The Somali course
Learn Somali ten words at a time
Soomaali
Ten games of ten words: the hundred 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.
Somali challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Somali · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Salaamsa-LAAM
- Hello
- HayeHA-yeh
- Hi
- Subax wanaagsanSUB-ah wa-NAAG-san
- Good morning
- Habeen wanaagsanha-BEEN wa-NAAG-san
- Good night
- Aad ayaad u mahadsantahayAAD a-yaad oo ma-had-SAN-ta-hay
- Thank you very much
- Mahadsanidma-had-SA-nid
- Thanks
- Adigaa mudana-DI-gaa MU-dan
- You're welcome
- FadlanFAD-lan
- Please
- Raali noqoRAA-li NO-qo
- Excuse me
- Nabad gelyoNA-bad GEL-yo
- Goodbye
Somali · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Bir caasato ah, fadlanbeer CAA-sa-to ah FAD-lan
- One beer, please
- Mid-kani, fadlanmid-KA-nee FAD-lan
- One of these, please
- Shai mid, fadlanSHAI mid FAD-lan
- One tea, please
- Labo, fadlanLA-bo FAD-lan
- Two, please
- Mid kale, fadlanmid KA-leh FAD-lan
- One more, please
- Intaa habar?in-TAA HA-bar
- How much is it?
- Billada, fadlanbee-LAH-dah FAD-lan
- The bill, please
- Waxaan hadii?wah-HAAN ha-DEE
- May I...?
- CheersCHEERZ
- Cheers!
- Yarxamuka Allaahyar-HAM-u-ka al-LAH
- Bless you
Somali · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- HahHAH
- Yes
- MayaMA-yah
- No
- Wanagsanwa-NAG-san
- Okay
- Yah, waxaa fududyah wa-HAH FOO-dood
- Sure, no problem
- Ma ogama O-gah
- I don't know
- Ma fahmoma FAH-mo
- I don't understand
- Eng-lees miyaad ku hadlantaa?eng-LEES mi-yaad koo had-LAN-tah
- Do you speak English?
- Yaryar
- A little
- CertainlySIR-tin-lee
- Of course
- Wax oo dhami wanaagsanwah oo THA-mi wa-NAG-san
- Everything is fine
Somali · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Midmid
- One
- LaboLA-bo
- Two
- Sadexsa-DEX
- Three
- AfarAH-far
- Four
- TobanTO-ban
- Ten
- Boqolbo-KOHL
- One hundred
- Shillin SomaliSHIL-lin so-MA-li
- Somali Shilling
- Kaadkaad
- By card
- ShillinSHIL-lin
- In cash
- Gaalkada waxay...GAAL-ka-dah wah-HAY
- It costs...
Somali · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Baracaanba-ra-CAAN
- Bread
- CaanoCAA-no
- Milk
- JiiskaJEES-ka
- Cheese
- BiyoBEE-yo
- Water
- Shaandh?SHAANDH
- A bag?
- Miyaad haydataa...?mi-yaad HAY-da-tah
- Do you have...?
- Xagee...?hah-GAY
- Where is...?
- Kankahn
- This one
- Wax kale ma jirowah KA-leh ma JEE-ro
- Nothing else
- Qof wanagsankof wa-NAG-san
- Have a nice day
Somali · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Miis labo qofMEES LA-bo kof
- A table for two
- Bilkada, fadlanbil-KA-dah FAD-lan
- The menu, please
- Shai mid, fadlanSHAI mid FAD-lan
- One tea, please
- Caano miisCAA-no MEES
- A glass of juice
- Hilib iyo bariisHI-lib ee-yo ba-REES
- Meat and rice
- Sambuusassam-BOO-sas
- Sambusas
- Waxaa qamaamirwa-HAH ka-ma-MEER
- It's delicious
- Coontin la'anCOON-tin LA-ahn
- Without salt
- Iska qaadayis-kah QAA-day
- To take away
- BadhkadaBATH-ka-dah
- Keep the change
Somali · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Sidee tahay?si-DAY ta-HAY
- How are you? (polite)
- Sidee?si-DAY
- How are you? (casual)
- Wanaagsanwa-NAG-san
- I'm fine
- Oo adigaa?oo a-DI-gah
- And you?
- Waxaa cusub?wa-HAH KU-sub
- What's new?
- Maalin qurxoon, mise?MAA-lin koor-HOON MI-seh
- Beautiful day, huh?
- Ku soo dhawoowkoo soo THOW-ow
- See you soon
- Habeeen wanaagsanha-BEEN wa-NAG-san
- Have a nice evening
- Qoyskaaga solahKOYS-kaa-gah SO-lah
- Say hi to your family
- Hadii iyo guulha-DEE ee-yo GUUL
- All the best
Somali · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Musqusha xagee?mus-KU-sha hah-GAY
- Where is the toilet?
- Bidixbi-DIX
- Left
- Midigmi-DIG
- Right
- Jiddada iska sii wadjid-DAH-dah is-kah see WAD
- Straight ahead
- Halkanhal-KAN
- Here
- Halkaashal-KAAS
- There
- Basbas
- Bus
- TaksiTAK-si
- Taxi
- Bileema mid, fadlanbi-LEE-ma mid FAD-lan
- One ticket, please
- Halkan joog, fadlanhal-KAN joog FAD-lan
- Stop here, please
Somali · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- MaantaMAAN-ta
- Today
- BerriBER-ree
- Tomorrow
- Jirjeer
- Yesterday
- HaddaHAD-dah
- Now
- Badanba-DAN
- Later
- Waqtiga intee?wak-TEE-ga in-TAY
- What time is it?
- Isniinis-NEEN
- Monday
- Jimcaadajim-CAA-dah
- Friday
- AxadAH-had
- Sunday
- Isbuukadais-BOO-ka-dah
- The weekend
Somali · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Caaw!CAAW
- Help!
- Hakim yeedhha-KIM yeedh
- Call a doctor
- Poliskapo-LEES-ka
- Police
- Kaynta darrigaKAY-n-ta DAR-rig-ga
- Pharmacy
- Howl qummanhowl KUM-man
- Hospital
- Waan injifaywaan in-ji-FAY
- I'm lost
- Jirkaygii ma wanaagsanjir-KAY-gee ma wa-NAG-san
- I don't feel well
- Paspoortiyagapas-PORT-ya-ga
- My passport
- Waa la xadaywah la hah-DAY
- It was stolen
- Waxaa hareerwa-HAH ha-RAYR
- It's urgent