Airport & Customs

1. Baasaboorkaaga i tus

   Please show your passport

   Usage

   What an officer says to a traveler at passport control.

   Grammar Note

   The ending -kaaga means "your" on a masculine noun. Tus is the imperative of "show"; the Bible has the form "i tus" (show me).

2. Ujeeddada safarkaagu waa maxay?

   What is the purpose of your visit?

   Usage

   Asked at immigration. Ujeeddo means purpose or intention.

   Grammar Note

   The pattern "A B-kaagu waa maxay?" asks "what is the A of your B?". -kaagu is the subject form of "your".

3. Immisa habeen ayaad joogaysaa?

   How many nights will you stay?

   Usage

   Asks the length of stay. Immisa means "how many".

   Grammar Note

   The question word comes first, followed by ayaad, the focus particle ayaa fused with the subject aad (you).

4. Shandaddaydii ma iman

   My luggage has not arrived

   Usage

   Tells staff that checked luggage has not arrived. Shandad means bag or suitcase.

   Grammar Note

   The ending -daydii means "my (the one in question)". The negative past is ma + verb (iman), the same for every person.

5. Kani waa shandad gacanta lagu qaado

   This is carry-on luggage

   Usage

   Tells staff that the bag is hand luggage. Literally "this is a bag carried by hand".

   Grammar Note

   Lagu qaado is an impersonal relative clause: "that one carries by". Gacan is "hand".

6. Albaabka diyaaradda laga raaco waa halkee?

   Where is the gate?

   Usage

   Asks for the boarding gate. Literally "where is the door from which one boards the plane?".

   Grammar Note

   Raac means "to board/ride". Laga raaco is an impersonal "one boards from".

7. Diyaaradda goorma lagu raaci karaa?

   When can we board?

   Usage

   Asks when boarding starts. Literally "when can one board the plane?".

   Grammar Note

   Karaa means "can", preceded by the verb (raaci). Lagu is the impersonal form.

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