Somali

19 Somali phrases for greetings and everyday courtesy, from Hello (Salaam) to Good luck (Hambalyo).

Hello

Salaam, pronounced sa-LAM

Good morning

Subax wanaagsan, pronounced su-BAKH wa-NAG-san

Good evening

Fiid wanaagsan, pronounced FID wa-NAG-san

Good night

Habeyn wanaagsan, pronounced ha-BEYN wa-NAG-san

How are you?

Sidee tahay?, pronounced si-DE ta-HAY

I'm fine, thank you

Waan fiicanahay, mahadsanid, pronounced WAN fi-CA-na-hay, ma-had-SA-nid

What is your name?

Magacaagu waa maxay?, pronounced ma-ga-CA-gu wa MA-khay

My name is...

Magacaygu waa..., pronounced ma-ga-CAY-gu wa...

Nice to meet you

Waxaan ku faraxsanahay inaan kula kulmo, pronounced wa-KHAN ku fa-RAKH-sa-na-hay

Please

Fadlan, pronounced FAD-lan

Thank you

Mahadsanid, pronounced ma-had-SA-nid

You're welcome

Aad baad u mahadsan tahay, pronounced AD bad u ma-had-SAN ta-hay

Yes

Haa, pronounced HA

No

Maya, pronounced MA-ya

Excuse me

Raali ahow, pronounced RA-li a-HOW

Sorry

Raali ahow, pronounced RA-li a-HOW

Goodbye

Nabad gelyo, pronounced na-BAD gel-YO

See you later

Horraantii ayaan kuula kulmayaa, pronounced hor-RAN-ti a-YAN ku-LA kul-ma-YA

Good luck

Hambalyo, pronounced ham-BAL-yo

20 Somali phrases for getting around, from Where is the hotel? (Huteelka xaggee ayuu joogaa?) to Ticket (Tigidhka).

Where is the hotel?

Huteelka xaggee ayuu joogaa?, pronounced hu-TEL-ka khag-GE a-YU jo-GA

How much does this cost?

Imisa ayay tahay?, pronounced i-MI-sa a-YAY ta-hay

Where is the airport?

Garoonka diyaaradaha xaggee ayuu joogaa?, pronounced ga-RON-ka di-ya-RA-da-ha khag-GE a-YU jo-GA

I need a taxi

Takaasi ayaan u baahnahay, pronounced ta-KA-si a-YAN u ban-NA-hay

How far is it?

Intee le'eg ayay fogayd?, pronounced in-TE le-EG a-YAY fo-GAYD

Turn left

Gal bidix, pronounced GAL bi-DIX

Turn right

Gal midig, pronounced GAL mi-DIG

Straight ahead

Si toos ah u socodsii, pronounced SI tos ah u so-cod-SI

I'm lost

Waan waayay jidka, pronounced WAN wa-YAY JID-ka

Train station

Xarunta tareenka, pronounced kha-RUN-ta ta-REN-ka

Bus stop

Joojinta baabuurta, pronounced jo-JIN-ta ba-BUR-ta

I want to go to...

Waxaan doonayaa inaan aado..., pronounced wa-KHAN do-NA-ya i-NAN a-DO...

Do you speak English?

Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?, pronounced MA ku ha-da-SHA in-gi-RI-si

I don't understand

Ma fahmin, pronounced MA fah-MIN

Can you help me?

Ma i caawin kartaa?, pronounced MA i CA-win kar-TA

Police

Booliska, pronounced bo-LIS-ka

Hospital

Isbitaalka, pronounced is-bi-TAL-ka

Pharmacy

Farmashiyaha, pronounced far-ma-shi-YA-ha

Passport

Baasaboorka, pronounced ba-sa-BOR-ka

Ticket

Tigidhka, pronounced ti-GID-ka

20 Somali phrases for eating and drinking, from I'm hungry (Waan gaajoonayaa) to Fish (Kalluun).

I'm hungry

Waan gaajoonayaa, pronounced WAN ga-jo-NA-ya

I'm thirsty

Waan harraadanahay, pronounced WAN har-RA-da-na-hay

The menu please

Fadlan liiska cuntada, pronounced FAD-lan LIS-ka cun-TA-da

Water

Biyo, pronounced BI-yo

Rice

Bariis, pronounced ba-RIS

Delicious

Aad u macaan, pronounced AD u ma-CAN

I am vegetarian

Khudradda iyo miraha ayaan cunaa, pronounced khud-RAD-da i-YO mi-RA-ha a-YAN cu-NA

Not spicy please

Fadlan xoogga aarsan, pronounced FAD-lan KHOG ar-SAN

The bill please

Fadlan biilka, pronounced FAD-lan BIL-ka

A table for two

Miis laba qof ah, pronounced MIS la-BA kof ah

Breakfast

Quraac, pronounced ku-RAC

Lunch

Qado, pronounced ka-DO

Dinner

Casho, pronounced CA-sho

Coffee

Qaxwo, pronounced KAKH-wo

Tea

Shaah, pronounced SHA

Bread

Rooti, pronounced RO-ti

Chicken

Digaag, pronounced di-GAG

Vegetables

Khudrad, pronounced KHUD-rad

Fruit

Midhaha, pronounced mi-DHA-ha

Fish

Kalluun, pronounced kal-LUN

15 Somali phrases for emergencies and health, from Help! (Caawi!) to I've been robbed (Waxaan la dhacay).

Help!

Caawi!, pronounced CA-wi

Call the police!

Booliska wac!, pronounced BO-lis-ka WAC

I need a doctor

Dhakhtar ayaan u baahnahay, pronounced DAKH-tar a-YAN u ban-NA-hay

Fire!

Dab!, pronounced DAB

Thief!

Tuug!, pronounced TUG

I'm sick

Waan xanuunsanahay, pronounced WAN kha-NUN-sa-na-hay

I'm injured

Waan dhaawacmay, pronounced WAN dha-WAC-may

Emergency

Xaaladda degdegga, pronounced kha-LAD-da deg-DEG-ga

Ambulance

Ambalaansta, pronounced am-ba-LAN-sta

I've lost my wallet

Jeeska lacagta ayaan lumiyey, pronounced JES-ka la-CAG-ta a-YAN lu-MI-yey

I need help

Caawimo ayaan u baahnahay, pronounced CA-wi-mo a-YAN u ban-NA-hay

Where is the hospital?

Isbitaalka xaggee ayuu joogaa?, pronounced is-bi-TAL-ka khag-GE a-YU jo-GA

It's urgent

Degdeg ayay u baahan tahay, pronounced DEG-deg a-YAY u ban-NA ta-hay

Leave me alone

Iga tag, pronounced i-GA TAG

I've been robbed

Waxaan la dhacay, pronounced wa-KHAN la DHA-cay

14 Somali phrases for work and money, from I have a meeting (Shir ayaan qabaa) to Let's sign the contract (Heshiiska saxiixno).

I have a meeting

Shir ayaan qabaa, pronounced SHIR a-YAN ka-BA

Nice to meet you

Waxaan ku faraxsanahay kula kulanka, pronounced wa-KHAN ku fa-RAKH-sa-na-hay

Here is my business card

Kaardhka ganacsigayga, pronounced KARD-ka ga-NAC-si-gay-ga

Let's schedule a meeting

Shir ayaan qaban doonaa, pronounced SHIR a-YAN ka-BAN do-NA

I'll send you an email

Iimeyl ayaan kuu diri doonaa, pronounced I-meyl a-YAN ku di-RI do-NA

What is your budget?

Miisaaniyaddaadu waa maxay?, pronounced mi-sa-ni-YAD-da-du wa MA-khay

Invoice

Qaansheegta, pronounced kan-SHEG-ta

Contract

Heshiiska, pronounced he-SHIS-ka

Deadline

Waqtiga dhamaadka, pronounced wak-TI-ga dha-MAD-ka

Partnership

Iskaashiga, pronounced is-ka-SHI-ga

Thank you for your time

Mahadsanid waqtigaaga, pronounced ma-had-SA-nid wak-ti-GA-ga

I'll get back to you

Waxaan kaaga soo laaban doonaa, pronounced wa-KHAN ka-GA so la-BAN do-NA

Can we negotiate?

Ma wada xaajiisankaraan?, pronounced MA wa-DA kha-JI-san-ka-RAN

Let's sign the contract

Heshiiska saxiixno, pronounced he-SHIS-ka sa-KHIKH-no

20 Somali phrases for numbers, days and time, from One (Kow) to Friday (Jimce).

One

Kow, pronounced KOW

Two

Laba, pronounced LA-ba

Three

Saddex, pronounced SAD-dekh

Four

Afar, pronounced a-FAR

Five

Shan, pronounced SHAN

Six

Lix, pronounced LIX

Seven

Toddoba, pronounced tod-DO-ba

Eight

Sideed, pronounced si-DED

Nine

Sagaal, pronounced sa-GAL

Ten

Toban, pronounced to-BAN

Twenty

Labaatan, pronounced la-BA-tan

Fifty

Konton, pronounced kon-TON

One hundred

Boqol, pronounced bo-KOL

One thousand

Kun, pronounced KUN

What time is it?

Saacaddu meeqa bay tahay?, pronounced sa-CAD-du me-KA bay ta-hay

Today

Maanta, pronounced man-TA

Tomorrow

Berri, pronounced BER-ri

Yesterday

Shalay, pronounced sha-LAY

Monday

Isniin, pronounced is-NIN

Friday

Jimce, pronounced JIM-ce

house

guri, pronounced GU-ri

water

biyo, pronounced BI-yo

bread

rooti, pronounced RO-ti

time

waqti, pronounced WAQ-ti

person

qof, pronounced qof

day

maalin, pronounced MA-lin

road / way

jid, pronounced jid

work

shaqo, pronounced SHA-qo

money

lacag, pronounced LA-cag

city

magaalo, pronounced ma-GA-lo

school

dugsiga, pronounced dug-SI-ga

book

buug, pronounced buug

name

magac, pronounced MA-gac

child

cunug, pronounced CU-nug

friend

saaxiib, pronounced sa-KHIIB

food

cunto, pronounced CUN-to

language

luqad, pronounced lu-QAD

earth / land

dhul, pronounced dhul

hand

gacanta, pronounced ga-CAN-ta

dog

eey, pronounced eey

to be

ahaan, pronounced a-HAAN

to go

tag, pronounced tag

to come

imaad, pronounced i-MAAD

to speak

hadal, pronounced HA-dal

to eat

cun, pronounced cun

to drink

cab, pronounced cab

to see

arag, pronounced A-rag

to know

garanayso, pronounced ga-ra-NAY-so

to want

rabid, pronounced RA-bid

to give

sii, pronounced sii

to take

qaad, pronounced qaad

to do

samee, pronounced sa-MEE

to think

fekir, pronounced FE-kir

to live

noolaan, pronounced noo-LAAN

to read

akhri, pronounced AKH-ri

to write

qor, pronounced qor

to work

shaqeey, pronounced sha-QEEY

to help

caawin, pronounced CA-win

to find

hel, pronounced hel

to hold / keep

hayso, pronounced HAY-so

good

wanaagsan, pronounced wa-NAAG-san

bad

xun, pronounced khun

big

weyn, pronounced weyn

small

yar, pronounced yar

new

cusub, pronounced CU-sub

old

gaboobay, pronounced ga-BOO-bay

beautiful

qurxoon, pronounced qur-KHOON

fast

degdeg, pronounced DEG-deg

slow

gaabis, pronounced GA-bis

long / tall

dheer, pronounced dheer

short

gaaban, pronounced GA-ban

warm / hot

kulul, pronounced KU-lul

cold

qabow, pronounced QA-bow

strong

xoog badan, pronounced khoog BA-dan

easy

fudud, pronounced FU-dud

difficult

adag, pronounced A-dag

important

muhiim, pronounced mu-HIIM

interesting

xiiso leh, pronounced KHII-so leh

happy

faraxsan, pronounced fa-RAKH-san

expensive

qaali, pronounced QAA-li

now

hadda, pronounced HAD-da

today

maanta, pronounced man-TA

tomorrow

berri, pronounced BER-ri

yesterday

shalay, pronounced sha-LAY

here

halkan, pronounced HAL-kan

there

halkaas, pronounced hal-KAAS

quickly

degdeg, pronounced DEG-deg

slowly

gaabis, pronounced GA-bis

well

si fiican, pronounced si FII-can

very

aad, pronounced aad

also / too

sidoo kale, pronounced si-DOO KA-le

no / not

maya, pronounced MA-ya

yes

haa, pronounced HA

already

horeba, pronounced HO-re-ba

still / yet

weli, pronounced WE-li

only / just

kaliya, pronounced ka-LI-ya

really

run ahaantii, pronounced run a-HAAN-tii

a lot

aad u badan, pronounced aad u BA-dan

a little

yar, pronounced yar

immediately

isla markiiba, pronounced IS-la mar-KII-ba