Traveling with Kids

1. Cunto carruurta ku habboon ma haysaa?

   Do you have food suitable for children?

   Usage

   Ask a restaurant for child-friendly food, for instance if you want to avoid spicy dishes.

   Grammar Note

   "A B ku habboon" means "A suitable for B". Haysaa is the "you have" form.

2. Carruurtu ma bilaash baa?

   Are children free?

   Usage

   Check whether children pay for entry or fares.

   Grammar Note

   The frame "ma bilaash baa?" asks "is it free?". Carruur is a plural-type noun; as subject it becomes carruurtu.

3. Goob carruurtu ku ciyaarto ma jirtaa?

   Is there a place where children can play?

   Usage

   Ask for a park or open space where children can play.

   Grammar Note

   Goob is feminine, so the verb is jirtaa. "Goob ... ku ciyaarto" is a relative clause: "a place where ... play".

4. Kursi carruur ma haysaa?

   Do you have a child seat?

   Usage

   Ask a restaurant or driver for a child seat.

   Grammar Note

   Two nouns in a row give "child chair". Carruur refers to children collectively.

5. Tani carruurta ma ammaan baa?

   Is this safe for children?

   Usage

   Check whether a ride, toy or food is safe for children.

   Grammar Note

   Tan/tani is feminine "this" and kan/kani is masculine; choose by the gender of the thing you point to.

6. Ilmahaygu waa lumay

   My child is lost

   Usage

   Use it urgently to tell bystanders or staff that your child is missing.

   Grammar Note

   Ilmo covers a boy or a girl. Lumay is the past of lumo "get lost".

7. Ilmahayga ma aragtay?

   Have you seen my child?

   Usage

   Ask passers-by while searching for a lost child.

   Grammar Note

   The object comes first, then ma and the verb last. Aragtay is the "you" past of arag "see".

8. Carruurtaydu waxay rabaan inay dabaal sameeyaan

   My children want to swim

   Usage

   Used when children want to go in the sea or a pool. Dress modestly where people swim.

   Grammar Note

   "Dabaal samee" is "swim" (literally "make swimming"). The verb after inay is subjunctive plural: sameeyaan.

9. Agagaarkan dhakhtar carruur ma jiraa?

   Is there a children's doctor nearby?

   Usage

   Ask for a paediatrician or clinic nearby when a child is unwell.

   Grammar Note

   Two nouns in a row give "children's doctor". Agagaar is "surroundings"; the place opens the sentence.

10. Carruurtaydu way daalan yihiin

    My children are tired

    Usage

    Explains why you need a rest or want to head back. Plural children take yihiin.

    Grammar Note

    The predicate adjective daalan is written apart from the verb yihiin. The subject is plural, hence yihiin.

11. Carruurta gaajo baa haysa

    The children are hungry

    Usage

    Use it when you need food quickly. For yourself say gaajo baa i haysa.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "hunger holds the children". Gaajo takes the focus particle baa as the subject.

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