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Swahili to Somali translation

Most translation tools route Swahili through English before they reach Somali, which is where the meaning goes missing. SemaSoma translates the pair directly and hands back a pronunciation guide with every result.

Swahili to Somali: everyday phrases

Phrases that appear in both the Swahili and Somali courses, lined up side by side with the English meaning so you can check the match.

  • HabariSalaan
    Hello/sa-LAAN/
  • AsanteMahadsanid
    Thank you/ma-had-SA-nid/
  • KaribuSoo dhawoow
    Welcome/soo dha-WOW/
  • KwaheriNabadgelyo
    Goodbye/na-bad-GEL-yo/
  • NdiyoHaa
    Yes/HAA/
  • HapanaMaya
    No/MA-ya/
  • TafadhaliFadlan
    Please/FAD-lan/
  • PoleWaan ka xumahay
    Sorry/waan ka hu-MA-hay/
  • Niko mzuriWaan fiicanahay
    I am fine/waan fee-KA-na-hay/
  • Jina lako ni nani?Magacaa?
    What is your name?/ma-ga-CHAA/
  • MajiBiyo
    Water/BEE-yo/
  • ChakulaCunto
    Food/CHOON-to/
  • RafikiSaaxiib
    Friend/saa-HEEB/
  • PesaLacag
    Money/LA-chag/
  • MojaKow
    One/kow/
  • MbiliLaba
    Two/LA-ba/
  • TatuSaddex
    Three/SAD-deh/
  • TanoShan
    Five/shan/
  • KumiToban
    Ten/TO-ban/
  • SokoSuuq
    Market/sook/
  • ChaiShaah
    Tea/shaah/
  • MamaHooyo
    Mother/HOH-yo/
  • BabaAabbe
    Father/AAB-beh/
  • KakaWalaal
    Brother/wa-LAAL/
  • MtotoIlmo
    Child/EEL-mo/
  • FamiliaQoys
    Family/koys/
  • MkeXaas
    Wife/haas/
  • MumeNinkayga
    Husband/nin-KAY-ga/
  • LeoMaanta
    Today/MAAN-ta/
  • KeshoBerri
    Tomorrow/BEH-ree/
  • JanaShalay
    Yesterday/sha-LAY/
  • SasaHadda
    Now/HAD-da/
  • AsubuhiSubax
    Morning/SOO-bah/
  • JioniFiid
    Evening/feed/
  • UsikuHabeen
    Night/ha-BEEN/
  • MkateRooti
    Bread/ROH-tee/
  • NyamaHilib
    Meat/HEE-leeb/
  • WaliBariis
    Rice/ba-REES/
  • MaziwaCaano
    Milk/CHAA-no/
  • SukariSonkor
    Sugar/SON-kor/

What to know before you translate

About Somali

Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and a global diasporaaround 20 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet since 1972.

  • 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.

About Swahili

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congoaround 200 million, mostly as a second language. Writing system: Latin alphabet, spelled close to how it sounds.

How accurate is it?

Translations are produced by an AI model, so treat long or legal text as a draft and check it with a speaker. Short everyday sentences — greetings, directions, family talk — are where it is strongest, and the pronunciation guide is written for English readers. Lesson audio is AI pronunciation audio, not a recording of a native speaker.