Amsalu Aklilu (2 September 1929 – 19 December 2013) was a “distinguished lexicographer of Amharic” and language professor at Addis Ababa University, a major figure in Ethiopian studies. He was born in Dessie, Wällo, attended a local church school, and later attended and graduated from Holy Trinity secondary school in Addis Ababa. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Cairo University and his doctorate from the University of Tübingen in German.