Weyn
Big
Usage
For asking for another size; use it with a gesture.
Grammar Note
The adjective follows the noun (guri weyn, a big house). The plural form is waaweyn.
Yar
Small
Usage
For describing clothing or room size. It also means young in age.
Grammar Note
The adjective follows the noun (qol yar, a small room). The plural form is yaryar.
Culus
Heavy
Usage
For excess baggage, or asking someone to lift something. It can also mean serious or weighty.
Grammar Note
The word covers both physically heavy and weighty or serious. It follows the noun it describes.
Fudud
Light (weight)
Usage
About weight. The same word also means easy.
Grammar Note
It means both light in weight and easy, so use it where the topic is clearly weight. "Bright" is a different word.
Qaali
Expensive
Usage
The opening move in a haggle; pair it with a face.
Grammar Note
An adjective for a high price. It also carries the sense of precious or dear.
Raqiis
Cheap
Usage
For asking whether a cheaper option exists.
Grammar Note
It describes a low price. The dictionary also lists a secondary sense of poor quality, so take care it does not sound like an insult to the goods.
Kulul
Hot (thing)
Usage
About food, drink, or water. A hot day is said differently.
Grammar Note
It says a thing is hot. Hot weather is expressed with the noun kulayl (heat) instead.
Qabow
Cold (thing)
Usage
About drinks and food. A cold day is said differently.
Grammar Note
It follows the noun, as in biyo qabow (cold water).
Cusub
New
Usage
For checking whether something is unused.
Grammar Note
It follows the noun (baabuur cusub, a new car). The plural form is cuscusub.
Duug
Old (thing)
Usage
Used of things. For a person use Duq.
Grammar Note
It describes things that have been in use for a long time. For people use a different word such as Duq. A separate noun with the same spelling refers to animals slaughtered at a death.
Da' yar
Young
Usage
About a person's age; a small-talk word.
Grammar Note
Literally "small in age": the adjective yar follows the noun da' (age).
Duq
Old (person)
Usage
The word for an old person. According to the dictionary, Adeer (uncle) and Eeddo (aunt) are used to address an older person.
Grammar Note
It means an old person and also a respected elder of a community. Adeer and Eeddo are listed in the dictionary as forms of address for an older person.
Nadiif
Clean
Usage
For a clean room or clean water. For a beautiful view, use Qurxoon.
Grammar Note
It says something is free of dirt: qol nadiif is a clean room.
Wasakh
Dirty
Usage
Useful when asking to change rooms.
Grammar Note
Originally the noun "dirt", it is also used as a predicate, as in "Waa wasakh". The adjective form is wasakhaysan.
Wanaagsan
Good
Usage
The all-purpose word for agreement and approval. Fiican means the same.
Grammar Note
It follows the noun (subax wanaagsan, a good morning).
Xun
Bad
Usage
For saying that your health or an item's quality is poor.
Grammar Note
The opposite of wanaagsan. It follows the noun (cunto xun, bad food).
Dhow
Near
Usage
For checking whether somewhere is within walking distance.
Grammar Note
It works as a predicate: "Waa dhow yahay" (it is near). Dhowaad (almost) is a different word from the same root.
Fog
Far
Usage
Tells you whether you need transport.
Grammar Note
The opposite of dhow. It works as a predicate: "Waa fog yahay" (it is far).
Goor hore
Early
Usage
About clock time; a different word from fast in speed.
Grammar Note
Goor is the noun "time", and hore (early, before) follows it.
Goor dambe
Late
Usage
About clock time; a different word from slow in speed.
Grammar Note
The opposite of hore is dambe. To say you are delayed, a separate verb daah is used (Waan daahay).
Badan
Many
Usage
About quantity or how crowded somewhere is.
Grammar Note
It covers both quantity and number and follows the noun (dad badan, many people).
Tiro yar
Few
Usage
To say there are only a few of something countable.
Grammar Note
Literally "a small number". For a small amount, use Wax yar instead.
Kulayl baa jira
Hot (weather)
Usage
About the weather. A different expression from Kulul for a hot object.
Grammar Note
Literally "there is heat". The focus word baa highlights the noun kulayl.
Qabow baa jira
Cold (weather)
Usage
About the weather. A different expression from Qabow for a cold object.
Grammar Note
Literally "there is cold", the same pattern as Kulayl baa jira.
Qurxoon
Cute / pretty
Usage
For praising a person, a baby, an object or a view.
Grammar Note
An adjective meaning pretty or beautiful, usable as a general compliment. Quruxsan means the same.
Macaan
Delicious
Usage
A compliment to use at a meal.
Grammar Note
Originally sweet or pleasant-tasting. Say "Waa macaan" for "it is delicious".
Cajiib!
Amazing
Usage
Used to express surprise or admiration.
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists it as an exclamation meaning "how astonishing!".
Xiiso leh
Fun
Usage
For reacting to an experience itself. The sense is interesting and entertaining.
Grammar Note
Literally "having appeal". Leh (having) after a noun makes an adjective phrase meaning "with …".
Dheeraad ah
More
Usage
To ask for more of something: biyo dheeraad ah is more water.
Grammar Note
It goes after a noun and means additional or extra.
Wax yar oo keliya
Just a little
Usage
To ask for a small amount: less chili, less sugar, a smaller serving.
Grammar Note
Wax yar means "a little"; adding oo keliya (only) makes it "just a little".
Badh
Half
Usage
For asking for half a portion or sharing something.
Grammar Note
It is used as a noun, as in "badh kastaba" (each half).
Dhammaan
All of it
Usage
For "all of it" or "in total".
Grammar Note
It means all, and it can stand on its own in place of a noun.
Waa igu filan yahay
That is enough
Usage
To tell someone you have had enough, for example when offered more food.
Grammar Note
Filan pairs with ku for "enough for": igu is i (me) fused with ku.
More Somali phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Question Words
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