Food & Drinks

1. Cuntadan aad bay u macaan tahay

   This food is very delicious

   Usage

   A compliment while enjoying a meal. Cooks and servers will appreciate it.

   Grammar Note

   Cunto (food) is a feminine noun: with the article -da and the demonstrative -an it becomes cuntadan, and the verb takes the feminine form tahay.

2. Fadlan i sii liiska cuntada

   Please give me the menu

   Usage

   Used in restaurants to request a menu. Literally "give me the list of food".

   Grammar Note

   Sii means "give", so i sii is "give me". Liis (list) takes the article -ka.

3. Bariis iyo hilib ayaan rabaa

   I want rice and meat

   Usage

   To order rice and meat.

   Grammar Note

   "A iyo B" means "A and B". The thing ordered comes first, then ayaan leads into the verb.

4. Biyo qabow i sii, fadlan

   Cold water, please

   Usage

   Ordering a drink. Biyo kulul (hot water) or Shaah (tea) can be asked for the same way.

   Grammar Note

   Biyo (water) takes the adjective qabow after it. I sii means "give me".

5. Xisaabtu waa immisa?

   How much is the bill?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the total at restaurants or food stalls.

   Grammar Note

   Xisaab is a feminine noun and takes the subject form -tu. Immisa asks how much or how many.

6. Hilib ma cuni karo

   I cannot eat meat

   Usage

   Communicating a dietary restriction so that an alternative can be found.

   Grammar Note

   "Cuni karo" means "can eat". For the negative, ma goes first and karaa becomes karo.

7. Gaajo baa i haysa

   I am hungry

   Usage

   A simple way to say you are hungry. When thirsty, say Harraad baa i haysa.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "hunger holds me". Somali often expresses a state as something that holds you.

8. Kalluun la shiilay i sii, fadlan

   Fried fish, please

   Usage

   Ordering a fried fish dish.

   Grammar Note

   La is an impersonal "one", so la shiilay is "was fried". Shiil is the verb for frying in oil.

9. Waan dhergay

   I am full

   Usage

   The standard way to say you have eaten your fill; a welcome thing to say to a host.

   Grammar Note

   Dhergay is the past of dhergo (to be satiated): "Waan dhergay" means "I am full".

10. Bariis iyo baasto

    Rice and pasta

    Usage

    A way to ask for rice and pasta together.

    Grammar Note

    Baasto is borrowed from Italian pasta and respelled in Somali orthography, which has no p.

11. Shaah caano leh ayaan rabaa

    I would like tea with milk

    Usage

    Tells the server you want tea with milk.

    Grammar Note

    "Caano leh" means "having milk", i.e. with milk. Leh after a noun makes an adjective phrase.

12. Bariis

    Rice

    Usage

    Names rice as served. This one word is enough at an eatery.

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; with the article it is bariiska.

13. Rooti

    Bread

    Usage

    Bread in general, for breakfast or with tea.

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; with the article it is rootiga.

14. Baasto

    Noodles / Pasta

    Usage

    Covers pasta in general.

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; with the article it is baastada. A loanword from Italian.

15. Cunto basbaas leh

    Spicy food

    Usage

    About chili heat. You can also add basbaas leh after a dish name.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "food with chili". Kulul means hot in temperature, so it is not used for spiciness.

16. Ceeriin

    Raw

    Usage

    Not cooked through. Also used when meat or fruit is uncooked or unripe.

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary defines it as unripe fruit or uncooked meat; cayriin is a variant spelling.

17. Shurbad

    Soup

    Usage

    For ordering soup at an eatery.

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; with the article it is shurbadda.

18. Miro

    Fruit

    Usage

    The general word for fruit, useful at a market.

    Grammar Note

    A noun meaning fruit. It shares its spelling with the verb miro (to separate), so context tells them apart.

19. Farmaajo

    Cheese

    Usage

    Cheese in general, at shop shelves or on menus.

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun; with the article it is farmaajada. A loanword from Italian formaggio.

20. Subag

    Butter (ghee)

    Usage

    Butter or clarified butter (ghee). The dictionary describes it as the fat obtained from milk.

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; with the article it is subagga. The verb subag (to spread butter) has the same spelling.

21. Malab

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey, used in tea and sweet dishes.

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; with the article it is malabka.

22. Cuntadani ma xalaal baa?

    Is this food halal?

    Usage

    For checking whether food meets religious dietary rules.

    Grammar Note

    Xalaal is Arabic in origin and means permitted. The frame "ma … baa?" turns it into a question.

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