Glossary
The whole glossaryForeign exchange
Sharafa alaa
Foreign money: dollars, euros, riyals. Exports bring it in; imports use it up.
Maallaqa biyya alaa: doolaara, awuroo, riyaalii. Al-ergiin sharafa alaa fida; al-galchiin isa fixa.
Coopbank collected 303 million dollars in half a year.
Coopbank walakkaa waggaatti doolaara miiliyoona 303 walitti qabe.
In Ethiopia
A shortage of foreign exchange long held Ethiopian business back: importers waited months for dollars at banks. Since the birr was floated in July 2024, banks buy and sell it at market rates and the National Bank sells to banks at auctions.
Hanqinni sharafa alaa yeroo dheeraaf daldala Itoophiyaa duubatti hambisaa ture: galchitoonni doolaara baankii irraa argachuuf ji'oota eegaa turan. Adoolessa 2024 birriin gabaatti gadi dhiifamee as, baankonni gatii gabaatiin bitu, gurguru; Baankiin Biyyoolessaas caalbaasiidhaan baankotaaf gurgura.
Stories that use this word
4Remittances out-earn gold, and the two official counts differ by US$1.06bn
Ergaan maallaqaa warqee caala; lakkoofsonni lamaan doolaara biiliyoona 1.06'n garaagaraMoney sent home beats any single export. How much of it there is depends on which count you read.
Ensight, from National Bank, Diaspora Service and IFAD figures · October 20, 2026A policy rate 0.9 points above inflation: how tight is 16%?
Dhalli imaammataa qaala'iinsa gatii qabxii 0.9'n caala: 16% hammam cimaa dha?The real policy rate is barely positive. The monthly pace says more about where prices are heading.
Ensight, from National Bank and Statistical Service figures · October 19, 2026
The foreign exchange auction misses its offer for the first time
Gurgurtaan sharafaa yeroo jalqabaaf hin guutamneAt its twenty-eighth auction the National Bank offered US$125 million and sold US$120 million, the first undersubscription since results began being published.
National Bank of Ethiopia; Capital Newspaper · September 9, 2026
The state bank's audited accounts arrive without a stated year
Herregni sakatta'ame bara isaa osoo hin ibsin dhufeAudited figures for the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia show net profit of ETB 38.71 billion, up 75.8%, total assets of ETB 2.31 trillion, deposits of ETB 1.695 trillion and a foreign currency loss of ETB 36.71 billion.
The Reporter · September 5, 2026