Highly specific for ethanolamine phosphorylation. May be a rate-controlling step in phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis (By similarity). ATP + ethanolamine = ADP + H(+) + phosphoethanolamine Phospholipid metabolism; phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis; phosphatidylethanolamine from ethanolamine: step 1/3. Belongs to the choline/ethanolamine kinase family.