Practise Somali through 100 short, practical dialogues covering greetings, family, shopping, travel, work, food, school and everyday conversations.
One of the best ways to learn Somali is to see vocabulary and grammar used in realistic conversations.
This collection provides 100 beginner-friendly Somali dialogues with English translations. Use them for reading practice, vocabulary building, sentence formation and conversation practice.
1. Greeting someone
A: Salaan.
B: Waad salaaman tahay.
English:
A: Hello.
B: Hello.
2. How are you?
A: Sidee tahay?
B: Waan fiicanahay.
English:
A: How are you?
B: I am fine.
3. Asking a name
A: Magacaa?
B: Magacaygu waa Axmed.
English:
A: What is your name?
B: My name is Ahmed.
4. Where are you from?
A: Xaggee baad ka timid?
B: Waxaan ka imid Soomaaliya.
English:
A: Where are you from?
B: I am from Somalia.
5. Where do you live?
A: Xaggee baad ku nooshahay?
B: Waxaan ku noolahay Nairobi.
English:
A: Where do you live?
B: I live in Nairobi.
6. Saying goodbye
A: Nabadgelyo.
B: Nabadgelyo.
English:
A: Goodbye.
B: Goodbye.
7. Thanking someone
A: Mahadsanid.
B: Adigaa mudan.
English:
A: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome.
8. Asking for help
A: Ma i caawin kartaa?
B: Haa, waan ku caawin karaa.
English:
A: Can you help me?
B: Yes, I can help you.
9. At the shop
A: Tani waa imisa?
B: Waa toban kun.
English:
A: How much is this?
B: It is ten thousand.
10. Asking for a lower price
A: Qiimaha ma iga dhimi kartaa?
B: Haa, wax yar ayaan kaa dhimi karaa.
English:
A: Can you reduce the price?
B: Yes, I can reduce it a little.
11–20: Everyday situations
11. At home
A: Xaggee hooyo joogtaa?
B: Waxay ku jirtaa jikada.
12. Asking about food
A: Maxaa la karinayaa?
B: Bariis ayaa la karinayaa.
13. At breakfast
A: Ma rabtaa shaah?
B: Haa, waan rabaa.
14. Asking the time
A: Saacaddu waa imisa?
B: Waa saddex saac.
15. Going to work
A: Xaggee u socotaa?
B: Shaqada ayaan u socdaa.
16. Going to school
A: Carruurtu xaggee aadayaan?
B: Dugsiga ayay aadayaan.
17. Asking about work
A: Maxaad qabataa?
B: Waxaan ahay macallin.
18. Asking about family
A: Carruur ma leedahay?
B: Haa, waxaan leeyahay laba carruur ah.
19. Talking about a friend
A: Yaa kula socda?
B: Saaxiibkay ayaa ila socda.
20. Talking about the weather
A: Cimiladu sidee tahay?
B: Maanta way kulushahay.
21–30: Shopping and food
21. Buying food
A: Hilib ma haysaan?
B: Haa, waan haynaa.
22. Buying vegetables
A: Yaanyada waa imisa?
B: Kiiladii waa boqol shilin.
23. Buying fruit
A: Moos ma rabtaa?
B: Haa, laba kiilo ayaan rabaa.
24. At a restaurant
A: Maxaad rabtaa?
B: Waxaan rabaa bariis iyo hilib.
25. Asking for water
A: Biyo ma heli karaa?
B: Haa, waa kuwan.
26. Ordering tea
A: Shaah ma haysaan?
B: Haa, shaah ayaan haynaa.
27. Asking whether food is ready
A: Cuntadu ma diyaar baa?
B: Haa, way diyaar tahay.
28. Paying
A: Lacagta ma bixin karaa?
B: Haa.
29. Asking for a receipt
A: Rasiid ma heli karaa?
B: Haa, waa kan.
30. Leaving the restaurant
A: Mahadsanid.
B: Soo dhawoow.
31–40: Travel and transport
31. Asking for directions
A: Suuqu xaggee ku yaal?
B: Wuxuu ku yaal dhinacaas.
32. Taking a taxi
A: Taksigu ma diyaar yahay?
B: Haa.
33. Going to the airport
A: Garoonka diyaaradaha ma tagaysaa?
B: Haa, waan tagayaa.
34. Asking about a bus
A: Basku goorma ayuu baxayaa?
B: Saacad ka dib.
35. Buying a ticket
A: Tigidh ma heli karaa?
B: Haa.
36. Asking the destination
A: Baskani xaggee ayuu aadayaa?
B: Wuxuu aadayaa magaalada.
37. Asking for a seat
A: Kursi bannaan ma jiraa?
B: Haa, kan fadhiiso.
38. Asking how far
A: Meeshu ma fog tahay?
B: Maya, way dhowdahay.
39. Asking for directions
A: Midig mise bidix?
B: Midig u leexo.
40. Arriving
A: Waan imid.
B: Soo dhawoow.
41–50: Work and school
41. At work
A: Ma shaqaynaysaa maanta?
B: Haa, waan shaqaynayaa.
42. Asking about a meeting
A: Kulanku goorma ayuu bilaabmayaa?
B: Sagaalka subaxnimo.
43. Asking a colleague for help
A: Ma i caawin kartaa?
B: Dabcan.
44. At school
A: Casharku ma bilaabmay?
B: Haa.
45. Asking about homework
A: Shaqadii guriga ma samaysay?
B: Haa, waan sameeyey.
46. Asking about a book
A: Buuggan ma akhriday?
B: Haa, waan akhriyey.
47. Asking about learning Somali
A: Somali ma baranaysaa?
B: Haa, waan baranayaa.
48. Asking about a teacher
A: Macallinku xaggee joogaa?
B: Fasalka ayuu joogaa.
49. Talking about studies
A: Maxaad baranaysaa?
B: Waxaan baranayaa luqadda Soomaaliga.
50. Finishing work
A: Shaqadii ma dhammaatay?
B: Haa, way dhammaatay.
51–60: Family and friends
51. Your mother
A: Hooyadaa sidee tahay?
B: Way fiican tahay.
52. Your father
A: Aabbahaa xaggee joogaa?
B: Guriga ayuu joogaa.
53. Your brother
A: Walaalkaa ma joogaa?
B: Haa, wuu joogaa.
54. Your sister
A: Walaashaa maxay samaynaysaa?
B: Waxay akhrinaysaa.
55. Children
A: Carruurtu xaggee joogaan?
B: Guriga ayay joogaan.
56. Visiting a friend
A: Ma soo booqan karaa?
B: Haa, soo dhawoow.
57. Making plans
A: Berri maxaad samaynaysaa?
B: Saaxiibkay ayaan la kulmayaa.
58. Inviting someone
A: Ma iman kartaa caawa?
B: Haa, waan iman karaa.
59. Accepting an invitation
A: Soo dhawoow.
B: Mahadsanid.
60. Declining politely
A: Ma iman kartaa?
B: Waan ka xumahay, ma awoodo.
61–70: Everyday communication
61. Asking what happened
A: Maxaa dhacay?
B: Waxba ma dhicin.
62. Asking what someone is doing
A: Maxaad samaynaysaa?
B: Buug ayaan akhrinayaa.
63. Asking where someone is going
A: Xaggee u socotaa?
B: Suuqa ayaan u socdaa.
64. Asking when someone will arrive
A: Goorma ayaad imanaysaa?
B: Galabta.
65. Asking why
A: Maxaad u timid?
B: Waxaan rabay inaan kula hadlo.
66. Asking who came
A: Yaa yimid?
B: Axmed ayaa yimid.
67. Asking what someone wants
A: Maxaad rabtaa?
B: Biyo ayaan rabaa.
68. Asking what someone knows
A: Somali ma taqaan?
B: Haa, wax yar ayaan aqaan.
69. Saying you don’t understand
A: Ma fahantay?
B: Maya, ma fahmin.
70. Asking someone to repeat
A: Ma ku celin kartaa?
B: Haa.
71–80: Health and practical situations
71. Feeling ill
A: Sidee tahay?
B: Ma fiicni.
72. Asking what is wrong
A: Maxaa ku haya?
B: Madaxa ayaa i xanuunaya.
73. Going to a doctor
A: Dhakhtar ma aragtay?
B: Haa, waan arkay.
74. Asking for medicine
A: Daawo ma haysaan?
B: Haa.
75. Emergency
A: I caawi!
B: Maxaa dhacay?
76. Calling someone
A: Ma maqashaa?
B: Haa, waan ku maqlayaa.
77. Asking someone to wait
A: Hal daqiiqo sug.
B: Haye.
78. Asking someone to speak slowly
A: Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal.
B: Haye.
79. Learning Somali
A: Somali ma fahmaysaa?
B: Wax yar.
80. Correcting a mistake
A: Sidaas ma sax baa?
B: Haa, waa sax.
81–90: Social conversations
81. Meeting someone new
A: Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay inaan kula kulmo.
B: Anigana sidaas oo kale.
82. Talking about hobbies
A: Maxaad jeceshahay?
B: Waxaan jeclahay akhriska.
83. Talking about sports
A: Kubadda cagta ma jeceshahay?
B: Haa, aad ayaan u jeclahay.
84. Talking about books
A: Buugaag ma akhridaa?
B: Haa, marar badan.
85. Talking about languages
A: Immisa luqadood ayaad taqaan?
B: Saddex luqadood.
86. Talking about travel
A: Ma jeceshahay safarka?
B: Haa.
87. Talking about Kenya
A: Kenya ma taqaan?
B: Haa, waan aqaan.
88. Talking about Somalia
A: Soomaaliya ma tagtay?
B: Haa, waan tagay.
89. Talking about plans
A: Maxaad berri samayn doontaa?
B: Waan shaqayn doonaa.
90. Ending a conversation
A: Waan ku arki doonaa.
B: Haye, nabadgelyo.
91–100: Beginner conversation practice
91. A complete introduction
Practise your name, country, city, work and interests.
92. Talking about your family
Describe your parents, brothers, sisters and children.
93. Talking about your daily routine
Explain when you wake up, work, eat and sleep.
94. Talking about your home
Describe your house and the people who live there.
95. Talking about your work
Describe your job, workplace and daily responsibilities.
96. Going shopping
Practise asking about products, prices and payment.
97. Travelling
Practise asking for transport, directions and destinations.
98. Meeting a friend
Practise greeting, asking questions and making plans.
99. Asking and answering questions
Use yaa, maxaa, xaggee, goorma, sidee, kee and imisa.
100. Your first five-minute Somali conversation
Combine greetings, introductions, family, work, hobbies, questions and goodbyes into one extended conversation.