Dhakhtar baan u baahan ahay
I need a doctor
Usage
To say you need to see a doctor.
Grammar Note
Baahan describes being in need, and "u baahan" means "need something". Dhakhtar is also written takhtar.
Xummad iyo madax-xanuun baa i haysa
I have a fever and a headache
Usage
To describe symptoms to a doctor or at a pharmacy.
Grammar Note
A symptom is said as "X has me" (the same pattern as "Gaajo baa i haysa"). The dictionary lists madax-xanuun as one hyphenated word.
Madaxu wuu i xanuunayaa
My head hurts
Usage
Says that your head hurts. Change the body part to describe other pain.
Grammar Note
Madax is masculine, so wuu is used; feminine nouns such as calool take way. The Bible has the same form "i xanuunaya" (hurts me).
Calooshu way i xanuunaysaa
My stomach hurts
Usage
The basic sentence for a stomach ache.
Grammar Note
Calool is feminine: the subject form is calooshu and the verb ends in -aysaa.
Isbitaalku waa halkee?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
For when you need to get to a hospital.
Grammar Note
Isbitaal is masculine and also written cisbitaal. "Waa halkee?" is the fixed pattern for asking where something is.
Fadlan dhakhtar ii soo wac
Please call a doctor
Usage
Asking someone nearby to call a doctor.
Grammar Note
Wac is the imperative "call"; soo adds the sense of calling someone here. Ii means "for me".
Daawada duumada ayaan u baahan ahay
I need malaria medicine
Usage
For asking for malaria medicine. Duumo is the word for malaria.
Grammar Note
Duumo is feminine; the dictionary describes it as a disease of fever and chills. With the article it is duumada.
Gargaar degdeg ah ma haysaa?
Do you have first aid supplies?
Usage
When someone is hurt and needs first aid.
Grammar Note
The dictionary uses "gargaarka degdegga ah" for first aid. Haysaa means "you have".
Wax yar halkan ma naso karaa?
Can I rest here for a bit?
Usage
When tired or unwell and wanting a short rest.
Grammar Note
Naso is the verb "rest briefly from work to ease tiredness". Karaa asks about possibility and works as a request for permission.
Nasasho miyaan u baahan ahay?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
To ask a doctor whether rest is needed.
Grammar Note
Miyaan is the question word miyaa fused with aan (I). Nasasho is the noun form of naso, "rest".
Waxaan ahay naag uur leh
I am pregnant
Usage
For a woman to tell medical staff she is pregnant.
Grammar Note
"Naag uur leh" (a pregnant woman) is an expression found in the Bible. It is for a woman speaking about herself.
Sonkorow baan qabaa
I have diabetes
Usage
To tell medical staff about a chronic condition.
Grammar Note
The dictionary defines sonkorow as a disease with sweet urine, hunger and thirst. Qabo means to hold or to suffer from.
Cudur wadne baan qabaa
I have heart disease
Usage
To tell medical staff about a chronic condition.
Grammar Note
Cudur is a disease of the body. Cudur wadne means a heart disease.
Qallal baan qabaa
I have epilepsy
Usage
To tell others you have a seizure condition.
Grammar Note
The dictionary defines qallal as a disease with loss of consciousness and shaking. The word sarco names the same illness.
Caymis caafimaad
Health insurance
Usage
For talking about insurance at reception.
Grammar Note
Caymis is a scheme where a company takes money and compensates losses; caafimaad is freedom from illness. The two words are placed together.
Lafta way jabtay
A bone is broken
Usage
When you think a bone is broken.
Grammar Note
Laf is feminine, hence way and jabtay. Jab means to break or snap.
Dawakhaad
Dizziness
Usage
A one-word way to say you feel dizzy.
Grammar Note
A feminine noun that the dictionary describes as a swimming head in which things cannot be told apart.
Dhiigbax
Bleeding
Usage
A one-word way to report bleeding.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun made of dhiig (blood) and bax (come out), listed as one word in the dictionary.
Gubasho
Burn
Usage
To say you have been burned.
Grammar Note
Gubasho is the noun form of the verb gubo, "burn".
Dhaawac
Wound
Usage
A one-word way to say you are injured.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun that the dictionary defines as a painful wound on the skin.
Dheg
Ear
Usage
For pointing to the ear when it hurts.
Grammar Note
A feminine noun. With the definite article it is dhegta.
Luqun
Neck
Usage
For pointing to the neck when it hurts.
Grammar Note
A feminine noun that the dictionary defines as the part between the head and the body.
Garab
Shoulder
Usage
For pointing to the shoulder when it hurts.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, described in the dictionary as the bony area joining the arm to the chest.
Jilib
Knee
Usage
For pointing to the knee when it hurts.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, described in the dictionary as the place where the shin and thigh join.
Far
Finger
Usage
For pointing to a finger that is hurt.
Grammar Note
A feminine noun, described in the dictionary as the thin parts at the ends of the hands and feet.
Maqaar
Skin
Usage
For describing itching or a problem on the skin.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. The dictionary also gives the sense of an animal's hide.
San
Nose
Usage
For pointing to the nose.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. With the definite article it is sanka.
Qufac
Cough
Usage
A one-word way to say you have a cough.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, defined in the dictionary as a strong noisy breath.
Cuncun
Itching
Usage
A one-word way to say something itches.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, defined in the dictionary as a skin feeling that makes one scratch.
Hargab
Common cold
Usage
To say you have a cold.
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, defined in the dictionary as an illness with cough, sneezing and fever.
Caadada
Period (menstruation)
Usage
For a woman talking to medical staff about her period.
Grammar Note
The third sense of caado is the monthly bleeding of women. It is used with the definite article.
Kooxda dhiigga
Blood type
Usage
When blood group is asked for before treatment. Follow it with the letter, such as O.
Grammar Note
The dictionary uses a form like "kooxda O" for blood groups. Koox means a group or class.
Jidhkaygu wuu daalan yahay
My body feels tired
Usage
To say that your body feels tired and heavy.
Grammar Note
Jidh means body. Daalan, also written daallan, is an adjective found in the Bible.
Dhawr jeer ayaan matagay
I have vomited several times
Usage
To tell a doctor how many times you vomited.
Grammar Note
Dhawr means "a few" and jeer means "time". The past of matag is matagay, built from the conjugation shown in the dictionary (-gay).
Shuban
Diarrhea
Usage
A word to show when describing diarrhea.
Grammar Note
The so.wikipedia entry Shuban explains it as stools becoming more frequent and softer. It is the same word as in another card "Daawo shuban baan u baahan ahay".
Calool-fadhi
Constipation
Usage
A word to show when describing constipation.
Grammar Note
"Calool" is belly and "fadhi" is sitting. The Somali leaflet of the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne titles it "Calool-fadhiga" (with the article), and "calool fadhiga" also appears in the so.wikipedia entries Moos and Kaaroot. The old dictionary's "calool ingegan" (dry belly) could not be confirmed in modern sources, so it is not used.
Saxaro
Poop (stool)
Usage
A word to show when describing stool. No separate everyday child-style word for "poop" was confirmed, so the neutral word is used.
Grammar Note
The so.wikipedia entry Saxaro explains it as waste that comes out of people and animals.
Kaadi
Pee (urine)
Usage
A word to show when describing urine. No separate everyday child-style word for "pee" was confirmed, so the standard word is used.
Grammar Note
The so.wikipedia entry Kaadi explains it as a yellowish watery fluid that leaves the body through the genital opening. An old dictionary also lists "kadi" as urine.
Shuban baan qabaa
I have diarrhea
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea.
Grammar Note
Composed by putting shuban into the same "illness + baan qabaa" frame as "Sonkorow baan qabaa" (I have diabetes) and the pharmacy card "Hargab baan qabaa"; not confirmed by a native speaker.
Calool-fadhi baan qabaa
I'm constipated
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated.
Grammar Note
Composed by putting calool-fadhi into the "illness + baan qabaa" frame (same as another card "Sonkorow baan qabaa"); not confirmed by a native speaker.
Waxaan rabaa inaan saxaroodo
I need to poop
Usage
To tell a companion or a child that you need to poop.
Grammar Note
"Saxaroodaan" (children defecate) appears in the Somali leaflet of the Royal Children's Hospital. "Waxaan rabaa inaan + verb" is the same frame as "Waxaan rabaa inaan arko libaax" in the animals cards. The first-person form "saxaroodo" is built by rule; composed and not confirmed by a native speaker.
More Somali phrases
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