English–Somali Dictionary

Browse common English words and their Somali translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Use this dictionary to look up everyday vocabulary or as a starting point for learning Somali.

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Browse common Somali vocabulary

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