Haa
Yes
Usage
Affirmative reply. The dictionary also lists the longer spelling "Haah".
Grammar Note
An interjection with no inflection. It answers a yes/no question that begins with "Ma …?" directly.
Maya
No
Usage
Negative reply. It also works for declining offers from sellers.
Grammar Note
An interjection, separate from verbal negation (ma … -n); used on its own as a reply.
Fadlan
Please
Usage
Added to a request. An Arabic loanword; a request also works without it.
Grammar Note
An adverb placed at the start of a request to soften it. It does not inflect.
Mahadsanid
Thank you
Usage
The standard way to say thanks, to anyone. The usual reply is "Adaa mudan".
Grammar Note
A fixed expression with no inflection and no gender. Somali has no formal/informal pronoun split, so the same form is used to elders and friends.
Iga raalli ahow
Excuse me
Usage
Used to get someone's attention or to pass in front of them. Literally "be forgiving toward me".
Grammar Note
Ahow is the imperative of "to be" with the vocative ending -ow. Iga is the pronoun i (me) fused with ka (from/toward).
Iga raalli noqo
Sorry
Usage
A set phrase for apologizing, literally "become reconciled with me". The Bible has the matching form "iga raalli noqda".
Grammar Note
Noqo is the imperative of "to become"; raalli noqo means "become pleased/forgiving".
Waa hagaag
It's OK / Fine
Usage
Agrees to something: "that is fine", "all right". Also usable to wave away an apology.
Grammar Note
Waa is the focus particle on the predicate. Hagaag is a noun meaning "being in order".
Ma fahmin
I don't understand
Usage
Said after you could not follow what you were told. Strictly it is the past negative, "I did not understand".
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists fahan (past fahmay) as a first-conjugation verb; the past negative ma + stem + -in gives this form. Built from the dictionary entry, not from a quoted example.
Waan fahmay
I understand
Usage
Tells the other person you have understood. It is a past form, used for "I get it now".
Grammar Note
Waan is the focus particle waa merged with the subject pronoun aan (I). Fahmay is the past of fahan.
Waan dhammeeyay
I'm finished / Done
Usage
Says you have finished a task, meal and so on. The object is omitted because the context shows what was finished.
Grammar Note
Dhammee is a transitive second-conjugation verb with past dhammeeyay; the thing finished is understood from context.
Fadlan sug
Please wait
Usage
Asks someone to wait. Sug is the imperative for one person.
Grammar Note
The imperative is the bare verb stem. This is the form for one person; the plural takes an ending.
Wax yar sug
Just a moment
Usage
Asks for a short wait. Literally "wait a little".
Grammar Note
Wax yar is an adverbial "a little", placed before the verb.
Hal qof oo weyn, fadlan
One adult, please
Usage
For telling the seller how many people when buying a ticket. The dictionary uses qof weyn for "an adult".
Grammar Note
Before a noun, "one" is hal, not kow. Oo links an adjective to its noun, so qof oo weyn is "a big person", that is, an adult.
Fadlan i caawi
Please help me
Usage
A general request for help. Caawi is the imperative of "to help".
Grammar Note
The object pronoun i (me) goes before the verb.
Mar kale, fadlan
Once more, please
Usage
Asks someone to repeat. Mar kale means "once more".
Grammar Note
Mar kale is literally "another time". The adjective kale follows its noun.
Fadlan si tartiib ah ii hadal
Please speak slowly
Usage
Use when someone speaks too fast. Ii means "to me".
Grammar Note
Si … ah forms an adverb; si tartiib ah is "in a slow way". Ii is u (to) fused with i (me).
Wax yar baan ku hadlaa
I speak a little
Usage
Says you can speak a little without naming the language. Ku means "in (that language)".
Grammar Note
Baan is the focus particle baa merged with the subject pronoun aan; here it puts the focus on "a little".
Ingiriis miyaad ku hadashaa?
Do you speak English?
Usage
Asks whether the person speaks English. The wording matches a Tatoeba example sentence.
Grammar Note
Miyaa is the question ma fused with the focus particle baa; adding aad (you) gives miyaad. The language name stands first.
Kan
This one
Usage
Points to something near. This is the form for a masculine noun; for a feminine noun it is "Tan".
Grammar Note
The demonstrative splits by the gender of the thing pointed at: kan and tan.
Kaas
That one
Usage
Points to something a little way off. Masculine form; for a feminine noun it is "Taas".
Grammar Note
It points farther than kan. It splits by gender into kaas and taas.
Kaa
That one over there
Usage
Points to something farther away. The dictionary lists it as a variant of kaas. For a feminine noun it is "Taa".
Grammar Note
Kaa is listed in the dictionary as a variant of kaas and is used for things farther away.
Halkan
Here
Usage
Points to a place: "here".
Grammar Note
Formed from hal- (place) plus the demonstrative -kan (this).
Halkaas
There
Usage
Points to a place near the listener or a little way off.
Grammar Note
Formed from hal- (place) plus the demonstrative -kaas (that).
Halkaa
Over there
Usage
Points to a place farther off. It is sometimes used almost like Halkaas.
Grammar Note
Formed from hal- (place) plus -kaa.
Aniga
I / me
Usage
Used for emphasis ("I") or to answer "me" on its own.
Grammar Note
The emphatic independent pronoun. In ordinary sentences the short clitic (such as aan) before the verb is used.
Adiga
You
Usage
The word for "you" to one person. There is no formal/informal split, so it fits anyone.
Grammar Note
For several people use idinka.
Wadajir
Together
Usage
Used when several people do something together. The dictionary explains it as "things going together"; the Bible uses it adverbially.
Grammar Note
Used like an adverb before the verb.
Isla markiiba
Right now
Usage
Means "at once", "immediately". The same phrase occurs in the Bible.
Grammar Note
Isla adds "that very"; markiiba is mar (time) with -kii (the) and -ba (even/just).
Hal qof
One person
Usage
For stating a head count. Before a noun, "one" is hal.
Grammar Note
Numerals come before the noun. "One" is hal here, not the counting form kow.
Laba qof
Two people
Usage
For stating a head count. Before a noun, "two" is laba.
Grammar Note
Before a noun use laba, not labo. Qof stays singular after the numeral.
Saddex qof
Three people
Usage
For stating a head count.
Grammar Note
The numeral comes first and qof stays singular.
More Somali phrases
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences