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"Tigrayan, Tigray, Tegaru, Tigre"—

They all mean slave.

In Ge’ez, Amharic, and even Tigrinya.

Don’t believe me?

All the proof is in this post 👇👇 2/

This 1865 Tigrinya-French dictionary defines “Tigray” as “sujet" (“subject” in English), AKA someone who was conquered & subjugated by a higher power

A 2nd def. is “plébéien,” meaning “peasant” or “commoner"

The meaning is the same no matter how “Tigray” is spelt/pronounced

🧵🧶 The claim that Ge’ez words entered the Arabic language through “slaves” is unusual, misleading, & ultimately false. It also ignores the far more obvious & probable explanation: the fact that Ethiopians ruled over Arabia for centuries. 1/ The history of the Habesha (Semitic-speaking, predominantly Orthodox Christian people) and their empire begins some 3,000 years ago with the Cushitic Queen Makeda, pagan ruler of Sheba in the old Ethiopian colony of Yemen.

This is a thread containing my response to one person’s doubts about #HR6600. All true Amharas, Afars, and Ethiopians should read this to understand why so many of us support the bill. Disclaimer: These are my own views and observations, and they do not necessarily represent those of all Amharas/Afars/Ethiopians.