Somali phrasebook
A few words of Somali go a long way in Mogadishu — people are delighted when visitors try. Here are 295 phrases for every part of your trip, with a simple pronunciation guide.
How to pronounce Somali
Somali is written in the Latin alphabet and read almost exactly as it is spelled. The pronunciation under each phrase splits it into syllables. These letters are the ones to learn:
- c
- A throaty sound made deep in the throat, like Arabic ع (ʿayn). Shown as ʿ — e.g. Carabi (Arabic).
- x
- A strong, breathy h from the throat, like Arabic ح. Shown as ḥ — e.g. xaggee (where).
- dh
- A d made with the tongue curled back, close to a quick d-r — e.g. dhakhtar (doctor).
- q
- A k made further back in the throat, like Arabic ق — e.g. qol (room).
- kh
- Like Arabic خ or the ch in Scottish “loch” — e.g. khudaar (vegetables).
- '
- A short catch in the breath (glottal stop) — e.g. la'aan (without).
- g
- Always hard, as in “go”.
- j / sh
- As in English “jam” and “shop”.
Vowels: a as in “father”, e as in “bed”, i as in “sit”, o as in “for”, u as in “put”.
Double letters are held longer: aa is a long a, and dd or ll are held a moment longer. For example Soomaali and toddoba (seven).
These phrases are Standard Somali, understood everywhere in Mogadishu. You will also hear the Benadir dialect and Maay in the city.
Greetings & basics30 phrases
Greetings matter in Somali culture — always greet before asking anything. Men and women often do not shake hands; wait for a woman to offer her hand first.
Assalaamu calaykum
Peace be upon you (the usual greeting)
Wacalaykum salaam
And peace be upon you (reply)
Nabad
Hello (literally “peace”)
Iska warran?
How are you? / What's new?
Sidee tahay?
How are you? (to one person)
Sidee tihiin?
How are you? (to several people)
Waan fiicnahay, mahadsanid
I'm fine, thank you
Ma nabad baa?
Is all well? (literally “is it peace?”)
Waa nabad
All is well (reply)
Subax wanaagsan
Good morning
Galab wanaagsan
Good afternoon
Habeen wanaagsan
Good night
Soo dhawoow
Welcome (to one person)
Soo dhawaada
Welcome (to several people)
Nabadgelyo
Goodbye
Mar kale ayaan kulmi doonnaa
See you again (we will meet again)
Haa
Yes
Maya
No
Waa hagaag
OK / all right
Fadlan
Please
Mahadsanid
Thank you
Aad baad u mahadsantahay
Thank you very much
Adaa mudan
You're welcome (literally “you deserve it”)
Iga raalli ahaw
Excuse me / sorry
Waan ka xumahay
I'm sorry (I feel bad about it)
Dhib ma leh
No problem
Inshaa Allaah
God willing
Alxamdulillaah
Praise be to God
Mashaa Allaah
What God has willed (said in admiration)
Bismillaah
In the name of God (before eating or setting off)
Understanding each other13 phrases
Ingiriisi ma ku hadashaa?
Do you speak English?
Carabi ma ku hadashaa?
Do you speak Arabic?
Turki ma ku hadashaa?
Do you speak Turkish?
Yaa Ingiriisi ku hadla?
Who speaks English?
Af Soomaali wax yar ayaan ku hadlaa
I speak a little Somali
Ma fahmin
I don't understand
Waan fahmay
I understand
Ma garanayo
I don't know
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Please speak slowly
Fadlan ku celi
Please say that again
Maxay ka dhigan tahay?
What does it mean?
Sidee loo yiraahdaa ... af Soomaali?
How do you say ... in Somali?
Ma qori kartaa?
Can you write it down?
Meeting people17 phrases
Magacaa?
What's your name?
Magacaygu waa ...
My name is ...
Waan ku faraxsanahay inaan ku barto
Nice to meet you
Xaggee baad ka timid?
Where are you from?
Waxaan ka imid ...
I'm from ...
Waxaan ka imid Turkiga
I'm from Turkey
Waxaan ka imid Ingiriiska
I'm from the UK
Waxaan u imid shaqo
I'm here for work
Waxaan u imid booqasho qoys
I'm visiting family
Waxaan u imid dalxiis
I'm here as a tourist
Waxaan ahay ganacsade
I'm a businessperson
Reerku sidee yahay?
How is your family?
Lambarkaaga taleefanka i sii
Give me your phone number
Hambalyo!
Congratulations!
Ilaahay ha u naxariisto
May God have mercy on him/her (condolence)
Ciid wanaagsan
Happy Eid
Ramadaan kariim
Blessed Ramadan
Question words & handy phrases14 phrases
Maxaa?
What?
Xaggee?
Where?
Goorma?
When?
Yaa?
Who?
Waayo?
Why?
Sidee?
How?
Imisa?
How much? / How many?
Kee?
Which one?
... xaggee ku yaal?
Where is ...?
Ma jiraa ...?
Is there ...?
Ma haysaa ...?
Do you have ...?
Waxaan rabaa ...
I would like ...
Waxaan u baahanahay ...
I need ...
Daqiiqad i sug
Wait a minute
Numbers30 phrases
Prices are often quoted in US dollars. Numbers above ten are said “unit and ten”: 25 is shan iyo labaatan (five and twenty).
Eber
zero (0)
Kow
one (1)
Laba
two (2)
Saddex
three (3)
Afar
four (4)
Shan
five (5)
Lix
six (6)
Toddoba
seven (7)
Siddeed
eight (8)
Sagaal
nine (9)
Toban
ten (10)
Kow iyo toban
eleven (11)
Laba iyo toban
twelve (12)
Shan iyo toban
fifteen (15)
Labaatan
twenty (20)
Shan iyo labaatan
twenty-five (25)
Soddon
thirty (30)
Afartan
forty (40)
Konton
fifty (50)
Lixdan
sixty (60)
Toddobaatan
seventy (70)
Siddeetan
eighty (80)
Sagaashan
ninety (90)
Boqol
one hundred (100)
Laba boqol
two hundred (200)
Shan boqol
five hundred (500)
Kun
one thousand (1,000)
Toban kun
ten thousand (10,000)
Malyuun
one million
Badh
half
Time & days24 phrases
Friday is the weekly day off, and many offices close early on Thursday. Arrange meetings from Saturday to Wednesday.
Maanta
today
Berri
tomorrow
Shalay
yesterday
Hadda
now
Goor dambe
later
Subax
morning
Galab
afternoon
Fiid
evening
Habeen
night
Saacaddu waa imisa?
What time is it?
Saacad
hour
Daqiiqad
minute
Toddobaad
week
Bil
month
Sannad
year
Isniin
Monday
Talaado
Tuesday
Arbaco
Wednesday
Khamiis
Thursday
Jimce
Friday
Sabti
Saturday
Axad
Sunday
Goorma ayuu furmayaa?
When does it open?
Goorma ayuu xirmayaa?
When does it close?
At the airport22 phrases
Garoonka diyaaradaha
the airport
Diyaarad
plane
Duulimaad
flight
Baasaboor
passport
Fiiso
visa
Tigidh
ticket
Shandad
suitcase / bag
Imaatinka
arrivals
Ambabaxa
departures
Xaggee laga sameeyaa check-in-ka?
Where is check-in?
Albaabka duulimaadkaygu waa kee?
Which gate is my flight?
Duulimaadkaygu ma daahay?
Is my flight delayed?
Duulimaadka Istanbuul goorma ayuu baxayaa?
When does the Istanbul flight leave?
Xaggee shandadaha laga qaataa?
Where do I collect the bags?
Shandaddaydii ma iman
My bag didn't arrive
Toddobaad ayaan joogayaa
I'm staying for one week
Waxaan ku degganahay hoteelka ...
I'm staying at the ... hotel
Qof ayaa i sugaya
Someone is waiting for me
Musqusha xaggee ku taal?
Where is the toilet?
Xaggee lacagta lagu sarrifaa?
Where can I change money?
Waxaan rabaa kaarka SIM-ka
I'd like a SIM card
Tagaasi xaggee laga helaa?
Where can I get a taxi?
Taxis & directions20 phrases
Agree the fare before you set off. Most visitors use a driver arranged by their hotel or host.
Tagaasi
taxi
Bajaaj
three-wheeled tuk-tuk
Gaari
car
Darawal
driver
I geey ...
Take me to ...
I geey garoonka diyaaradaha
Take me to the airport
Imisa ayay ku kacaysaa ilaa ...?
How much is it to ...?
Halkan joogso
Stop here
Tartiib u wad
Drive slowly, please
Toos u soco
Go straight on
Midig u leexo
Turn right
Bidix u leexo
Turn left
Dib u noqo
Go back
Halkan i sug
Wait for me here
Ma dhow yahay?
Is it near?
Ma fog yahay?
Is it far?
Waan lumay
I'm lost
Khariidadda igu tus
Show me on the map
Waddo
road / street
Isgoys
junction
At the hotel17 phrases
Hoteel
hotel
Qol ma haysaan?
Do you have a room?
Waxaan haystaa ballan
I have a reservation
Hal habeen
one night
Laba habeen
two nights
Habeenkii waa imisa?
How much per night?
Quraacdu ma ku jirtaa qiimaha?
Is breakfast included?
Furaha
the key
Biyo kulul ma jiraan?
Is there hot water?
Korontadu way go'day
The power has gone off
Qaboojiyuhu ma shaqaynayo
The air conditioning isn't working
Furaha WiFi-ga waa maxay?
What's the WiFi password?
Fadlan qolka nadiifi
Please clean the room
Shukumaan kale i sii fadlan
Another towel, please
Goorma ayaa qolka laga baxaa?
What time is check-out?
Ma ii dalban kartaa tagaasi?
Can you order me a taxi?
Waxaan rabaa inaan bixiyo
I'd like to pay
Food & drink34 phrases
Eat with your right hand. Lunch is the main meal; canjeero (a thin, slightly sour pancake) is the classic breakfast.
Makhaayad
restaurant / café
Waan gaajaysanahay
I'm hungry
Waan harraadsanahay
I'm thirsty
Liiska cuntada fadlan
The menu, please
Maxaad ku talinaysaa?
What do you recommend?
Biyo
water
Biyo qabow
cold water
Shaah
tea
Shaah caano leh
tea with milk
Qaxwo
coffee
Caano
milk
Caano geel
camel milk
Casiir
fresh juice
Hilib
meat
Hilib ari
goat meat
Hilib geel
camel meat
Digaag
chicken
Kalluun
fish
Bariis
rice
Baasto
pasta
Rooti
bread
Canjeero
canjeero (Somali breakfast pancake)
Sambuus
sambusa (fried pastry)
Khudaar
vegetables
Miro
fruit
Muus
banana
Cambe
mango
Sonkor la'aan
without sugar
Basbaas
chilli
Cusbo
salt
Hilib ma cuno
I don't eat meat
Xasaasiyad ayaan ku qabaa ...
I'm allergic to ...
Aad buu u macaan yahay
It's delicious
Biilka i keen fadlan
The bill, please
Shopping & money17 phrases
Mobile money (EVC Plus, Zaad, e-Dahab) is used everywhere, but carry some US dollars in small notes. Friendly bargaining is normal in markets.
Waa imisa?
How much is it?
Waa qaali
It's expensive
Wax iga dhim
Give me a discount (literally “take something off”)
Ka jaban ma haysaa?
Do you have a cheaper one?
Waan qaadanayaa
I'll take it
Waan eegayaa uun
I'm just looking
Lacag caddaan
cash
Doollar
US dollars
Shilin Soomaali
Somali shillings
Ma ku bixin karaa EVC Plus?
Can I pay with EVC Plus?
Ma ku bixin karaa kaar?
Can I pay by card?
Baaqiga
the change (money back)
Rasiid i sii
Give me a receipt
Suuq
market
Dukaan
shop
Bangi
bank
Xawaalad
money-transfer office
Phone & internet8 phrases
Taleefan
phone
Kaarka SIM-ka
SIM card
Internet ma jiraa?
Is there internet?
Xirmada internetka
data bundle
Waxaan rabaa inaan taleefanka lacag ku shubo
I want to top up my phone
Shabakaddu ma jirto
There's no signal
Batariga taleefanka wuu dhammaaday
My phone battery is dead
Fadlan ii soo wac
Please call me
Health & emergencies20 phrases
Save the local emergency numbers before you travel — see our emergency numbers page.
I caawi!
Help me!
Booliiska u yeer!
Call the police!
Ambalaas u yeer!
Call an ambulance!
Dhakhtar baan u baahanahay
I need a doctor
Isbitaalka xaggee ku yaal?
Where is the hospital?
Farmashiyaha ugu dhow xaggee ku yaal?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Waan xanuunsanahay
I'm ill
Halkan ayaa i xanuunaya
It hurts here
Madax xanuun
headache
Calool xanuun
stomach ache
Qandho
fever
Shuban
diarrhoea
Waxaan qabaa sonkorow
I have diabetes
Daawo
medicine
Baasaboorkaygii waa la xaday
My passport has been stolen
Safaaradda xaggee ku taal?
Where is the embassy?
Khatar!
Danger!
Dab!
Fire!
Jooji!
Stop!
Iga tag!
Leave me alone!
Customs & courtesy8 phrases
Dress modestly, ask before photographing people, and never photograph checkpoints, soldiers or government buildings. Give and receive things with your right hand.
Masjidka xaggee ku yaal?
Where is the mosque?
Waqtiga salaadda waa goorma?
When is prayer time?
Sawir ma qaadi karaa?
May I take a photo?
Sawir ma kaa qaadi karaa?
May I take your photo?
Kabaha ma la siibaa?
Should I take off my shoes?
Waad ku mahadsantihiin martigelinta
Thank you for your hospitality
Muqdisho aad bay u qurxoon tahay
Mogadishu is very beautiful
Cuntada Soomaalidu way macaan tahay
Somali food is delicious
Business & meetings14 phrases
Kulan
meeting
Ballan
appointment / booking
Waxaan ballan la leeyahay ...
I have an appointment with ...
Shirkad
company
Xafiis
office
Heshiis
agreement / contract
Maalgashi
investment
Qiime
price
Kani waa kaarkayga
Here is my card
Goorma ayaynu kulmi karnaa?
When can we meet?
Berri ayaynu kulmi karnaa
We can meet tomorrow
Waan heshiinnay
We have a deal
Waan ka fikiri doonaa
I'll think about it
Iimayl ayaan kuu soo diri doonaa
I'll send you an email
Weather & small talk7 phrases
Maanta kulayl badan
It's very hot today
Roob ma di'i doonaa?
Will it rain?
Roob
rain
Dabayl
wind
Qorrax
sun
Bad
sea
Xeeb
beach
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