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Common Somali Phrases

Essential Somali (Soomaali) phrases with pronunciation guides.

👋Greetings & Basics

English	Somali	Pronunciation
Hello	Salaam	sa-LAM
Good morning	Subax wanaagsan	su-BAKH wa-NAG-san
Good evening	Fiid wanaagsan	FID wa-NAG-san
Good night	Habeyn wanaagsan	ha-BEYN wa-NAG-san
How are you?	Sidee tahay?	si-DE ta-HAY
I'm fine, thank you	Waan fiicanahay, mahadsanid	WAN fi-CA-na-hay, ma-had-SA-nid
What is your name?	Magacaagu waa maxay?	ma-ga-CA-gu wa MA-khay
My name is...	Magacaygu waa...	ma-ga-CAY-gu wa...
Nice to meet you	Waxaan ku faraxsanahay inaan kula kulmo	wa-KHAN ku fa-RAKH-sa-na-hay
Please	Fadlan	FAD-lan
Thank you	Mahadsanid	ma-had-SA-nid
You're welcome	Aad baad u mahadsan tahay	AD bad u ma-had-SAN ta-hay
Yes	Haa	HA
No	Maya	MA-ya
Excuse me	Raali ahow	RA-li a-HOW
Sorry	Raali ahow	RA-li a-HOW
Goodbye	Nabad gelyo	na-BAD gel-YO
See you later	Horraantii ayaan kuula kulmayaa	hor-RAN-ti a-YAN ku-LA kul-ma-YA
Good luck	Hambalyo	ham-BAL-yo

English	Somali	Pronunciation
Where is the hotel?	Huteelka xaggee ayuu joogaa?	hu-TEL-ka khag-GE a-YU jo-GA
How much does this cost?	Imisa ayay tahay?	i-MI-sa a-YAY ta-hay
Where is the airport?	Garoonka diyaaradaha xaggee ayuu joogaa?	ga-RON-ka di-ya-RA-da-ha khag-GE a-YU jo-GA
I need a taxi	Takaasi ayaan u baahnahay	ta-KA-si a-YAN u ban-NA-hay
How far is it?	Intee le'eg ayay fogayd?	in-TE le-EG a-YAY fo-GAYD
Turn left	Gal bidix	GAL bi-DIX
Turn right	Gal midig	GAL mi-DIG
Straight ahead	Si toos ah u socodsii	SI tos ah u so-cod-SI
I'm lost	Waan waayay jidka	WAN wa-YAY JID-ka
Train station	Xarunta tareenka	kha-RUN-ta ta-REN-ka
Bus stop	Joojinta baabuurta	jo-JIN-ta ba-BUR-ta
I want to go to...	Waxaan doonayaa inaan aado...	wa-KHAN do-NA-ya i-NAN a-DO...
Do you speak English?	Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?	MA ku ha-da-SHA in-gi-RI-si
I don't understand	Ma fahmin	MA fah-MIN
Can you help me?	Ma i caawin kartaa?	MA i CA-win kar-TA
Police	Booliska	bo-LIS-ka
Hospital	Isbitaalka	is-bi-TAL-ka
Pharmacy	Farmashiyaha	far-ma-shi-YA-ha
Passport	Baasaboorka	ba-sa-BOR-ka
Ticket	Tigidhka	ti-GID-ka

English	Somali	Pronunciation
I'm hungry	Waan gaajoonayaa	WAN ga-jo-NA-ya
I'm thirsty	Waan harraadanahay	WAN har-RA-da-na-hay
The menu please	Fadlan liiska cuntada	FAD-lan LIS-ka cun-TA-da
Water	Biyo	BI-yo
Rice	Bariis	ba-RIS
Delicious	Aad u macaan	AD u ma-CAN
I am vegetarian	Khudradda iyo miraha ayaan cunaa	khud-RAD-da i-YO mi-RA-ha a-YAN cu-NA
Not spicy please	Fadlan xoogga aarsan	FAD-lan KHOG ar-SAN
The bill please	Fadlan biilka	FAD-lan BIL-ka
A table for two	Miis laba qof ah	MIS la-BA kof ah
Breakfast	Quraac	ku-RAC
Lunch	Qado	ka-DO
Dinner	Casho	CA-sho
Coffee	Qaxwo	KAKH-wo
Tea	Shaah	SHA
Bread	Rooti	RO-ti
Chicken	Digaag	di-GAG
Vegetables	Khudrad	KHUD-rad
Fruit	Midhaha	mi-DHA-ha
Fish	Kalluun	kal-LUN

English	Somali	Pronunciation
Help!	Caawi!	CA-wi
Call the police!	Booliska wac!	BO-lis-ka WAC
I need a doctor	Dhakhtar ayaan u baahnahay	DAKH-tar a-YAN u ban-NA-hay
Fire!	Dab!	DAB
Thief!	Tuug!	TUG
I'm sick	Waan xanuunsanahay	WAN kha-NUN-sa-na-hay
I'm injured	Waan dhaawacmay	WAN dha-WAC-may
Emergency	Xaaladda degdegga	kha-LAD-da deg-DEG-ga
Ambulance	Ambalaansta	am-ba-LAN-sta
I've lost my wallet	Jeeska lacagta ayaan lumiyey	JES-ka la-CAG-ta a-YAN lu-MI-yey
I need help	Caawimo ayaan u baahnahay	CA-wi-mo a-YAN u ban-NA-hay
Where is the hospital?	Isbitaalka xaggee ayuu joogaa?	is-bi-TAL-ka khag-GE a-YU jo-GA
It's urgent	Degdeg ayay u baahan tahay	DEG-deg a-YAY u ban-NA ta-hay
Leave me alone	Iga tag	i-GA TAG
I've been robbed	Waxaan la dhacay	wa-KHAN la DHA-cay

English	Somali	Pronunciation
I have a meeting	Shir ayaan qabaa	SHIR a-YAN ka-BA
Nice to meet you	Waxaan ku faraxsanahay kula kulanka	wa-KHAN ku fa-RAKH-sa-na-hay
Here is my business card	Kaardhka ganacsigayga	KARD-ka ga-NAC-si-gay-ga
Let's schedule a meeting	Shir ayaan qaban doonaa	SHIR a-YAN ka-BAN do-NA
I'll send you an email	Iimeyl ayaan kuu diri doonaa	I-meyl a-YAN ku di-RI do-NA
What is your budget?	Miisaaniyaddaadu waa maxay?	mi-sa-ni-YAD-da-du wa MA-khay
Invoice	Qaansheegta	kan-SHEG-ta
Contract	Heshiiska	he-SHIS-ka
Deadline	Waqtiga dhamaadka	wak-TI-ga dha-MAD-ka
Partnership	Iskaashiga	is-ka-SHI-ga
Thank you for your time	Mahadsanid waqtigaaga	ma-had-SA-nid wak-ti-GA-ga
I'll get back to you	Waxaan kaaga soo laaban doonaa	wa-KHAN ka-GA so la-BAN do-NA
Can we negotiate?	Ma wada xaajiisankaraan?	MA wa-DA kha-JI-san-ka-RAN
Let's sign the contract	Heshiiska saxiixno	he-SHIS-ka sa-KHIKH-no

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