Re: [Google Amharic] New to group -- translation question

[Muktar]

Hi Laura welcome to the group.  From what I understood in your email I would spell his name a bit differently. As someone suggested the brightest light at the break of the day is Wegagen written in Amharic.  Actually there is a bank in Ethiopia with that name ( http://www.wegagenbank.com.et/).
I'm sure others in the group would have a better say on this and your other questions.

Good luck
Muktar

On 12/28/06, lcm...@gmail.com <lcm...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi.  My name is Laura.  My husband Brian and I brought home our
Ethiopian son in May of this year.  He is our joy.  I have joined this
group because there is some discrepency in the paperwork about his
birthname and it is very important to us that we have a clear idea of
what it is, how it is spelled and pronounced.

We were originally told his name was Magen (but pronounced like Lasagna
with an "M").  However all the official documentation has his name
spelled "Magegn."  When we showed it to an friend of ours she said it
meant the brightest light at the break of day and pronounced it with a
W (Wuhgahgen).  So we call him that (his American name is Max b/c
everyone takes his name and presumes it to be Meagan and thinks he is a
she...).  Anywho, recently we were given some gifts from friends for
him and they wrote "Wuhgahgen" on it and so we wondered is Magegn NOT
pronounced with a W?  Also, is that not the same name or meaning that
we have been told?

I hope this is not all that confusing -- it sounds so to me reading it
back.  I do appreciate any information that can be provided.

Also, we have his birthparents names and it would mean a lot if you can
tell me the meaning of those names as well.

She was Etenesh and he was Kebede.

Thanks.

PS: I have more questions that are not related to Ethiopic translation
so if anyone is familiar with the Gurage people and the general area of
Soddo I would be thrilled to learn more.

[tegegne tefera]

Hi Laura
My guss is when the name is spelled in to English mistake has been made. It is a very common problem. My advise is not to use this name as it stands now until you get the correct spelling because it can have a very unpleasant meaning. magaña or megaña can also mean a sort of "bad spirit". The best way to find out the correct spelling is to get the Amharic version. that is written in Amharic characters.
Since your wish is to keep the original name as a connection to his past then our guesses here would be just that, guesses. I think you want to be sure that is the right name. When you get the amharic version we would help you to correctly spell it in to english.

good luck

On 12/28/06, lcm...@gmail.com <lcm...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks so much Muktar.  We knew about the bank but did not know that is
how it was spelled.  We are in a quandry.  We love the meaning of
Wegagen but want to honor his birthparents who apparently named him
Magen.  This is why I am desperate to learn more about the meaning of
both and try and figure out which is the best course to take.  I do
appreciate all input I may receive and thank you all in advance.

BTW -- if you guys want to see our little Magegn (or Wegagen or Magen)
please visit our website at www.nosmallfeat.typepad.com

[Alemayehu]

Hi Laura,

On top of what other members have suggested, I think it could be very helpful to find out where your son was born. The region/town/city...because we might not necessarily talking about an Amharic name. So, if you could tell us where he was born or where his biological parents come from, we might help you further.

PS: You could find out more about the Gurage people in here: http://www.guragezone.gov.et

Good luck,
*AleX*

On 12/28/06, tegegne tefera <tefera....@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Laura
My guss is when the name is spelled in to English mistake has been made. It is a very common problem. My advise is not to use this name as it stands now until you get the correct spelling because it can have a very unpleasant meaning. maga a or mega a can also mean a sort of "bad spirit". The best way to find out the correct spelling is to get the Amharic version. that is written in Amharic characters.

Since your wish is to keep the original name as a connection to his past then our guesses here would be just that, guesses. I think you want to be sure that is the right name. When you get the amharic version we would help you to correctly spell it in to english.

good luck

On 12/28/06, lcm...@gmail.com <lcm...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks so much Muktar.  We knew about the bank but did not know that is
how it was spelled.  We are in a quandry.  We love the meaning of
Wegagen but want to honor his birthparents who apparently named him
Magen.  This is why I am desperate to learn more about the meaning of
both and try and figure out which is the best course to take.  I do
appreciate all input I may receive and thank you all in advance.

BTW -- if you guys want to see our little Magegn (or Wegagen or Magen)
please visit our website at www.nosmallfeat.typepad.com

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