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A number of different units of measurement were used in Ethiopia. The values of the most of these units are not well defined. In 1963, Ethiopia adopted the metric system.
Contents
Pre-metric era
These units were also referred to as Abyssinian units of measurements.
Length
Different units were used to measure length. Values provided below are approximations only as these units were not well-defined.
1 pic = 0.686 m
1 farsang = 5070 m (approximation is up to 3 digits)
1 berri = 1/3 farsang (approx. 3 pics)
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass. One rottolo is approximately equal to 0.311 kg. Some other units are provided below.
1 drachm = 1/120 rotto
1 derime = 1/120 rotto
1 wakea (ounce) = 1/12 rotto
1 mocha = 1/10 rotto
Capacity
Two types of measuring system were used as one for dry measures and one for liquid measures.
Dry
Different units were used to measure dry capacities. One madega is approximately equal to 0.44 l.
1 ardeb = 10 or 24 madega (this may sometimes refer to either the long ardeb equal to 24 madega or the short ardeb equal to 10 madega)
Liquids
The kuba is approximately equals to 1.016 l.
Household units
More than 70 different units are used in an ordinary household. Some of the more important units used are kilograms, kunna, medeb, esir, bobo, pieces, litres, tassa, kubaya, birchiko, sini, bottles, guchiye, sahen and weket.
Some details for some common units of measurements in urban Ethiopia are given below: