Fashion & Clothing

1. Kan ma tijaabin karaa?

   Can I try this on?

   Usage

   Said while holding a garment to ask to try it on. Tijaabi means to try or test.

   Grammar Note

   The pattern "ma + verbal noun + karaa?" asks "can I ...?". Tijaabin is the verbal noun of tijaabi. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

2. Kani aad buu u cidhiidhsan yahay

   This is very tight

   Usage

   Tells the shop assistant that a garment is very tight, so it does not fit.

   Grammar Note

   The pattern "aad buu u + adjective + yahay" means "very ...". Dhar (clothing) is masculine, so buu and yahay are used. Cidhiidhsan is the word for a "narrow" gate in the Bible. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

3. Kani aad buu u ballaaran yahay

   This is very loose

   Usage

   Tells the assistant that a garment is very wide or loose, so it does not fit.

   Grammar Note

   Same pattern "aad buu u + adjective + yahay". Ballaaran means wide or broad. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

4. Kani aad buu u dheer yahay

   This is very long

   Usage

   Tells the assistant that the garment is very long, so it does not fit.

   Grammar Note

   Dheer means both long and tall. It refers to a masculine noun, so yahay is used. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

5. Kani aad buu u gaaban yahay

   This is very short

   Usage

   Tells the assistant that the garment is very short, so it does not fit.

   Grammar Note

   Gaaban is the opposite of dheer: short in length. This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

6. Midab kale ma haysaa?

   Do you have another color?

   Usage

   Asks the assistant whether another color is available.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective kale (other) follows the noun. Haysaa is "you have", from the same verb as the Bible form "haysa". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

7. Kan midab madow ah ma haysaa?

   Do you have this in black?

   Usage

   Asks for the same item in another color. Replace madow with cad (white) or buluug (blue).

   Grammar Note

   The pattern "midab + color + ah" means "of the color ...". Ah is "being". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

8. Mid ka weyn ma haysaa?

   Do you have a bigger one?

   Usage

   Asks for a larger size when the one tried is too small.

   Grammar Note

   Comparison is "ka + adjective": ka weyn means "bigger than (it)". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

9. Mid ka yar ma haysaa?

   Do you have a smaller one?

   Usage

   Asks for a smaller size when the one tried is too big.

   Grammar Note

   The comparative "ka + adjective": ka yar means "smaller than (it)". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

10. Mid raqiis ah ma haysaa?

    Do you have a cheaper one?

    Usage

    Asks for a less expensive item when the price is too high.

    Grammar Note

    Raqiis means cheap in the dictionary; "raqiis ah" is "a cheap one". This sentence is composed from verified words and regular grammar; it is not quoted from a text.

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