Learn Somali ten words at a time
Soomaali
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Somali words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- Salaamsa-LAAM
- Hello
- Subax wanaagsanSUB-ah wa-NAAG-san
- Good morning
- Fiid wanaagsanFEED wa-NAAG-san
- Good evening
- Nabad gelyoNA-bad GEL-yo
- Goodbye
- Is arag dambeis A-rag DAM-beh
- See you
- FadlanFAD-lan
- Please
- Mahadsanidma-had-SA-nid
- Thank you
- Adigaa mudana-DI-gaa MU-dan
- You're welcome
- Waan ka xumahaywaan ka KHU-ma-hai
- Sorry
- Raali noqoRAA-li NO-qo
- Excuse me
- Ku faraxsanahay inaan ku bartoku fa-rakh-SA-na-hai in-AAN ku BAR-to
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Waxaan rabaa...wa-KHAAN ra-BAA
- I would like...
- Kankahn
- This one
- Waa imisa?waa ee-MEE-sa
- How much is it?
- Biilka, fadlanBEEL-ka, FAD-lan
- The bill, please
- Kaarkaar
- By card
- Lacag caddaan ahLA-ag cad-DAAN ah
- In cash
- BiyoBEE-yo
- Water
- QaxwoQAKH-wo
- Coffee
- Shaahshaah
- Tea
- Biirbeer
- Beer
- ...la'aanla-AAN
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- HahHAH
- Yes
- MayaMA-yah
- No
- Hagaagha-GAAG
- Okay
- Ma fahmoma FAH-mo
- I don't understand
- Ingiriis ma ku hadashaa?in-gi-REES ma ku ha-DA-shaa
- Do you speak English?
- Ku celi, fadlanku CEH-li, FAD-lan
- Can you repeat that?
- Si tartiib ah, fadlansi tar-TEEB ah, FAD-lan
- Slowly, please
- Waa maxay kani?waa ma-KHAI KA-ni
- What is this?
- Waxaan u baahanahay...wa-KHAAN u baa-HA-na-hai
- I need...
- Ma i caawin kartaa?ma i CAA-win kar-TAA
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- Midmid
- One
- LaboLA-bo
- Two
- Sadexsa-DEX
- Three
- AfarAH-far
- Four
- Shanshan
- Five
- Lixlikh
- Six
- Toddobatod-DO-ba
- Seven
- Siddeedsid-DEED
- Eight
- Sagaalsa-GAAL
- Nine
- TobanTO-ban
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Ma haysaa...?ma hai-SAA
- Do you have...?
- Xagee...?hah-GAY
- Where is...?
- FuranFU-ran
- Open
- XiranKHI-ran
- Closed
- Bac?bac
- A bag?
- Aad bay qaali u tahayaad bai QAA-li u ta-HAI
- Too expensive
- Waan dalbadaywaan dal-BA-dai
- I have a reservation
- Quraacdu ma ku jirtaa?qu-RAAC-du ma ku jir-TAA
- Is breakfast included?
- Waa maxay furaha wifi-ga?waa ma-KHAI FU-ra-ha WAI-fai-ga
- What's the wifi password?
- Ma ...karaa?ma ... ka-RAA
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Miis labo qofMEES LA-bo kof
- A table for two
- Menu-ga, fadlanMEH-nu-ga, FAD-lan
- The menu, please
- Maxaad igula talinaysaa?ma-KHAAD i-gu-la ta-li-nai-SAA
- What do you recommend?
- Ma cuno...ma CU-no
- I don't eat...
- Waxaan xasaasiyad ku leeyahay...wa-KHAAN kha-saa-SI-yad ku LEH-ya-hai
- I'm allergic to...
- HilibHI-lib
- Meat
- Digaagdi-GAAG
- Chicken
- Kalluunkal-LOON
- Fish
- Waa macaan yahaywaa ma-CAAN ya-HAI
- It's delicious
- CheersCHEERZ
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Sidee tahay?si-DAY ta-HAY
- How are you?
- Waan fiicanahay, mahadsanidwaan fee-CA-na-hai, ma-had-SA-nid
- I'm fine, thanks
- Adiguna?a-di-GU-na
- And you?
- Magacaa?ma-ga-CAA
- What's your name?
- Magacaygu waa...ma-ga-CAI-gu waa
- My name is...
- Xaggee baad ka timid?khag-GEH baad ka TI-mid
- Where are you from?
- Waxaan ka imid...wa-KHAAN ka I-mid
- I'm from...
- Waan jeclahaywaan JEC-la-hai
- I like it
- Waa quruxwaa QU-rukh
- It's beautiful
- Soo dhowowsoo dho-WOW
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Xaggee musqushu ku taal?khag-GEH mus-QU-shu ku TAAL
- Where is the toilet?
- Sidee ku gaari karaa...?si-DEH ku GAA-ri ka-RAA
- How do I get to...?
- Bidixbi-DIX
- To the left
- Midigmi-DIG
- To the right
- Toos u socotoos u SO-co
- Straight ahead
- Halkanhal-KAN
- Here
- Saldhigga tareenkasal-DHIG-ga ta-REEN-ka
- Train station
- Basbas
- Bus
- Garoonka diyaaradahaga-ROON-ka di-yaa-RA-da-ha
- Airport
- Hal tigidh, fadlanhal TI-gidh, FAD-lan
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- HaddaHAD-dah
- Now
- Goor dambegoor DAM-beh
- Later
- MaantaMAAN-ta
- Today
- BerriBER-ree
- Tomorrow
- CaawaCAA-wa
- Tonight
- Goorma?GOOR-ma
- When?
- Goorma ayuu furmayaa?GOOR-ma a-yuu fur-ma-YAA
- What time does it open?
- Daqiiqad, fadlanda-QEE-qad, FAD-lan
- One moment, please
- Daqiiqadoda-qee-QA-do
- Minutes
- Saacadoodsaa-ca-DOOD
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- I caawi!i CAA-wi
- Help!
- Dhakhtar u yeerDHAKH-tar u YEER
- Call a doctor
- Booliskaboo-LEES-ka
- Police
- Farmasifar-MA-si
- Pharmacy
- Isbitaalis-bi-TAAL
- Hospital
- Waan lumaywaan LU-mai
- I'm lost
- Waan xanuunsanayaawaan kha-noon-sa-na-YAA
- I don't feel well
- Waa la xadaywah la hah-DAY
- It was stolen
- Waa xaalad degdeg ahwaa KHAA-lad deg-DEG ah
- It's an emergency
- Iga tag!i-ga TAG
- Leave me alone