Useful phrases in Somali

A collection of useful phrases in Somali, an East Cushtic language spoken mainly in Somali, and also in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

English	af Soomaali (Somali)
Welcome	Soo dhowow
Hello (General greeting)	Salaam alaykum Wa alaykum salaam (reply) Iska warran Alhamdulillah, waan iska fiicanahay (reply) Waan fiicanahay (reply)
How are you?	Ii warran (Tell me news) Iska warran? (Talk about yourself) Bal ka waran? Sideed tahay? Setahay? Sideed tahay? Nabad miyaa? Ma nabad baa? Maxaad sheegtay? (What did you tell?)
Reply to 'How are you?'	Waan fiicanahay Waa nabad Nabad waaye/weeye (It is peace)
Long time no see	Wakhti dheer kuma arag
What's your name?	Magacaa? Magacaagu muxuu yahay?
My name is ...	Magacaygu waa ..
Where are you from?	Xagee ayaad ka timid?
I'm from ...	... waxaan ka imid
Pleased to meet you	Barasho wanaagsan Waan ku farax sanahay la kulan kaaga
Good morning (Morning greeting)	Subax wanaagsan
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Galab wanaagsan
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Fiid wanaagsan
Good night	Habeen wanaagsan
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Nabadeey Nabadgelyo
Good luck!	Guul ayaan kuu rajaynayaa!
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)	Guul wanaagsan! Guul caafimaad!
Have a nice day	Maalin wanaagsan!
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal	Ha kuu macaanaato
Bon voyage / Have a good journey	Safar wanaagsan
Do you understand?	Miyaad fahantay?
I understand	Waan fahmay
I don't understand	Maan fahmin
I don't know	Ma aqaan
Please speak more slowly	Tartiib u hadal
Please say that again	Fadlan ku celi
Please write it down	Fadlan qor
Do you speak English?	Ingriis miyaad ku hadashaa?
Do you speak Somali?	Af Soomaaliga maad ku hadashaa?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')	Haah. Wax yar
How do you say ... in Somali?	Maxaa af soomali lagu yiraahdaa ... ?
Excuse me	Iga raali ahow
How much is this?	Meeqo waaye?
Sorry	Waan ka xumahay
Please	Fadlan
Thank you	Mahadsanid Wad mahadsantahay
Reply to thank you	Adigaa mudan Adaa mudan
Where's the toilet / bathroom?	Musqusha aawey?
This gentleman/lady will pay for everything	Kani waa ikhyaar/marwada ayaa waxwalba bixinaysa
Would you like to dance with me?	Ma ciyaaraysaa?
I miss you	Waayadan kuma arag
I love you	Waan ku jecelahay
Get well soon	Aafiimad baan kuu rajeynayaa (I wish you health)
Go away!	Bax!
Leave me alone!	Idaa!
Help!	I caawi!
Fire!	Dab!
Stop!	Joogso!
Call the police!	Booliiska soo wac!
Christmas greetings	Kirismas wacan Ciid Wanaagsan Yuul wanaagsan
New Year greetings	Iyo sanad cusub oo fiican
Easter greetings	Easter wanaagsan
Birthday greetings	Dhalasho wanaagsan
Congratulations!	Hambalyo!
One language is never enough	Hal luuqad marna kuma filna
My hovercraft is full of eels	Huufarkarafkayga waxaa ka buuxa eels

Translations and corrections provided by Christian Lerrahn, Abdisalam Farah and Lule Bille. Recordings by Adam Shaikh.

Note

The vast majority of Somalis are Muslims and do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, however there are a small number of Christian Somalis who do, so it is appropriate to include translations of Merry Christmas and Happy Easter here.

Download the audio files

Hear some Somali phrases:

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Somali words and phrases for doctors (PDF)

Links

Other collections of Somali phrases
http://quizlet.com/63160/somali-useful-phrases-flash-cards/
http://ilanguages.org/somali_phrases.php
http://polymath.org/somali_phrases_list.php
http://learn101.org/somali_phrases.php
https://wikitravel.org/en/Somali_phrasebook

Phrases in Cushitic languages

Oromo, Somali

Phrases in other languages

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