← Somali lessons
🇸🇴
Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days in Somali
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. 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
- 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
Hadda (now, this moment). Somali sense of time is often flexible in social contexts, but hadda is a clear marker of the immediate present.
Literally "a later time".
Maanta (today). Somali uses this alone, no extra particles needed. The concept is straightforward: "maanta ayaan jira" (I am here today).
Berri (tomorrow, also "waxa berri" for the day after). Somali time is often fluid; exact future planning can be negotiated as the time approaches, especially in business or social settings.
Literally "a minute, please".