Question Words

1. Maxaa?

   What?

   Usage

   A short "what?". In a full sentence Maxaa is followed by a verb or pronoun (Maxaad …? "what do you …?").

   Grammar Note

   Maxaa is the question word "what" and doubles as a focus marker. A subject pronoun fuses onto it: maxaad (what do you), maxay (what does she/do they).

2. Xaggee?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a place, usually with a verb. The dictionary lists xaggee alongside halkee.

   Grammar Note

   To ask where something is, use waa halkee (see the toilet question). With a verb, use xaggee.

3. Goorma?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time. A subject pronoun can fuse onto it: goormaad ("when do you").

   Grammar Note

   The question word goes at the start.

4. Yaa?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks who. A verb follows in a full sentence, as in "Yaa kuu sheegay?" (who told you?).

   Grammar Note

   Yaa asks about the subject, "who", and carries the focus marking itself.

5. Waayo?

   Why?

   Usage

   A short "why?" asking for a reason; the Bible has it standing alone as a question. Inside a sentence it can also mean "because".

   Grammar Note

   It works on its own to ask for a reason. In a longer sentence the pattern Maxaa u … is used instead.

6. Sidee?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about manner or state. It is also the first word of "Sidee tahay?" (how are you?).

   Grammar Note

   A verb or the verb "to be" follows.

7. Immisa?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a number or amount. The dictionary lists meeqa as the same word.

   Grammar Note

   A question word for quantity; it does not inflect.

8. Waa immisa?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Asks the price while pointing at an item. The dictionary has the same pattern with meeqa.

   Grammar Note

   Waa + a question word gives "how much is …".

9. Kee?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Asks which of several. This is the masculine form; for a feminine noun it is "Tee".

   Grammar Note

   Kee is masculine and tee is feminine.

10. Kani waa maxay?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Ask while pointing at something unfamiliar. For a feminine noun, "Tani waa maxay?".

    Grammar Note

    Kani is the subject form of kan (this), with the subject ending -i. "What is it" is waa maxay.

11. Musqushu waa halkee?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is. The sentence matches a Tatoeba example.

    Grammar Note

    Musqul takes the feminine article -sha and the subject ending -u to give musqushu. The dictionary lists musqul with both genders and gives suuli as a synonym.

12. Saacaddu waa immisa?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time. Literally "how many is the clock". The dictionary has the similar "Waa immisadii?".

    Grammar Note

    Saacad (hour, clock) takes the article -da and the subject ending -u, giving saacaddu.

13. Ma haysaa?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Used in a shop, pointing at what you want. Haysa means "have/hold".

    Grammar Note

    Ma at the start marks a yes/no question. The Bible has the plural version "ma haysaan?".

14. Ma samayn kartaa?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Asks whether the person can do something. Samayn means "do, make".

    Grammar Note

    Ability is expressed by the verb followed by kar; kartaa is "you can".

15. Ma bilaash baa?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Asks whether something costs nothing. The dictionary defines bilaash as getting something without paying.

    Grammar Note

    The pattern ma … baa makes "is it …?" (as in the Bible and in the Tatoeba sentence "Magaciisu ma Cali baa?").

16. Ma hagaagsan yahay?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is acceptable. The Bible has the same pattern, "ma hagaagsan yihiin?".

    Grammar Note

    Yahay is "is" for a masculine subject; for a feminine thing use tahay.

17. Ma wanaagsan tahay?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Check on someone who looks unwell. Tahay is used for one addressee of either gender.

    Grammar Note

    Tahay is the same for "you" and "she"; "he" is yahay.

18. Ma run baa?

    Really?

    Usage

    Reacts to what you were told. Literally "is it truth?".

    Grammar Note

    Run is the noun "truth". The ma … baa pattern asks "is it …?".

19. Xaggee baad ka timid?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks where someone comes from. Literally "where did you come from?". The same sentence occurs in the Bible.

    Grammar Note

    Baad is the focus particle baa merged with the subject pronoun aad (you). Ka means "from" and goes before the verb timid (came).

20. Magacaa waa maxay?

    What is your name?

    Usage

    Asks a name. The answer is "Magacaygu waa …" (my name is …).

    Grammar Note

    Possessors are suffixes: magac (name) → magacaa (your name), magacaygu (my name, subject form).

21. Immisa jir baad tahay?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks someone's age. The same sentence occurs in the Bible.

    Grammar Note

    Jir means "years old" and follows a number (saddex jir, three years old).

Browse all TravelPhrases languages