Getting around in Somali
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Somali words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Somali phrases in this lesson
- 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
Bidix is left. Very helpful in crowded medinas or markets. Combining: "bidix markaad waddataa" (left when you are walking) makes it clear you mean the direction.
Midig is right. The pair (left and right) is easy to remember and carries through most Somali directions. Point while you say it to make it crystal clear.
Literally "go straight".
Halkan (here, at this place). Used to point out a location or mark a spot: "halkan ayaa" (it is here). Somali relies heavily on deixis (pointing words).
Somalia has no working railway.
Bas (bus, from English). Minibuses and shared taxis are the standard transport in Somalia. You flag them down and negotiate fare. Asking "intaa habar?" (how much?) before boarding is wise.
Literally "the field of the airplanes".