Order anything by pointing in Somali
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Somali phrases in this lesson
- 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...
Literally "I want ...".
Kan (this one). Point while saying it and you can order from a market stall. The -a suffix makes it definite: "kana" (this particular one).
Literally "it is how much?".
Mobile money, such as EVC Plus, is how most people pay.
Literally "white money", cash. US dollars are widely used.
Biyo is water. In Mogadishu and larger cities, tap water is increasingly available, but bottled water is still safer and preferred. Bottled water (biyo shaandh) is sold everywhere.
Spiced tea, shaah (SHAAH), is the everyday drink.
Alcohol is banned in Somalia.
A suffix meaning without: sonkor la'aan (SON-kor la-AAN), without sugar.