Ethiopia: Online Afaan Oromoo - English Dictionary

JT Diaspora

For the first time, Oromo-Ethiopians worldwide will be able to use an internet dictionary that easily translates words from English to Afaan Oromoo as well as from Afaan Oromoo to English. This free online Oromoo Dictionary that is being built up with over hundred new word entries everyday by the Jimma Times Oromiffa Group (JTOG) will be able to benefit people with all proficiency levels in Afaan Oromo.

Whether it is Oromos living in the Diaspora who hope to learn their native mother tongue, to non-Oromos interested in learning Afaan Oromoo or for Oromo students in Ethiopia and Kenya who are seeking English translations in their classrooms, this online dictionary is the first of its kind that can be used for diverse purposes.

Users can go to the dictionary page by entering the "Afaan Oromoo Dictionary" link on the top of Jimma Times frontpage. JTOG is looking for more volunteers to help develop the database faster and contribute to the linguistic empowerment of Oromo nation. Visit the JTOG website for more at http://jimmatimes.com/JTOG.cfm

The dictionary's formation was an initiative by JTOG members that was embraced by and created in partnership with SelamSoft Inc, which is well-known for its dictionary software products for other languages.

Afaan Oromoo (also known as Oromiffa) is the most widely used language in Ethiopia by first-language speakers and it is the second most spoken language in the country overall. Afaan Oromoo, which is part of the general Afro-Asiatic language family, is also a top five language in the African continent in total number of speakers.