ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why learn Somali?
International travel is made easier and more pleasant when you know Somali. Understanding Somali enhances your opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc. Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased when you study Somali. Studying Somali offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Somali?
Somali is rated as a category 3 language by the Foreign Service Institute. It is considered moderately difficult for English speakers to learn and takes an average of 44 weeks (or 1100 class hours) to gain professional working proficiency.
Somali Alphabet & Pronunciation
'
ء
ء
B
(ba)
ﺏ
(ba)
ﺏ
T
(ta)
ﺕ
(ta)
ﺕ
J
(ja)
ﺝ
(ja)
ﺝ
X
(xa)
ﺡ
(xa)
ﺡ
KH
(kha)
ﺥ
(kha)
ﺥ
D
(da)
د
(da)
د
R
(ra)
ر
(ra)
ر
S
(sa)
ﺱ
(sa)
ﺱ
SH
(sha)
ﺵ
(sha)
ﺵ
DH
(dha)
ط,ظ
(dha)
ط,ظ
C
(ca)
ﻉ
(ca)
ﻉ
G
(ga)
غ
(ga)
غ
F
(fa)
ف
(fa)
ف
Q
(qa)
ﻕ
(qa)
ﻕ
K
(ka)
ﻙ
(ka)
ﻙ
L
(la)
ﻝ
(la)
ﻝ
M
(ma)
ﻡ
(ma)
ﻡ
N
(na)
v
(na)
v
W
(wa)
و
(wa)
و
H
(ha)
ه
(ha)
ه
Y
(ya)
ﻱ
(ya)
ﻱ
A
(a)
(a)
E
(e)
(e)
I
(i)
(i)
O
(o)
(o)
U
(u)
(u)
Basic Phrases in Somali
| Hello | Haye |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Nabad galyo |
| Yes | Haa |
| No | Maya |
| Excuse me | Raali ahaw |
| Please | Fadlan |
| Thank you | Mahadsanid |
| You are welcome | Adaa mudan |
| Do you speak english | Ingiriisiga ma ku hadashaa? |
| Do you understand | Ma fahantay |
| I understand | Waan fahmay |
| I do not understand | Ma fahmin |
| How are you | Sidee tahay? |
| Fine thanks | Wanaagsan, mahadsanid! |
| What is your name | Magacaa? |
| My name is | Magacaygu waa |
| Pleased to meet you | Waan kahelay inaan kula kulmo |
Somali Grammar
Somali Nouns
| Man | Nin |
|---|---|
| Woman | Naag |
| Boy | Wiil |
| Girl | Gabar |
| Cat | Bisad |
| Dog | Eey |
| Fish | Kalluun |
| Water | Biyo |
| Milk | Caano |
| Egg | Ukun |
| House | Guri |
| Flower | Ubax |
| Tree | Geed |
| Shirt | Shaati |
| Pants | Surwaal |
Somali Adjectives
Colors in Somali
| Black | Madow |
|---|---|
| White | Cad |
| Red | Casaan |
| Orange | Orange |
| Yellow | Jaalle ah |
| Green | Cagaaran |
| Blue | Buluug |
| Purple | Guduud |
| Pink | Casaan |
| Gray | Cawlan |
| Brown | Bunni |
Numbers in Somali
| Zero | Eber |
|---|---|
| One | Mid |
| Two | Laba |
| Three | Saddex |
| Four | Afar |
| Five | Shan |
| Six | Lix |
| Seven | Toddobo |
| Eight | Sideed |
| Nine | Sagaal |
| Ten | Toban |
| Eleven | Kow iyo toban |
| Twelve | Laba iyo toban |
| Twenty | Labaatan |
| Thirty | Soddon |
| Forty | Afartan |
| Fifty | Konton |
| Sixty | Lixdan |
| Seventy | Todobaatan |
| Eighty | Siddeetan |
| Ninety | Sagaashan |
| Hundred | Boqol |
| Thousand | Kun |
Somali Verbs
| To be | Noqon |
|---|---|
| To have | Inay lahaadaan |
| To want | In la doonayo |
| To need | Loo baahan yahay |
| To help | In la caawiyo |
| To go | In la tago |
| To come | Inuu yimaado |
| To eat | In la cuno |
| To drink | In la cabbo |
| To speak | Inuu hadlo |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Somali Sentences
| And | Iyo |
|---|---|
| Or | Ama |
| But | Laakiin |
| Because | Maxaa yeelay |
| With | Leh |
| Also | Sidoo kale |
| However | Si kastaba ha noqotee |
| Neither | Midna |
| Nor | Midna |
| If | Haddii |
| Then | Markaa |
Useful Somali Vocabulary
Somali Questions
| Who | Yaa |
|---|---|
| What | Waa maxay |
| When | Goorma |
| Where | Halkee |
| Why | Sababta |
| How | Sida |
| How many | Immisa |
| How much | Intee |
Days of the Week in Somali
| Monday | Isniinta |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Maanta |
| Wednesday | Arbacada |
| Thursday | Khamiista |
| Friday | Jimce |
| Saturday | Sabtiga |
| Sunday | Axad |
| Yesterday | Shalay |
| Today | Maanta |
| Tomorrow | Berri |
Months in Somali
| January | Janawari |
|---|---|
| February | Febraayo |
| March | Maarso |
| April | Abriil |
| May | May |
| June | Juun |
| July | Luulyo |
| August | Ogast |
| September | Sebtember |
| October | Oktoobar |
| November | Nofeembar |
| December | Diseembar |
Seasons in Somali
| Winter | Jiilaalka |
|---|---|
| Spring | Guga |
| Summer | Xagaaga |
| Autumn | Dayrta |
Telling Time in Somali
| What time is it | Waa imisa |
|---|---|
| Hours | Saacado |
| Minutes | Daqiiqo |
| Seconds | Ilbidhiqsiyo |
| O clock | Saac |
| Half | Badh |
| Quarter past | Rubuc la soo dhaafay |
| Before | Kahor |
| After | Kadib |
