105 essential Somali phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.
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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 Colours and describing Say what something looks like
Cas Red Madow Black Cad White Midab Colour Weyn Big Yar Small Wanaagsan Good Xun Bad At home Name the things around you
Guri House Albaab Door Sariir Bed Kursi Chair Miis Table Daaqad Window Fure Key Qol Room Body and health Say what hurts and ask for help
Madax Head Gacan Hand Il Eye Calool Stomach Waan xanuunsanayaa I am sick Dhakhtar Doctor Isbitaal Hospital Dawo Medicine Work and school Talk about what you do
Shaqo Work Dugsi School Macallin Teacher Arday Student Buug Book Waxaan baranayaa Soomaali I am learning Somali Su'aal Question Eray Word Feelings Say how you feel
Waan faraxsanahay I am happy Waan daalanahay I am tired Waan ku jeclahay I love you Saaxiib Friend Waan gaajaysanahay I am hungry Waan harraadsanahay I am thirsty Waan ka xumahay I am sorry Hambalyo Congratulations Small talk Keep a short conversation going
Xagee ka timid? Where are you from? Waxaan ka imid Ameerika I am from America Ingiriis ma ku hadashaa? Do you speak English? In yar A little Berri aan is aragno See you tomorrow Habeen wanaagsan Good night Aad iyo aad u mahadsanid Thank you very much Wax dhib ma leh No problem Questions people ask about Somali How do you say "hello" in Somali? "Hello" in Somali is Salaan , pronounced /sa-LAAN/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
How do you say "thank you" in Somali? "Thank you" in Somali is Mahadsanid , pronounced /ma-had-SA-nid/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
How do you say "how are you?" in Somali? "How are you?" in Somali is Iska warran? , pronounced /EES-ka WA-ran/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
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.