SemaSoma
Somali overview

Free Somali starter kit — 105 phrases you can print

A one-page Somali cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Somali spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and a global diaspora — around 20 million.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • SalaanHello/sa-LAAN/
  • MahadsanidThank you/ma-had-SA-nid/
  • Soo dhawoowWelcome/soo dha-WOW/
  • NabadgelyoGoodbye/na-bad-GEL-yo/
  • HaaYes/HAA/
  • MayaNo/MA-ya/
  • FadlanPlease/FAD-lan/
  • Waan ka xumahaySorry/waan ka hu-MA-hay/

Free starter kit

Unlock the remaining Somali phrases

Enter your email and all 105 phrases open right here — every meaning and pronunciation respelling, ready to print. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks.

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Is Somali hard to learn?

  • Doubled vowels mean long vowels, and they change meaning.
  • The letters c and x stand for throat sounds, not English c and x.
  • Poetry is central to the culture; set phrases and proverbs are everywhere.