Hello and peace
| Somali | English | |
|---|---|---|
| As-salaamu calaykum! | Peace be upon you. The standard greeting. | |
| Wa calaykumu salaam! | And upon you, peace. The standard reply. | |
| Ma nabad baa? | Is there peace? Are things fine? | |
| Nabad waaye. | It is peace. The usual answer. |
Nabad, peace, is the word behind most Somali greetings and goodbyes. If you learn one word from this page, learn that one.
How are you?
| Somali | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Iska warran? | What is the news? How are you? | |
| Sidee tahay? | How are you? | |
| Waan fiicanahay. | I am fine. | |
| Waan wanaagsanahay. | I am well. | |
| Adigu iska warran? | And how are you? |
Good morning to good night
Wanaagsan means good. Put it after the time of day and you have the greeting.
| Somali | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Subax wanaagsan! | Good morning! | |
| Galab wanaagsan! | Good afternoon! | |
| Fiid wanaagsan! | Good evening! Also caways wanaagsan. | |
| Habeen wanaagsan! | Good night! | |
| Maalin wanaagsan! | Have a good day! |
What's your name?
The full sentence is Magacaagu waa maxay?, word for word "your name is what?". In everyday speech it shrinks to a single word.
| Somali | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Magacaa? | What's your name? The short, everyday way. | |
| Magacaagu waa maxay? | What is your name? The full sentence. | |
| Magacaygu waa Hodan. | My name is Hodan. | |
| Barasho wanaagsan! | Glad to meet you! | |
| Barasho wacan sidoo kale! | Nice to meet you too! |
Where the words come from. Magac is name. Magacaa is your name, magacaygu is my name. The endings do the work that "your" and "my" do in English, which is why the question can be one word.
Goodbye
| Somali | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Nabadgelyo! | Goodbye! Literally, go in peace. | |
| Nabadeey! | Bye! | |
| Waa inoo berri. | See you tomorrow. | |
| Ilaa berri. | Until tomorrow. |
Me and you
Two words that come up in every introduction: aniga is me, I, and adiga is you. Point to yourself and say the first, point to a friend and say the second. Children pick these up in a single lesson.
Common questions
How do you say hello in Somali?
As-salaamu calaykum is the standard greeting, answered with Wa calaykumu salaam. Between friends you will also hear Iska warran, what's the news, and Ma nabad baa, is there peace.
How do you say how are you in Somali?
Sidee tahay? or Iska warran? The reply is Waan fiicanahay, I am fine.
How do you ask someone's name in Somali?
Magacaa? in everyday speech, or the full sentence Magacaagu waa maxay? The answer is Magacaygu waa, followed by your name.
How do you say good morning in Somali?
Subax wanaagsan. Good afternoon is galab wanaagsan, good evening fiid wanaagsan and good night habeen wanaagsan.
How do you say goodbye in Somali?
Nabadgelyo, which means go in peace, or the shorter nabadeey.