Somali is widely spoken in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as by Somali communities around the world. For beginners, learning common Somali words and their meanings is a good place to start.
This guide contains 100 common Somali words with their English meanings, covering everyday greetings, family, food, places, actions, descriptions and useful expressions.
Please that note Somali words can vary slightly in spelling, pronunciation or usage depending on region and context. The examples below use commonly recognised standard Somali forms.
Somali uses the Latin alphabet, but the letters x and c have sounds that may be unfamiliar to English speakers. X is pronounced with a deep, throaty sound, roughly like “h”.
C is pronounced with a sound similar to the Arabic “ayn” (ع). It represents a throat sound that can be approximated as an “a” sound.
100 common Somali words and their meanings
Basic Somali words
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Haa | Yes |
| Maya | No |
| Mahadsanid | Thank you |
| Fadlan | Please |
| Waan | I am / I have / I do |
| Adiga | You |
| Aniga | I / me |
| Isaga | He / him |
| Iyadu | She / her |
| Annaga | We / us |
| Iyaga | They / them |
| Waa | Is / are / it is |
| Maxaa | What |
| Yaa | Who |
| Xaggee | Where |
| Goorma | When |
| Sidee | How |
| Sabab | Reason |
| Halkan | Here |
| Halkaas | There |
Somali greetings and everyday expressions
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Salaan | Greeting |
| Soo dhawoow | Welcome |
| Nabad | Peace |
| Nabadgelyo | Peace / safety |
| Subax wanaagsan | Good morning |
| Galab wanaagsan | Good afternoon |
| Habeen wanaagsan | Good night / good evening |
| Sidee tahay? | How are you? |
| Waan fiicanahay | I am fine |
| Iska warran? | How are things? |
| Nabad miyaa? | Is everything peaceful? |
| Mahadsanid | Thank you |
| Aad baad u mahadsan tahay | Thank you very much |
| Soo noqo | Come back |
| Nabad gelyo | Goodbye / go in peace |
Somali family vocabulary
Family is an important part of everyday Somali conversation.
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Qoys | Family |
| Hooyo | Mother |
| Aabbe | Father |
| Waalid | Parent |
| Walaal | Sibling |
| Walaashay | My sister |
| Walaalkay | My brother |
| Wiil | Boy / son |
| Gabar | Girl / daughter |
| Ilmo | Child |
| Carruur | Children |
| Adeer | Paternal uncle |
| Eeddo | Maternal aunt |
| Abti | Maternal uncle |
| Ayeeyo | Grandmother |
| Awoowe | Grandfather |
| Nin | Man / husband |
| Naag | Woman / wife |
Family is an important part of everyday Somali conversation.
Somali words for people
Here are some useful Somali words for describing people and relationships.
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Qof | Person |
| Dad | People |
| Saaxib | Friend |
| Deris | Neighbour |
| Marti | Guest |
| Macallin | Teacher |
| Arday | Student |
| Dhakhtar | Doctor |
| Kalkaaliye | Nurse |
| Shaqaale | Worker / employee |
| Maamule | Manager |
| Madax | Leader / head |
| Nin | Man |
| Haweeney | Woman |
| Oday | Elderly man / elder |
| Gabar | Girl |
| Wiil | Boy |
Common Somali food words
Food is another useful category for anyone learning Somali.
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Cunto | Food |
| Biyo | Water |
| Caano | Milk |
| Shaah | Tea |
| Qaxwo | Coffee |
| Hilib | Meat |
| Bariis | Rice |
| Rooti | Bread |
| Baasto | Pasta |
| Canjeero | Somali pancake/flatbread |
| Muufo | Somali bread |
| Sonkor | Sugar |
| Milix | Salt |
| Saliid | Oil |
| Maraq | Soup / stew |
| Khudaar | Vegetables |
| Miro | Fruit |
| Muus | Banana |
| Tufaax | Apple |
| Liin | Lemon / lime |
Somali words for places
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Guri | House / home |
| Magaalo | City / town |
| Tuulo | Village |
| Waddo | Road / street |
| Suuq | Market |
| Dugsi | School |
| Jaamacad | University |
| Isbitaal | Hospital |
| Masaajid | Mosque |
| Xafiis | Office |
| Dukaan | Shop |
| Garoon | Field / airport depending on context |
| Xeeb | Beach / coast |
| Dal | Country |
| Meel | Place |
Common Somali verbs
Verbs are essential when building Somali sentences.
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Tag | Go |
| Kaalay | Come |
| Cun | Eat |
| Cab | Drink |
| Seexo | Sleep |
| Kac | Get up |
| Fadhiiso | Sit down |
| Istaag | Stand |
| Soco | Walk / go |
| Orod | Run |
| Akhri | Read |
| Qor | Write |
| Baro | Learn / study |
| Hadal | Speak / talk |
| Dhageyso | Listen |
| Eeg | Look / see |
| Sug | Wait |
| Fur | Open |
| Xir | Close |
| Caawi | Help |
Somali words for everyday activities
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Shaqo | Work |
| Waxbarasho | Education / study |
| Ciyaar | Play / game |
| Socod | Walk / walking |
| Safar | Travel / journey |
| Nasasho | Rest |
| Hurdo | Sleep |
| Hadal | Speech / talk |
| Akhris | Reading |
| Qoraal | Writing |
| Iib | Purchase / sale |
| Ganacsi | Business |
| Shir | Meeting |
| Kulan | Meeting / gathering |
| Caawimo | Help / assistance |
Somali adjectives and descriptive words
These words can help you describe people, places and things.
| Somali | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Weyn | Big / large |
| Yar | Small |
| Dheer | Tall / long |
| Gaaban | Short |
| Fiican | Good / fine |
| Xun | Bad |
| Cusub | New |
| Hore | Old / former / earlier |
| Qurux badan | Beautiful |
| Fool xun | Ugly |
| Fudud | Easy / light |
| Adag | Difficult / hard |
| Degdeg | Fast / quick |
| Gaabis | Slow |
| Kulul | Hot |
| Qabow | Cold |
| Nadiif | Clean |
| Wasakh | Dirty |
| Faraxsan | Happy |
| Murugaysan | Sad |
Somali numbers
Learning numbers is useful for shopping, travel, dates and everyday conversation.
| Number | Somali |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kow |
| 2 | Laba |
| 3 | Saddex |
| 4 | Afar |
| 5 | Shan |
| 6 | Lix |
| 7 | Toddoba |
| 8 | Sideed |
| 9 | Sagaal |
| 10 | Toban |
| 11 | Kow iyo toban |
| 12 | Laba iyo toban |
| 13 | Saddex iyo toban |
| 14 | Afar iyo toban |
| 15 | Shan iyo toban |
| 16 | Lix iyo toban |
| 17 | Toddoba iyo toban |
| 18 | Sideed iyo toban |
| 19 | Sagaal iyo toban |
| 20 | Labaatan |
Useful Somali questions
Knowing how to ask basic questions can quickly improve your ability to communicate.
What?
Maxaa?
Maxaa dhacay? — What happened?
Who?
Yaa?
Yaa yimid? — Who came?
Where?
Xaggee?
Xaggee joogtaa? — Where are you?
When?
Goorma?
Goorma ayaad imaanaysaa? — When are you coming?
How?
Sidee?
Sidee tahay? — How are you?
Why?
Maxay? / Sababtee?
Depending on the sentence and context, different forms may be used to ask why.
Common Somali expressions
Some Somali expressions are particularly useful in everyday conversation.
“Mahadsanid”
This means “Thank you.”
A stronger form is:
Aad baad u mahadsan tahay.
This means “Thank you very much.”
“Soo dhawoow”
This means “Welcome.”
It is commonly used when welcoming someone.
“Nabad gelyo”
This is a common farewell expression associated with peace and safety.
“Waan fiicanahay”
This means:
“I am fine.”
It is a common response to someone asking how you are.
“Fadlan”
This means:
“Please.”
It is useful when making a polite request.
Somali words you may already know
Some Somali words are familiar to people who have encountered Somali culture, food or communities.
Examples include:
- Somali — Somali
- Soomaali — Somali
- Somalia — Soomaaliya
- Hargeysa — Hargeisa
- Muqdisho — Mogadishu
- Xamar — A common Somali name for Mogadishu
- Canjeero — Somali flatbread/pancake
- Bariis — Rice
- Muufo — Bread
- Aqoon — Knowledge
- Nabad — Peace
Somali vocabulary for beginners
If you are completely new to Somali, do not try to memorise all 100 words at once.
Start with the most useful words and expressions:
- Haa — Yes
- Maya — No
- Mahadsanid — Thank you
- Fadlan — Please
- Nabad — Peace
- Hooyo — Mother
- Aabbe — Father
- Guri — Home
- Biyo — Water
- Cunto — Food
- Saaxiib — Friend
- Qoys — Family
- Dugsi — School
- Shaqo — Work
- Suuq — Market
- Weyn — Big
- Yar — Small
- Fiican — Good
- Tag — Go
- Kaalay — Come
Once you know these, start combining words into short sentences.