Somali–English Dictionary

Look up Somali words and get English translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Browse the common-word table below or type a Somali word into the lookup tool.

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Browse common Somali vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Translation	Example
aan	pronoun	I	Aan hadda diyaar ahay. I am ready now.
adiga	pronoun	you	Adiga aad baad u naxariis badan tahay. You are very kind.
isaga	pronoun	he	Isaga waa saaxiibkay. He is my friend.
iyada	pronoun	she	Iyadu guriga ayey joogtaa. She is at home.
annaga	pronoun	we	Annaga maalin kasta waan shaqaynaa. We work every day.
iyaga	pronoun	they	Iyaga saaka way yimaadeen. They came this morning.
maxaa	pronoun	what	Maxaa kan la yiraahdaa? What is this called?
xaggee	adverb	where	Xaggee baad ku nooshahay? Where do you live?
goorma	adverb	when	Goorma ayaad iman doontaa? When will you come?
yaa	pronoun	who	Yaa albaabka jooga? Who is at the door?
maxaa	adverb	why	Maxaa kuu daahay? Why are you late?
sidee	adverb	how	Sidee baad ku ogaatay? How did you know?
ahaansho	verb	to be	Iyagu aad bay u faraxsan yihiin. They are very happy.
lahaansho	verb	to have	Waxaan haystaa buug cusub. I have a new book.
samee	verb	to do	Waxaan shaqadayda sameeyaa maalin kasta. I do my work daily.
tag	verb	to go	Waxaan dugsiga tagnaa goor hore. We go to school early.
imaaw	verb	to come	Fadlan gurigayga imaaw. Please come to my house.
arag	verb	to see	Waxaan caawa arkaa dayaxa. I see the moon tonight.
ogow	verb	to know	Waxaan ogahay jawaabta. I know the answer.
fikir	verb	to think	Waxaan ka fikirnaa mustaqbalka. We think about the future.
rab	verb	to want	Waxay rabaan biyo badan. They want more water.
u baah	verb	to need	Waxaan maanta u baahanahay caawimadaada. I need your help today.
samee	verb	to make	Iyadu waxay samaysaa rooti fiican. She makes good bread.
qaado	verb	to take	Bacda qaado adiga kula. Take the bag with you.
sii	verb	to give	Fadlan biyo i sii. Please give me water.
dheh	verb	to say	Ha dhihin taas. Do not say that.
u sheeg	verb	to tell	Sheekada ii sheeg. Tell me the story.
weydii	verb	to ask	Macallinka weydii berri. Ask the teacher tomorrow.
hel	verb	to find	Waxaan helay furahaygii. I found my key.
eeg	verb	to look	Eeg cirka. Look at the sky.
isticmaal	verb	to use	Isticmaal koobkan nadiifka ah. Use this clean cup.
shaqee	verb	to work	Waxay ka shaqeeyaan magaalada. They work in the city.
cun	verb	to eat	Waxaan caawa cunnaa bariis. We eat rice tonight.
cab	verb	to drink	Cab biyo badan hadda. Drink more water now.
seexo	verb	to sleep	Ilmuhu goor hore ayuu seexdaa. The child sleeps early.
socod	verb	to walk	Waxaan ku soconnaa dugsiga. We walk to school.
orod	verb	to run	Wiilku si degdeg ah ayuu u ordaa. The boy runs fast.
akhri	verb	to read	Waxaan akhriyaa buuggan. I read this book.
qor	verb	to write	Magacaaga halkan ku qor. Write your name here.
hadal	verb	to speak	Waxay si fiican ugu hadlaan af Soomaali. They speak Somali well.
dhegeyso	verb	to listen	Dhegeyso muusigga. Listen to the music.
maqal	verb	to hear	Waxaan maqlayaa dabaysha. I hear the wind.
iibso	verb	to buy	Waxaan iibsannaa miro cusub. We buy fresh fruit.
iib	verb	to sell	Waxay halkan ku iibiyaan shaah. They sell tea here.
bixi	verb	to pay	Waxaan bixiyaa lacagta cuntada. I pay for the food.
caawi	verb	to help	Fadlan caawi hooyadaa. Please help your mother.
jeclow	verb	to love	Waxaan jeclahay qoyskayga. I love my family.
noolow	verb	to live	Waxay ku nool yihiin magaaladan. They live in this city.
dhimo	verb	to die	Dhirta way dhintaan biyo la'aan. Plants die without water.
baro	verb	to learn	Carruurtu si degdeg ah bay wax u bartaan. Children learn very quickly.
bar	verb	to teach	Iyadu waxay bartaa carruur yaryar. She teaches young children.
fur	verb	to open	Albaabka si tartiib ah u fur. Open the door slowly.
xir	verb	to close	Daaqadda hadda xir. Close the window now.
qof	noun	person	Qof kastaa biyo ayuu u baahan yahay. Every person needs water.
nin	noun	man	Ninku waa dheer yahay. The man is tall.
naag	noun	woman	Naagtaasi waa naxariis badan tahay. That woman is kind.
ilmo	noun	child	Ilmuhu wuu seexanayaa. The child is sleeping.
wiil	noun	boy	Wiilku si aamusnaan ah ayuu u akhriyaa. The boy reads quietly.
gabar	noun	girl	Gabartu waxay haysataa buug. The girl has a book.
qoys	noun	family	Qoyskaygu halkan ayuu ku nool yahay. My family lives here.
hooyo	noun	mother	Hooyaday si fiican bay wax u karisaa. My mother cooks well.
aabbe	noun	father	Aabbahay wuu shaqaynayaa. My father is working.
saaxiib	noun	friend	Saaxiibkay maanta ayuu yimid. My friend came today.
guri	noun	house	Gurigoodu waa weyn yahay. Their house is big.
guri	noun	home	Waxaan aadayaa guriga. I am going home.
dugsi	noun	school	Dugsigu wuu dhow yahay. The school is nearby.
magaalo	noun	city	Magaaladani waa mashquul. This city is busy.
dal	noun	country	Soomaaliya waa dal. Somalia is a country.
adduun	noun	world	Adduunku wuu isbeddelayaa. The world is changing.
waddo	noun	street	Waddadu waa dheer tahay. The street is long.
qol	noun	room	Qolku waa nadiif. The room is clean.
waqti	noun	time	Waqtigu si degdeg ah ayuu u socdaa. Time moves very quickly.
maalin	noun	day	Maanta waa maalin fiican. Today is a good day.
habeen	noun	night	Habeenku waa qabow. The night is cold.
subax	noun	morning	Subaxdu waa qurux badan tahay. The morning is beautiful.
fiid	noun	evening	Waxaan soconnaa fiidkii. We walk in the evening.
usbuuc	noun	week	Waxaan shaqeeyaa usbuuc kasta. I work every week.
bil	noun	month	Bisha dambe waa mashquul. Next month is busy.
sannad	noun	year	Sannadkan wuu fiicnaa. This year was good.
maanta	adverb	today	Maanta waan mashquulsanahay. I am busy today.
berri	adverb	tomorrow	Waxaan safri doonaa berri. We will travel tomorrow.
shalay	adverb	yesterday	Iyadu shalay subax bay timid. She came yesterday morning.
hadda	adverb	now	Halkan kaalay hadda. Come here now.
qorrax	noun	sun	Qorraxdu waa kulul tahay. The sun is hot.
dayax	noun	moon	Dayaxu waa iftiin badan yahay. The moon is bright.
xiddig	noun	star	Xiddigtaasi waa iftiin badan tahay. That star is bright.
cir	noun	sky	Cirku waa buluug. The sky is blue.
dhul	noun	earth	Dhulku waa wareegsan yahay. The earth is round.
dab	noun	fire	Dabku waa kulul yahay. The fire is hot.
biyo	noun	water	Biyuhu aad bay muhiim u yihiin. Water is very important.
roob	noun	rain	Roobku maanta ayuu billowday. The rain started today.
dabayl	noun	wind	Dabayshu waa xoog badan tahay. The wind is strong.
geed	noun	tree	Geedku waa dheer yahay. The tree is tall.
ubax	noun	flower	Ubaxu waa qurux badan yahay. The flower is beautiful.
buur	noun	mountain	Buurtaasi waa dheer tahay. That mountain is high.
webi	noun	river	Webigu waa ballaaran yahay. The river is wide.
bad	noun	sea	Baddu waa deggan tahay. The sea is calm.
cunto	noun	food	Cuntadu waa diyaar. The food is ready.
rooti	noun	bread	Waxaan cunay rooti cusub. I ate fresh bread.
bariis	noun	rice	Waxaan caawa karinnay bariis. We cooked rice tonight.
hilib	noun	meat	Hilibku waa bisil. The meat is cooked.
kalluun	noun	fish	Waxaan shalay cunnay kalluun. We ate fish yesterday.
ukun	noun	egg	Ukuntu way jabtay. The egg is broken.
caano	noun	milk	Ilmuhu caano ayuu cabbaa. The child drinks milk.
miro	noun	fruit	Miruhu caafimaadka way u fiican yihiin. Fruit is good for health.
shaah	noun	tea	Waxaan cabnaa shaah maalin kasta. We drink tea daily.
qaxwo	noun	coffee	Iyadu subax kasta waxay cabtaa qaxwo. She drinks coffee every morning.
madax	noun	head	Madaxaygu maanta wuu i xanuunayaa. My head hurts today.
il	noun	eye	Isheedu waa guduudan tahay. Her eye is red.
dheg	noun	ear	Dhegahaygu wax yar ayuu i xanuunayaa. My ear hurts قليلا.
af	noun	mouth	Afkaaga si weyn u fur. Open your mouth wide.
san	noun	nose	Sankiisu dhiig buu ka socdaa. His nose is bleeding.
gacan	noun	hand	Gacantaada si fiican u dhaq. Wash your hand well.
cag	noun	foot	Cagtaydu waa qabow. My foot is cold.
wadne	noun	heart	Wadnuhu si degdeg ah ayuu u garaacaa. The heart beats fast.
magac	noun	name	Magacaygu waa Cali. My name is Ali.
buug	noun	book	Buuggan waa cusub yahay. This book is new.
eray	noun	word	Eraygaasi waa caadi. That word is common.
af	noun	language	Af Soomaali waa af hodan ah. Somali is a rich language.
lacag	noun	money	Waxaan u baahanahay lacag badan. I need more money.
shaqo	noun	work	Shaqadu goor hore ayay halkan ka bilaabataa. Work starts early here.
jacayl	noun	love	Jacaylku dadka ayuu isu keenaa. Love brings people together.
muusig	noun	music	Muusiggu waa qurux badan yahay. The music is beautiful.
sheeko	noun	story	Sheekadu waa xiiso leh. The story is interesting.
jid	noun	way	Jidkan waa ka sahlan yahay. This way is easier.
shay	noun	thing	Shaygan waa waxtar leh. This thing is useful.
nolol	noun	life	Noloshu aad bay qaali u tahay. Life is very precious.
albaab	noun	door	Albaabku waa furan yahay. The door is open.
miis	noun	table	Buuggu wuxuu saaran yahay miiska. The book is on the table.
kursi	noun	chair	Kursigu wuu jaban yahay. The chair is broken.
baabuur	noun	car	Baabuurku waa cusub yahay. The car is new.
fiican	adjective	good	Cuntadani waa fiican tahay. This food is good.
xun	adjective	bad	Cimiladu waa xun tahay. The weather is bad.
weyn	adjective	big	Waxay leeyihiin guri weyn. They have a big house.
yar	adjective	small	Qolku waa yar yahay. The room is small.
cusub	adjective	new	Waxaan iibsaday baabuur cusub. I bought a new car.
duug	adjective	old	Buuggani waa duug. This book is old.
dheer	adjective	long	Waddadu waa dheer tahay. The road is long.
gaaban	adjective	short	Sheekadu waa gaaban tahay. The story is short.
sare	adjective	high	Darbigu waa sare. The wall is high.
hoose	adjective	low	Kursigu waa hooseeyaa. The chair is low.
kulul	adjective	hot	Shaahu waa kulul yahay. The tea is hot.
qabow	adjective	cold	Biyuhu waa qabow. The water is cold.
faraxsan	adjective	happy	Carruurtu way faraxsan yihiin. The children are happy.
murugaysan	adjective	sad	Iyadu maanta way murugaysan tahay. She feels sad today.
qurux badan	adjective	beautiful	Beertu waa qurux badan tahay. The garden is beautiful.
fudud	adjective	easy	Casharkan waa fudud yahay. This lesson is easy.
adag	adjective	hard	Shaqadani waa adag tahay. This work is hard.
degdeg ah	adjective	fast	Faraskaasi waa degdeg badan yahay. That horse is fast.
gaabis ah	adjective	slow	Baabuurku waa gaabis. The car is slow.
sax	adjective	right	Jawaabtaadu waa sax. Your answer is right.
khaldan	adjective	wrong	Jawaabtaasi waa khaldan tahay. That answer is wrong.
muhiim	adjective	important	Biyuhu nolosha aad bay muhiim ugu yihiin. Water is important for life.
run	adjective	true	Sheekadiisu waa run. His story is true.
buuxa	adjective	full	Koobku waa buuxaa. The cup is full.
madhan	adjective	empty	Qolku waa madhan yahay. The room is empty.
yar	adjective	young	Isagu weli waa yar yahay. He is still young.
xoog badan	adjective	strong	Ninku waa xoog badan yahay. The man is strong.
tabar daran	adjective	weak	Ilmuhu tabar daran buu dareemayaa. The child feels weak.
guduud	adjective	red	Ubaxu waa guduud. The flower is red.
buluug	adjective	blue	Cirku waa buluug. The sky is blue.
cagaar	adjective	green	Geedku waa cagaar. The tree is green.
jaalle	adjective	yellow	Ubaxu waa jaalle. The flower is yellow.
madow	adjective	black	Baabuurku waa madow. The car is black.
caddaan	adjective	white	Caanuhu waa caddaan. The milk is white.
haa	interjection	yes	Haa, hadda waan fahmay. Yes, I understand now.
maya	interjection	no	Maya, ma iman karo. No, I cannot come.
ma	adverb	not	Ma ihi diyaar. I am not ready.
iyo	conjunction	and	Shaah iyo rooti waa diyaar. Tea and bread are ready.
ama	conjunction	or	Shaah ama qaxwo waa hagaag. Tea or coffee is fine.
laakiin	conjunction	but	Waan wacay, laakiin way tagtay. I called, but she left.
haddii	conjunction	if	Haddii uu roob da'o, guriga joog. If it rains, stay home.
maxaa yeelay	conjunction	because	Waxaan joogay maxaa yeelay roob baa da'ay. I stayed because it rained.
la	preposition	with	Waxaan la imid saaxiibkay. I came with my friend.
la'aan	preposition	without	Wuxuu tagay lacag la'aan. He left without money.
u	preposition	for	Hadiyaddan adiga ayay kuu tahay. This gift is for you.
ka	preposition	from	Waxay ka timid dugsiga. She came from school.
ku	preposition	to	Waxaan u tagnay magaalada. We went to the city.