basic and practical spoken language to start enjoying meaningful experiences right away.

What our learners say about us

"It’s perfect to use, easy, for all ages, mix interesting sections, great layout and come with professional helpful customer service!!!! I am so happy with this app! This app is the best."

Baruch.HaShem
"If you can't decide which language you want to learn, this app is great because you can dip in and try lots of different ones. And I love that it works on my computer, phone and iPad!"

Lillibet82
"It’s amazing to have so many languages to choose from. The games are simple and fun. I love that Starter Words is free in every language, so you can try as many as you like!"

Matt Garland
"Great app for learning different languages, it's great that you can learn from repeating common words and phrases spoken by natives. Great idea and fantastic for traveling"

Jocc1233
"It is a good app and very rewarding. My little girl has learnt alot from it! I have already paid for a few coins already, because I felt like paying for a good app!"

david bemrose
"the site is awesome! I love it. And Daniel in customer service was excellent. He addressed my problem immediately and to my satisfaction. I highly recommend uTalk!"

Debra DeGrasse
"Tried several languages (got package deal of 6). Fun playing those games with children, good for both language and memory. I do not regret this purchase"

Alex Shatzir
"I have been trying to find an app that has all the languages. I thought I would never find one, but I did and it has so many good learning techniques."

Samulana4
"I am currently doing arabic and i love it. I have tried a few things in other languages too gujrati punjabi tamil french. A very useful tool."

Adi24tya
"I love learning languages and this app is a great tool tool for getting better at the ones I know. I will enjoy using this for a long time!"

Kizzij

Why uTalk is the best Oromo learning app

uTalk is app-based, online and ready to help you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases

Speak first

We provide practical content for greetings, family, travel and everyday spoken Oromo.

Authentic native speakers

You’ll learn from locals, not computer voices. You’ll be able to hear the accent that's widely spoken across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

Beginner friendly, fun and effective

Our game-like practice sessions build your confidence quickly. Plus, our lessons are short, focused and based on real life situations.

Speak Oromo today – Common phrases and audio

uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.

Phrase Image - I’d like a coffee, please.

Maaloo, bunan barbaada.

I’d like a coffee, please.

Akkam.

Hello.

Eeyyen.

Yes.

Eeyyen mee.

Yes please.

Lakki.

No.

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Lakki dhiisi.

No thanks.

Maaloo.

Please.

Galatoomi.

Thank you.

Guddaa galatoomi.

Thank you very much.

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Homaa miti.

You’re welcome.

Maaloo, biiraa lama fidi.

Two beers, please.

baasii

bus

konkolaataa

car

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taaksii

taxi

baabura

train

buufata baaburaa

railway station

buufata xiyyaaraa

airport

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hoteela

hotel

paaspoortii

passport

bilbila

telephone

Dhiifama.

Excuse me.

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Sa’atiin meeqaa?

What time is it?

Phrase Image - Can you repeat that please?

Maaloo irra naaf deebitaa?

Can you repeat that please?

Phrase Image - Please speak more slowly.

Maaloo suuta dubbadhu.

Please speak more slowly.

Naaf hin galle.

I don’t understand.

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Dhiifama.

Sorry.

Manni fincaanii eessa?

Where are the toilets?

Mana fincaanii dubartii

Ladies’ Toilet

Mana fincaanii dhiiraa

Gents’ Toilet

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Bakki qarqara galaanaa eessa?

Where is the beach?

Manni baankichaa eessaa?

Where is the bank?

Gatiin isaa meeqa?

How much does this cost?

kaardii liqii

credit card

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Ee Ti Emmii

cash machine

Nagaatti.

Goodbye.

paaraasitaamoolii

paracetamol

furtuuwwan

keys

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kaartaa

map

bitaa

left

mirga

right

tokko

one

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lama

two

sadii

three

Where is it spoken?

Ethiopia

Kenya

Number of speakers

34,000,000

Language family

Afro-Asiatic

Cushitic

Lowland East Cushitic

Fun facts | Oromo

Before the 1970s, Oromo could be written in either the Latin or the Ge'ez script. Today only the Latin script is used.
The Oromo people refer to their language as Afaan Oromo. Afaan means mouth or language.
Oromo has the fourth number of speakers of all languages spoken in Africa, coming after Arabic, Swahili and Hausa.

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How our Oromo lessons work

We think your language learning journey should be simple. We’ll start you off with basic greetings and high-frequency words. Then, you’ll move to practical categories like family, numbers and essential phrases. uTalk lessons are short, fun and built for beginners. You'll practise with native speaker audio and be tested on what you've learned to strengthen your memory. Review sessions adapt to your needs by testing you more frequently on the words you need to work on the most.

To start, all you need to do is pick a category, and the uTalk app orders the content so you can get quick wins right away. In your Settings, you can choose English or another preferred application language to learn Oromo. You can learn online or offline, on mobile or desktop. You can also change categories any time to follow the path that suits your goals. If you have questions, simply check the in-app help or contact support. We're a friendly UK-based team ready to help you.

Oromo vs. Afaan Oromo

Here’s a guide to the difference between Oromo and Afaan Oromo.

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Key points

Oromo and Afaan Oromo are the same language. Afaan Oromo simply means "Oromo language" in Oromo itself (afaan means "language" or "mouth").
Both names refer to the widely spoken Cushitic language used by millions of people across Ethiopia, particularly in the Oromia region, and in parts of Kenya.
In uTalk, you'll find the language listed as Oromo. When you're searching for resources or talking with native speakers, you might hear either name. But they're interchangeable, so don't worry about which one to use.

How Oromo compares with other languages of the Horn of Africa

Learn Oromo app being used on two phones in the hands of two women

Oromo is the fourth most widely spoken language in Africa after Arabic, Swahili and Hausa. It's widely spoken in Ethiopia, especially in the Oromia region, and it's one of the most important languages in the Horn of Africa. Millions of people use Oromo every day, so learning it can help you connect with native speakers across a large area.
Amharic is Ethiopia's official language, but it's from a different language family. This means Amharic and Oromo are not mutually intelligible. Tigrinya is spoken in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, while Somali is common in Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. These are all distinct languages with their own vocabulary and structure.

uTalk supports 150+ languages, including Amharic, Tigrinya and Somali, so you can compare options and even learn more than one if you like.

If you’re ready to speak Oromo with confidence, start learning with uTalk today.

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"We make learning Afaan Oromo easy"

"We understand it's easy to feel stuck when you can't find quality resources for the language you want to learn. At uTalk, every language is important to us. We recorded Oromo because we know it’s an integral part of people's culture and identity in Ethiopia. We also recorded native Oromo speakers so you can learn the language as it's really spoken. Get started with uTalk today."

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Richard Howeson

uTalk Founder

Why learners trust uTalk

We go out of our way to support minority and regional languages, and our content is recorded by native speakers. The app works for English speakers as well as speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check out our reviews to see how uTalk learners are turning practice into progress.

Two women laughing about their Oromo language learning progress

Your language learning journey in Oromo

If you’re like the many people already using uTalk, you’re looking to connect with family, explore your heritage or communicate for work or travel. While Oromo is widely spoken across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, especially in the Oromia region, finding quality Oromo lessons can be hard.

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uTalk can help. When you join our program, you’ll begin by choosing a category or starting with First Words, like akkam jirta. Then, you can gradually build your list of useful words and phrases for real life situations. You can also listen to native speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. We incorporate games to make it fun for beginners, but the content is practical for everyone. You can learn online or offline and follow a guided learning pathway or explore on your own.a We make it easy to choose what you want to learn and when.

In no time, you'll speak Oromo with confidence, understand more of what people say and use your skills with friends, family and new connections. It just fits your life.

See the difference

Before uTalk you were:

Struggling to find Oromo lessons that focus on speaking
Memorising word lists with no idea how to use them in real conversations
Unsure how native speakers pronounce common words and phrases
Avoiding speaking because you lacked confidence

"I'll never be able to speak Oromo properly"

With uTalk you will be:

Using everyday Oromo phrases, from greetings to travel
Perfecting your pronunciation with clear, native speaker audio examples
Building confidence with daily wins that keep you motivated
Learning anywhere on your mobile, tablet or desktop

“I can actually have conversations in Oromo”

Learn real-life topics in Oromo

First Words Transport Restaurant Food and Drink Cooking Places Directions Illness Doctor Body Emergencies Social Phrases Leisure Likes and Dislikes Football Match Abroad Football Commentary Sports Shopping Words Fruit Vegetables Clothes Ingredients Home Bathroom Kitchen Tools Family Occupations Animals Animals' Bodies Farming Technology School Business Numbers up to Twenty Numbers up to Ten Million Essential Phrases Adjectives Prepositions Colours Countries Calendar Time Timetable Outdoors Holiday Skiing Camping Golf Sailing Driving Olympics Summer Olympics Winter Olympics Military Commands Military Peace Keeping Military Intelligence Accommodation Shopping Phrases Travelling Free Starter Words Disaster Relief - Volunteers Natural Disasters

Explore the Cushitic language family

Oromo belongs to the Cushitic language family, which is part of the wider Afro-Asiatic group. This family includes languages spoken across the Horn of Africa and parts of East Africa. If you're curious to compare words, sounds or everyday phrases across this language family, we encourage you to check out Somali.

These languages share historical roots and some similar vocabulary patterns, so cross-learning might feel familiar once you start.

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Your Oromo questions, answered

Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?

uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.

Can I start as a beginner?

Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1-A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.

What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?

Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.

How is content selected and ordered?

Topics are based on real life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.

How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?

YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.

Where can I learn a language with uTalk?

We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.

Is Oromo the same as Afaan Oromo?

Yes. Afaan Oromo means "Oromo language" in Oromo. Both names refer to the same widely spoken language. In the app, you'll find it listed as Oromo.

Is Oromo similar to Amharic?

No. Oromo and Amharic are from different language families. Oromo is Cushitic, while Amharic is Semitic. They're both spoken in Ethiopia but have different vocabulary, grammar and structure.

How fast can I learn to speak Oromo?

Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after just a few weeks of steady practice. Your speed depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.

Can I learn Oromo for free with uTalk?

Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you're not satisfied.

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