GREETINGS

Magacaa = What’s your name? Magacaygu waa Barbara = My name is Barbara

Soo dhigwoow = come in, welcome /so’dowoh/

Sidee tahay = How are you? (sing.) or Sidee tihin= How are you? (pl) Waan fiicanahay = I am doing fine.
Iskaa waraan = How are you doing? iskar waa = ? (you, s.?)

Ianigu waan fiicanahay. = I am doing ok. Fiican = okay
Iyadu way fiicanahay. = She is doing ok.
Isagu wuu fiicanahay. = He is doing ok.
Inagu waxaan fiicanahay.= We are doing ok.
Iyagu way fiicanahay. = They are doing ok.

Subax wanaagsan = Good morning.
Galab wanaagsan = Good afternoon.
Habeen wanaagsan = Good evening. /habain/
Maalin wanaagsan = general, any time of day Wanaagsan = response to these comments.
Subax wanaagsan = Good morning. Subax wanaagson = Good morning.
Sidee tahay = How are you ? Waan fiicanahay. = I’m doing fine.
(Sidee tihin = How are you? With more than 1 person)) Waad fiicantihin.

Macalin, subax wanaagsan = Teacher, good morning.
Arday, subax wanaagsan = Students, good morning. (arday is both singular and plural)

Wa ino bari’. = See you tomorrow.
Wa ino Isniinta. = See you Monday.
Isniintaan ima’nea. = I’m coming Monday.

Fadlan tartiib = Please slow down. (when someone is speaking [or even walking] too fast.)
Waxyar/wa hey er/ waan kaxakaan af soomaaliga. = I know a little Somali. ingriis = English
Waxyar/wa hey er/ waan kuhadla af Soomaaliga. = I speak a little Somali.

amus = quiet! (to one person) Dhagayso = listen! (to one person)
aamusa = quiet! (group) dhagaysta = listen! (group)
aamus oo dhagaysta! = quiet and listen!
Aamusa, aamusa! = quiet, quiet!

Asalamu calaykun = Peace be upon you. (Arabic. All Muslims the world over will know this greeting.)(This is typically reserved only for
Muslims to speak to each other.)
Wa calayku ma salaan. = Response

PEOPLE

walaal (s.) = brother or sister(my age or younger) Walaal maxaan kaa caawigaa= Brother, how can I help you?
aabayu = sister (or abaayo?) Aabayu magacaa = Sister, what’s your name?
aboowe = brother
walaalahay = brothers & sisters (in general) group?
walaalkay = my real brother -kay = ending for brother
walaashay = my real sister -shay = ending for sister
aabahay = my real father -hay = ending for father
hooyaday = my real mother -day = ending for mother
adeerkay = my real uncle
abtigay = my real uncle

wiil = boy (to 25 yrs.) nin = man (over 25) niman = men
(If you indicate a # first, then use the singular. ie laba nin = 2 men
If you don’t know the # of the men, then you just use niiman. Same thing with wiil.)

[naag = woman (married)not as nice a term, du’mar, is nicer] naago= women
xaas = wife xaaskaagii = your wife
gabar or gabadh = girl (unmarried) gadadhood = girls (-ood ending is for plural females)
laba wiil iyo laba gabadhood = 2 boys & 2 girls
gabadhii = 1 girl (who is not here) (used when asking about)
wiilkii = 1 boy (who is not here)
caruurii = children caruurtii = children (who are not here)

aabo = father hooyo iyo aabo = mother and father
hooyo = mother
awoowo = grandfather- awoowo aabo = father’s father, awoowo hooyo = mother’s father
ayeeyo = grandmother – ayeeyo aabo = father’s mother, ayeeyo hooyo= mother’s mother
adeer = uncle (father’s brother) eedo = aunt (father’s sister)
abti = uncle (mother’s brother)

aabo, father’s side hooyo, mother’s side
adeer- his brother abti – her brother
eedo- his sister habaryar – her sister
awoowo aabo – his father awooyo hooyo – her father
ayeeyo aabo- his mother ayeeyo hooyo- her mother

arday = student askari = soldier booliis = police saaxiib = your friend /saheeb/
macalin / maa a lin/ = teacher (maalin / malin/ = good)

Ninkaygu waa booliis. = My husband is a policeman.
Naagtaydu waa macalin = My wife is a teacher. or (waxaan?)

SCHOOL & GENERAL VOCAB.

qalin = pen buug = book warqad = paper kursi = chair
eray = a word xaraf = a letter miis = table galaaskii = class
cunto = food gaarigii = car barkin = pillow baabuur = car
kubad = ball

kan /can/ = this kaas = that kuwaas= those kuwan = these
miiskan = this table miiskaas = that table miisas’kaas = those tables misas kan = these tables
ninkan = this man ninkaas = that man nimankaas = those men nimankan = these men
wiilkan = this boy wiilkaas = that boy wiilashaas = those boys
gabadhan = this girl gabadhaas = that girl gabada’haas = those girls gabadahaan’ = these girls
“those” endings always change, “this” & “that” don’t seem to change
feminine words use the “T” in the middle, masculine uses the “K”. –tan ending = female & -kan ending = male
If it’s plural, it goes with the masculine ending.

macalinkan = this teacher macalinkaas = that macalimintaas = those macalimiintan = these
barkintaan = this pillow barkintaas = that barkimaas = those barkimahan = these
baabuurkan = this car baabuurkaas = that baabuurtaas = those baabuurtan = these

NUMBERS, DAYS, DATES, & TIME

ebar = 0
kow = 1
laba = 2 20 = labaaaton
sa’dex = 3 30 = sodon
a’far = 4 40 = afarton
shan = 5 50 = konton
lix = 6 60 = lixdan
todo’bo = 7 70 = todobaatan
sedeed = 8 /seedaid’/ 80 = sideeton
segaal = 9 /saygal/ 90 = sagashan
toban = 10 100 = boqol /bogu’l/
toban iyo kow = 11 ( or, kow iyo toban)
toban iyo labo = 12 (or, labo iyo toban)
toban iyo sadeex = 13 (etc., either one can be said before the other)
etc.

When you are mentioning one item, you say hal instead of kow. (hal qalin)
Labo buug isii = Give me 2 books.
Isii labo warqadood = Give me 2 papers. (isii can either go at the end or the beginning of the sentence.)

Time:
kowdii = 1:00 todobodii = 7:00
labadii = 2:00 sedeedii = 8:00
sadeexdii = 3:00 segaaldii = 9:00
afardii = 4:00 tobankii = 10:00
shandii = 5:00 kow iyo tobankii = 11:00
lixdii = 6:00 labo iyo tobankii = 12:00

subaxnimo = in the morning (from 6am – noonish)
duhirnimo = after noon and before 2pm (this is named after the prayer time)
galabnimo = in the afternoon ( 2 – 6pmish)
habeenimo= in the evening ( 6pm – 6am)

6:00 am = lixdii subanimo use –kii ending when talking about years
use –dii ending when talking about hours
barkii = half bar = half
rubuc / rubuu/ = 15 or ¼
nus = ½
nuskiilo = ½ kilo

2:15 = labadii iyo shan iyo toban bar= ½ baro = teach bare= teacher
10:15 = tobankii iyo rubuc /rubuu/ (sometimes)
2:30 = labad iyo barkii
2:45 = labadii iyo afarton iyo shan
¼ to 3:00 = sudaxdii oo rubuc dhiman(before) (2:45)
30 minutes = sodon daqiiqo /da kay’ e ko/

Shalay waxaan toosay tobankii subaxnimo = Yesterday, I woke up at 10 am. (add –kii to indicate past tense)
Waa meeqa saac? / waa may a ka’ saa/ = What time is it?
Shalay = yesterday
Bari waa Axad = Tomorrow is Sunday.
Baridambena waa Axad = The day after tomorrow is Sunday.
Shalay waxay khamiis = Yesterday was Thursday.

? Bari bishu waa bishii labaad tobankeedii labakun iyo sideedii. = Tomorrow is the
Bi’shuna waa bishii labaad sagal keedii labakun iyo sideedii. = Today is 2-9-08

Saacaduna waa 10:00kii sabaxnimo. = The time is 10:00 in the morning.
Shalay waxay ahayd maalin ad ufiican. = Yesterday was a good day.
Shalay gurigaan joogay. = I was at home yesterday.

Maanta waa jimce = Today is Friday
Sabti = Sat. (maanta = today)
Axad = Sun./ahad/ Bari waa Sabti = Tomorrow is Sat.
Isniin = Mon. Bari dambe waa axad = day after tomor. is Sun.
Talaado = Tues. Use barina when you’re talking like “today & tomorrow”
Arbaco = Wed. /arbaa’o/ ie. Maanta waa jimce. Barina waa Sabti.
Khamiis = Thurs.
jimce = Friday /jimahay/

bari alone means tomorrow, if you put a # in front of it then it means day.
labo bari = in two days
Labo bari kadib = 2 days after (kadib = after)
Labo bari kahor = 2 days before (kahor = before)

Bari kaa ley. = Come tomorrow. Maanta maya= Today, no. Bari, haa.= Tomorrow, yes.
Maanta dayn malaha. Bari haa. = No loan today. Tomorrow yes. (This sign stays in the shop window. It’s humor – tomorrow never comes!)

maalin = day, or one day maalintu = the date for today manta = today
habeen = night
sanad = year sanadku = the year ( like with dates)
bil = month hal bil = one month bishuna = the month ( like with dates)
bilood = months labo bilood = 2 months (like for age of a baby)
wiig (or asbuul) = week hal wiig = one week (old), labo wiig = two weeks (old)
sano = years old labatan sano = 20 years old, labasano = 2 years

5:30 = shan iyo barka (half)

WEATHER

qorax = sun daruur = cloud daruuro = more than one cloud
cir = sky
dhul = earth dayax = moon

qabow = cold Maanta waa qabow = Today is cold Wiigan waa qabow = The week is cold.
kulayl = hot

Qoraxdu maanta waa kulushalay= Today is a hot, sunny day.
Maanta waa kulayl = Today is hot.
Maanta waa qorax = The sun is out today.
Maanta waa qoraxdu = It’s sunny today.

Waxaa ihaya qabow. = I have a cold (this verb is because it’s a part of you, waxaa)
Waxaan daree mayaa qabow. = I am (feeling) cold. (This verb means outside of you, waxaan)

GRAMMAR

I = aniga Anigu waxaan ahay macalin.= I am a teacher
he = i saga Isagu waa macalin. = He is a teacher. (macalin = teacher)
she = i yada Iyadu waa macalin = She is a teacher.
we = a naga Anagu waxaan nahay arday. = We are students. (arday = students)
they = i yaga Iyagu waa macalimiin. (macalimiin = teachers)
you (s.) = adiga
you (pl) = i dinka I dinku waxaa tihin.

Anigu iyo adigu waxaan nahay macalimiin.
Isagu iyo iyadu waa macalimiin.

To be: (with state of being verbs?)
I = waxaan we = waxaan you (pl) = waxaa
he = waa they = waa it =
she = waa you (s) =

To be: (just w/progressive?)
I = waan we = waan you (pl) = waad
he = wuu they = way it = waa (?)
she = way you (s) = waad (waan?)

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE:

eating (cun-eat) writing (qor-write) cooking (kari-cook)
I am… Anigu waan cunayaa Waan qorayaa. Waan karinayaa
He is… Isagu wuu cunayaa Isagu wuu qorayaa Isagu wuu karinayaa
She is.. Iyadu way cunaysaa Iyadu way qoraysaa Iyadu way karinaysaa
We are.. Anagu waan cunaynaa Anagu waan qoraynaa Anagu waan karinaynaa
They are… Iyagu way cunayaan Iyagu way qorayaan (?) Iyagu way karinayaan
You are (s.)… Adigu waad cunaynaa Adigu waad qorasaa Adigu waad karinayaa ( waan?)
You are (pl)… Idinku waad cunaysaan Idinku waad qoraysaan Idinku waad karinaysaan

learning sleeping (hurdaa) walking (socodaa)
I am Waan baranayaa. Waan hurdaa. Waan socodaa
He is Isagu wuu baranayaa Isagu wuu hurdaa. Wuu socdaa. ?
She is Iyadu way baranaysaa Iyadu way hurudaa’. Way socotaa.
We are Anagu waan baranaynaa Waynu hurudnaa. Waynu soconaa.
They are Iyagu way baranayaan Way hurdaan. Way socdaan.
You are (s) Adigu waad baranaynaa
You are (pl) Idinku waad baranaysaan

female verbs end with – saa male verbs end in -yaa

FUTURE:

write eat cook
I will.. Waan qori doona Waan cuni doona Waan karin doona
He will… Isagu wuu qori doona Isagu wuu cuni doona Isagu wuu karin doona
She will… Iyadu way qori doona Iyadu way cuni doona Iyadu way karin doona
We will… Anagu waan qori doona Anagu waan cuni doona Anagu waan karin doona
They will… Iyagu way qori doona Iyagu way cuni doona Iyagu way karin doona
You will (s)… Anigu waan qori doona Anigu waan cuni doona Anigu waan karin doona waad?
You will (pl)… Idinka waad qori doona Idinka waad qori doona Idinka waad karin doona

walking /so own/ sleeping
I will be… Waan socondoonaa Waan seexandoona
He will be.. Wuu socondoo’naa Wuu seexaandoo’na.
She will be… Way socondontaa. Way seexandoonta
We will be… Waynu socondoonaa’ Waanu seexandoonaa’
They will be… Way socondoonaan. Way seexandoonan.

PAST
slept

I… Waan seexday
He… Wuu seexday
She… Way seexatay.
We… Waanu seexanay
They… Way seexdeen.

bar= teach barasho = learning Waan baranayaa = I am learning.
iib = buy Waan iibsaday= I bought Waan iibsandoona = I will buy
Way iibsatay = she bought
ciyaar = to play

hurdaa = sleeping cunayaa = eating
Anigu waan hurdaa = I am sleeping. I yagu way hurdaa = They are sleeping
Anigu waan cunayaa = I am eating.

haa= yes maya = no

su’ aal = question (you say this when you have a question)
su’ aalo = questions su’aalo iyo jawaabo = questions & answers
jawaab = to answer

Iiga jawaab suaashayda = Answer my question.
-ma goes in front of any question when you’re asking, Can you…
-ma also goes with negatives, like “Do you eat?, I don’t eat.
(s.)Ma fahantay? = Do you understand? Maya ma fahmin = No, I don’t understand.
or Ma fahmin= I don’t understand.
Haa waan fahmay = Yes, I understand.
(pl.)Ma fahanteen? = Do you understand? Maanaan fahmin= We don’t understand.

commands: seexo /sayho’/ = sleep iib = buy
fadhiiso = sit down isii = give it ( you have it with you)
cun = eat hoo /ho/= take ( you have it with you)
kaa lay = come here keen /can/ = bring ( it’s not with you)
qor = write
kari = cook
bar = teach

labo buug keen = Bring two books.

Aabo isii = father give it to me. Aabo hoo = father take it.
Hooyo isii = mother give it to me Hooyo hoo= mother take it.
Adeer isii = uncle give it… Adeer hoo = Uncle take it.
Eedo isii = aunti give it… Eedo hoo = Aunti take it.
Abti isii = uncle give it.. Abti hoo = uncle take it.
etc. use isii and hoo same form for everyone
Walaal ma kula hadli karaa? = Brother can I talk to you? ( you can also leave out walaal)
Haa, waad ila hadli kartaa. = yea, you can talk to me. or just Haa.

Aabahaa waa macalin = Your father is a teacher.
Aabaheen waa macalin = Our father is a teacher. -een ending = our
Aabahood waa macalin.= Their father is a teacher -ood ending = their
Aabaheed waa macalin = her …
Aabahiis waa macalin. = his …

Abtigay waa askari = My uncle is a soldier. -ay ending = my
Abtigaa waa askari = Your uncle is a soldier. -aa ending = your
Abtigeed waa askari = Her uncle is a soldier. -eed ending = her
Abtigiis waa askari = His … -iis ending = his

Aabahay waa ____________. = My father is a _______ (or wuu?)
Hooyaday waa ___________ = My mother is a _______
Adeerkay waa ___________ = My uncle is a _________ (or wuu?)
etc.

wuu is the verb used for males
waa is the verb used for females ? (maybe it’s wuu and way with progressive. ) ?
way is used for females ?

aabahay wuu karinayaa = my father is cooking
hooyaday way karinaysaa = my mother is cooking
Adeerkay wuu karinayaa = My uncle is cooking.
Abtigay wuu karinayaa = My uncle is cooking.
Awoowgay wuu karinayaa = My grandfather is cooking.
Ayayday way karinaysaa = My grandmother is cooking
Walaashay way karinaysaa = My sister is cooking.
Walaalkay wuu karinayaa = My brother is cooking

QUESTIONS:

aaway = where? or xagee = where?
Hooyo iyo aabo aaway= Where are they? (or where is he/she – aaway is both sing. or plural)
(This is used when it’s someone or something that you’re looking for.) ( I have no idea what this comment means!)

Xagee /hagay/(or xageed?) = where (location of a place) also, aaway = where (but when looking for someone or something)
Xageed ku dhalatay = Where were you born? Waxaan ku dhashay Mpls.

Xageed u socotaa? = Where are you going?
Waxaan u socdaa ____________. isuulka (school) The endings –ga, -ka & -da
xafiska (office) mean “to” or “at”.
guriga (house)
gaariga or baabuurka (car)
kiniisada (church)
masajidka (mosque)
qolka (to room) (qol = room)
Xageed jooga? = Where are you at?
Waxaan joogaa ____________. (joogtaa?)
Xageed fadhidaa? = Where are you sitting?
Waxaan fadhiyaa ______________.
Xageed katimid? = Where have you been? or Where are you from?
Waxaan ka imid ____________.
Goormaa ( or goorma?) = when
Goormaad dhalatay = When were you born?
Waxaan dhashay kun iyo sagal boqol lixdan kii. = I was born in 1960. ( a year which is past, add –kii )
Waxaan ku dhashay maraykanka = I was born in America (-ka means where I am now)

Bismilaahi raxmani raxiim.= God be with me. (This is something one says before doing just about anything)
Asalamu calaykum waraxmatulaahi. = (This is a greeting amongst Muslims)
Wacalaycu ma salaam waraxmatulaahi.

balan = appointment Balan ma leedahay? = Do you have an appointment?

Labo maalmood = 2 days
Laba maalin kdib imow = Come after 2 days.
or Laba maalmood kdib imow.
laba maalmood ka hor. = come 2 days before. (ie. if class begins on the 13th, come on the 11th to register, for example.)
(imow = come, but not right now) kaalay = come here (if someone is within your view)

PREPOSITIONS

kadib = after kahor= before bidix = left
kor = up hoos = under, lower midig = right
ku = to horay = front of gadaal = back of
dher = in dhex = middle dhaxda /de’hada/ = the middle

hoos udag = go down hoos usoco = go down (not sure the difference btwn. These 2)
midig uleexo = take a right turn bidix uleexo = take a left turn (uleexo = turn)
horay usoco /uss’o ho/ = go ahead, go in front of gadaal usoco = go back usoco = go
kor usoco = go up (like, upstairs)

soo soco = get in, move ahead (it’s more of a welcome than the command kaalay is)
Hooyo soo soco /so’ soho/ = Mother, come in. Ahmed, soo soco. (This is like when one is waiting at the door to come in.)
socod = walking Niiman iyo naago ayaa soo socoda/so hoda/ = The men & women are coming. (you can see them)

Magacaa? = What’s your name?

Magacaygu waa _______. = My name is _______.

Soo dhawow = come in, wecome

Sidee tahay? = How are you? (asking one person)

Sidee tihiin?= How are you? (asking a group)

Iska waraan? = How are you doing? (asking one person)

Iska warama? = How are you doing? (asking a group)

Waan fiicanahay. = I am doing fine.

Maalin wanaagsan = Good day (anytime)

Subax wanaagsan = Good morning

Galeb wanaagsan = Good afternoon

Fiid wanaagsan = Good night (early evening)

Habeen wanaagsan = Good night (late evening)

Somalis in the US know that we count the hours differently, and I’ve never had any confusion when giving times the way I normally do in English.  But I’m not sure what’s best when I’m speaking Somali, to give the “American times” or the Somali ones.  (Any suggestions, Abdirahman?)  It’s helpful to add “In the morning” or “in the afternoon.”

Subaxnimo = in the morning

Dhuhurnimo = around noontime

Galabnimo = in the afternoon

Habeennimo = in the evening / at night

Balaan: appointment

Balann baan rabaa: I want an appointment

Balaan ma rabtaa?: Do you want an appointment?

Balaan baan ku siinayaa: I’ll give you an appointment

Imow: Come

Berri imow: Come tomorrow

Xafiiska imow berri saddex sac galabnimo: Come to the office tomorrow at 3:00 pm.

I imow berri dambe laba iyo toban sac dhuhurnimo: Come to me tomorrow at 12:00 noon.

Berri toban sac subaxnimo ma iman kartaa?: Can you come tomorrow at 10:00 am?

Waan iman karaa: I can come

Ma iman karo: I can’t come

Waan imanayaa: I’ll come / I’m coming

Wac: to call

I soo wac: Call me

Waan ku wacayaa: I’ll call you

Waan soo daahayaa: I’ll be late

Once again, this post is by Julie, and might have mistakes.  Also, giving times is complicated, because in Somali, the hours are assigned different numbers–read the “More about time” post for more info.

2: laba

3: saddex

4: afar

5: shan

6: lix

7: toddoba

8: siddeed

9: sagal

10: toban

11: kow iyo toban

12: laba iyo toban

What time is it? = meeqa sac?

1:00 is kow sac

2:00 is laba sac

1:30 is kow sac iyo bar

etc!

By the way, this post is by Julie, not Abdi, so there might be mistakes

Common verbal greetings

• Assalam Alaikum (Peace be upon you)
• Nabad miyaa (is their peace).
• Subah wanaagsan (Good morning)
• Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon)
• Habeen wanaagsan (Good night)

Gestures

Somali use sweeping hand and arm gestures to dramatize speech. Many ideas are expressed through specific hand gestures:
• A swift twist of the open hand means “nothing” or “no”.
• Snapping fingers may mean “long ago” or and “so on”
• A thumb under the chin indicates “fullness”.
• It is impolite to point the sole of one’s foot or shoe at another person.
• It is impolite to use the index finger to call somebody; that gesture is used for calling dogs.
• The American “thumbs up” is considered.

Dating and Marriage

Dating in the Western sense does not exist in Somalia. Young urban people often meet at universities or at work and persuade their parents to help them establish a courtship. Rural marriages are usually arranged.
One-to-one dating is reserved for after the engagement party or after the marriage contract has been signed.
The groom must give a bridal token to the bride’s family. Traditional wedding festivities are spread over three nights of dancing and singing, and men and women celebrate separately on some of the nights.

People

Nationality: Noun–Somali(s). Adjective–Somali.
Population (July 2001 est., no census exists): 7,488,773 (of which an estimated 2-3 million in Somaliland).
Annual growth rate (2001 est.): 3.48%.
Ethnic groups: 85% Somali, 15% non-Somali (Bantu and Arabs).
Religion: 99.9% Muslim.
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English.
Education: Literacy–total population that can read and write, 24%: male 36%; female 14%.
Health: Infant mortality rate–123.97/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth–total population: 46.6yrs.
Work force (3.7 million; very few are skilled workers): Pastoral nomad–60%. Agriculture, government, trading, fishing, industry, handicrafts, and other–40%.

Today, about 60% of all Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. About 25% of the population are settled farmers who live mainly in the fertile agricultural zone between the Juba and Shebelle Rivers in southern Somalia. The remainder of the population (15%-20%) is urban. Sizable ethnic groups in the country include Bantu agricultural workers, several thousand Arabs and some hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis. Nearly all inhabitants speak the Somali language, which remained unwritten until October 1973, when the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) proclaimed it the nation’s official language and decreed an orthography using Latin letters. Somali is now the language of instruction in schools, to the extent that these exist. Arabic, English, and Italian also are used extensively.

aabo – father
hooyo – mother
awoowo – grandfather (either father’s father or mother’s father)
ayeeyo – grandmother (either father’s mother or mother’s mother)
eedo – aunt (father’s sister)
habar yar – aunt (mother’s sister)
adeer – uncle (father’s brother)
abti – uncle (mother’s brother)
wiil – son (also means boy)
gabar – daughter (also means girl)
walaal – brother or sister

B
T
J – pronounced like the English combination “ch”
X – pronounced as a hard “h” (think of the guttural German sound)
KH – ?
D – pronounced just like the English “d”
R
S
SH
DH – pronounced similarly to “d,” but the sound starts with the tongue folded back on the roof of the mouth
C – pronounced like “ah”
G
F
Q – pronounced almost as an English “g,” except that it is made very far back in the throat; this can be difficult for native English speakers, as we do not have this sound in our language
K
L
M
N
W
H
Y

Now, for the vowels. The Somali language uses the same vowels as English. You will see the vowels either by themselves or doubled. Double vowels sound the same as single vowels, but are voiced for a longer period of time (about one beat longer).

A – “ah”    (sounds like, “hot”)
E- “eh”     (sounds like, “hey”)
I – “ee”     (sounds like, “feet”)
O – “oh”   (sounds like, “hope”)
U – “oo”    (sounds like, “scoop”)

To learn the alphabet, try saying the consonants with each vowel afterwards, first with the short vowels, then with the double vowels.

For example:

Ba Be Bi Bo Bu
Ta Te Ti To Tu
Ja Je Ji Jo Ju

and,

Baa Bee Bii Boo Buu
Taa Tee Tii Too Tuu
Jaa Jee Jii Joo Juu

etc.

Good luck! If you run into problems, or if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Or better yet, if you’re in the area, come to a class.

NOTE: The question marks next to certain letters in the alphabet will disappear as soon as I get an idea from Abdi and fellow classmates about how to explain them. Some are difficult to put into words!