Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. Each entry shows the Somali spelling, the English meaning, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.
First words Greet someone and be polite
Salaan Hello Mahadsanid Thank you Soo dhawoow Welcome Nabadgelyo Goodbye Haa Yes Maya No Fadlan Please Waan ka xumahay Sorry Meeting people Say who you are and ask after someone
Iska warran? How are you? Waan fiicanahay I am fine Magacaa? What is your name? Magacaygu waa... My name is... Biyo Water Cunto Food Saaxiib Friend Lacag Money Counting Numbers and asking a price
Kow One Laba Two Saddex Three Afar Four Shan Five Toban Ten Imisa? How much is it? Suuq Market Shaah Tea Family The people closest to you
Hooyo Mother Aabbe Father Walaal Brother Walaashay My sister Ilmo Child Qoys Family Xaas Wife Ninkayga Husband Days and times Say when something happens
Maanta Today Berri Tomorrow Shalay Yesterday Hadda Now Subax Morning Galab Afternoon Fiid Evening Habeen Night Food and drink Order and share a meal
Rooti Bread Hilib Meat Bariis Rice Caano Milk Beed Egg Sonkor Sugar Waan gaajoonayaa I am hungry Waa macaan It is delicious Getting around town Directions and travel words
Baabuur Car Guri House Waddo Road Dukaan Shop Bidix Left Midig Right Toos Straight ahead Jooji Stop Questions people ask about Somali 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. Where is Somali spoken? Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and a global diaspora — around 20 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet since 1972.
Can I learn Somali for free? Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.