The study investigated reading errors made by Ethiopian learners of Hebrew (n=34). These newcomers to Israel, unlike other groups such as the Russian Jews, typically have low literacy skills in their first language (Amharic). Their ability to read Hebrew, as judged on a reading comprehension test, was still poor after living in Israel for seven years. In this study they were asked to read aloud a list of selected words in Hebrew. Their reading errors were analysed, indicating a dominant phonological reading type of error. This result is discussed in the light of the first-language skills, culture and social contact of the Ethiopian newcomers in Israel with the target language group.