Somali overview

Free Somali starter kit — 57 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 diasporaaround 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

Get all 57 Somali phrases

Enter your email and the full printable Somali starter kit opens right here — every phrase, meaning and pronunciation respelling. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks. Unsubscribe from any email.

No card, no account needed. We never sell your email.

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.