Greetings

1. Assalaamu calaykum

   Hello (peace be upon you)

   Usage

   A greeting for anyone at any time of day. The reply is "Wacalaykum salaam".

   Grammar Note

   An Arabic-origin religious greeting that is the everyday opener in Somali for any gender or age. The letter c stands for the pharyngeal sound.

2. Wacalaykum salaam

   Hello (reply)

   Usage

   The set reply when someone greets you with "Assalaamu calaykum".

   Grammar Note

   Wa means "and". The reply turns the greeting around and gives it back.

3. Sidee tahay?

   How are you?

   Usage

   Greeting to one person, of either gender, with tahay. Yahay is only for "he".

   Grammar Note

   Tahay is the same form for "you" and "she"; "he" is yahay. Mixing them changes who is meant.

4. Waan wanaagsan ahay

   I'm fine

   Usage

   Reply to "Sidee tahay?". The adjective and ahay are written as two words.

   Grammar Note

   Waan is the focus word waa fused with the subject aan (I). Wanaagsan (good) takes ahay (I am).

5. Subax wanaagsan

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting. A greeting for the morning hours.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective follows the noun, the opposite of English order.

6. Ku soo dhawoow

   Welcome

   Usage

   Said to one guest on arrival. To invite someone in, say "Soo gal".

   Grammar Note

   Dhawoow is the imperative of "come near"; the ending -ow is the long vowel of address.

7. Ku soo dhawaada

   Welcome (to several people)

   Usage

   Said when welcoming more than one guest.

   Grammar Note

   With several addressees the verb changes from dhawoow to dhawaada.

8. Mahadsanid

   Thank you

   Usage

   The standard way to say thanks, to anyone. The usual reply is "Adaa mudan" (you're welcome).

   Grammar Note

   A fixed expression with no inflection and no gender. Somali has no formal/informal distinction, so the same form is used to elders and friends.

9. Aad baad u mahadsan tahay

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   For heartfelt thanks. Plain Mahadsanid is never rude, though.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "you are very worthy of thanks". Baad is the focus word baa fused with the subject aad (you).

10. Adaa mudan

    You're welcome

    Usage

    The set reply to "Mahadsanid". Literally "you are the deserving one".

    Grammar Note

    Adaa is the pronoun adiga fused with the focus word baa: it puts the focus on "you".

11. Dhib ma leh

    No problem

    Usage

    Used in response to an apology or to reassure someone.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "it has no trouble": leh (to have) with the negative ma.

12. Iga raalli ahow

    Excuse me / I'm sorry

    Usage

    Used both to get attention and to apologise. Literally "be pleased with me".

    Grammar Note

    Raalli means content or pleased, and ahow is the imperative of address. The form is the same to elders and friends.

13. Magacaygu waa ...

    My name is...

    Usage

    Basic self-introduction. Say your name in place of "...".

    Grammar Note

    The possessor is a suffix: magac (name) becomes magacaygu (my name), with -u marking the subject.

14. Magacaa waa maxay?

    What is your name?

    Usage

    Asks a name. The answer is "Magacaygu waa …".

    Grammar Note

    Magac (name) plus the suffix -aa gives "your name".

15. Xaggee baad ka timid?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asking where someone comes from. A typical answer is "... ayaan ka imid" (I came from ...).

    Grammar Note

    Literally "from where did you come". The question word xaggee is followed by the subject with its focus word.

16. Sidee tahay, adeer?

    How are you, sir?

    Usage

    A respectful way to greet an older man. For an older woman, replace adeer with eeddo.

    Grammar Note

    Adeer literally means uncle, but it is the respectful way to address an older man. The vocative form is adeerow.

17. Nabadgelyo

    Goodbye

    Usage

    Parting phrase, literally "(go) in peace/safety". Use the one-word spelling Nabadgelyo.

    Grammar Note

    A compound containing nabad (peace).

18. Haa / Maya

    Yes / No

    Usage

    Basic yes and no. To decline softly, put Mahadsanid before Maya.

    Grammar Note

    Both are interjections that directly answer a yes/no question (Ma …?). They are separate from verbal negation.

19. Ingiriisiga ma ku hadashaa?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    For checking whether you can be understood. The same sentence appears on Tatoeba. Swap in another language name as needed.

    Grammar Note

    The language name comes first with the article -ga. Ma marks a yes/no question. "Ku hadal" means to speak in a language, and hadashaa is "you speak".

20. Ma aqaan

    I don't know

    Usage

    Indicates lack of knowledge.

    Grammar Note

    Aqaan is the form of "know" that, with ma in front, means "I do not know".

21. Mar kale ayaan imanayaa

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop or saying farewell on a trip.

    Grammar Note

    Mar kale (once more) comes first, and the focus word ayaan leads into the verb.

22. Aad baan ugu raaxaystay

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Used when saying goodbye to thank a host or recall a good trip.

    Grammar Note

    Raaxayso is a third-conjugation verb meaning to enjoy oneself or relax; its past form is raaxaystay.

23. Mahadsanid, mar kale ayaan ku arkayaa

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye.

    Grammar Note

    Ku is the object pronoun "you". Literally "I will see you again".

24. Habeen wanaagsan

    Good night

    Usage

    Said before going to bed, for example at a guesthouse or homestay.

    Grammar Note

    The adjective follows the noun, the same pattern as subax wanaagsan.

25. Waan baxayaa

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Casual phrase said when leaving the house.

    Grammar Note

    Bax is the verb "to go out". The progressive is stem + -ayaa.

26. Waan soo noqday

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to the house or guesthouse.

    Grammar Note

    Soo means "toward here". Noqo is the verb "to return", with the past form noqday.

27. Iga raalli ahow, waa inaan tago

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    A polite way to excuse yourself when leaving before others.

    Grammar Note

    "Waa inaan + verb" means "I must …". Tago is tag (go) changed to fit "I".

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