Transportation

1. Waxaan rabaa inaan aado ...

   I want to go to...

   Usage

   Basic phrase to specify a destination. Say the place name in place of "...".

   Grammar Note

   Aad is the verb "go to a destination" (unlike tag, plain "go"). After inaan it takes the form aado.

2. Baska xaggee laga raaci karaa?

   Where can I catch the bus?

   Usage

   For asking where to board. Replace bas with another vehicle if needed.

   Grammar Note

   Laga is the impersonal la fused with ka, meaning "from, by people". Raac is the verb "to board or follow".

3. Safarku waa immisa saacadood?

   How many hours is the journey?

   Usage

   Checking how long the trip takes. Safar means journey or travel.

   Grammar Note

   Saacad (hour) takes its plural saacadood after a number word. Safar is masculine, with the subject form -ku.

4. Fadlan halkan jooji

   Stop here, please

   Usage

   Used to ask a taxi or bus driver to stop.

   Grammar Note

   Jooji is the imperative of "stop". Adding fadlan makes the request polite.

5. Kirada waa immisa?

   What is the fare?

   Usage

   Checking the fare before or after boarding a taxi or bus.

   Grammar Note

   Kiro is a feminine noun for rent or a hire fee, also used for transport fares. A separate word, baabuurraac, names a small riding fare.

6. Garoonka diyaaradaha miyuu fog yahay?

   Is the airport far?

   Usage

   Asking about distance before travelling. The answer is "Waa fog yahay" (far) or "Waa dhow yahay" (near).

   Grammar Note

   Literally "the field of the aeroplanes". Garoon is masculine, so the verb takes yahay. Miyuu is the question word miyaa fused with uu (he, it).

7. Baska ayaan raacayaa

   I'm going by bus

   Usage

   Explaining how you are travelling. Swap in taksiga (taxi) or another vehicle.

   Grammar Note

   The vehicle comes first, then ayaan leads into the verb. Raac is the verb "to board".

8. Mooto ayaan raacayaa

   I'll go by motorbike

   Usage

   Said when you plan to travel on a two-wheeler.

   Grammar Note

   Mooto is a feminine noun for a motorised two-wheeler. It uses the same pattern as the bus sentence.

9. Taksi ayaan rabaa

   I want a taxi

   Usage

   For hailing a taxi or telling a driver you need one.

   Grammar Note

   Taksi is a loanword respelled in Somali orthography; tagsi is a variant.

10. Garoonka diyaaradaha waa halkee?

    Where is the airport?

    Usage

    Asking where the airport is. Swap in other place names as needed.

    Grammar Note

    "X waa halkee?" is the pattern for "where is X?". Halkee asks for a location.

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