Somali — top 356 words
High-frequency vocabulary for English speakers. Reveal each card, then rate your recall — the schedule adapts (SM-2) and is stored on your device.
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Full word list
| # | Somali | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iska warran? | how are you? (lit. tell about yourself / what's the news?) |
| 2 | Waan fiicanahay | I am fine |
| 3 | Ma nabad baa? | how are you? (lit. is it peace?) |
| 4 | Waa nabad | all is well (lit. it is peace) |
| 5 | nabad | peace; also a greeting |
| 6 | Subax wanaagsan | good morning |
| 7 | Galab wanaagsan | good afternoon |
| 8 | Habeen wanaagsan | good night |
| 9 | Nabadgelyo | goodbye (lit. enter into peace) |
| 10 | Magacaygu waa … | my name is … |
| 11 | Magacaa? | what's your name? (colloquial) |
| 12 | Mahadsanid | thank you |
| 13 | Aad u mahadsanid | thank you very much |
| 14 | Adaa mudan | you're welcome (lit. you deserve it) |
| 15 | Fadlan | please |
| 16 | Iga raali ahow | excuse me / forgive me |
| 17 | Haa | yes |
| 18 | Maya | no |
| 19 | Ma garanayo | I don't know |
| 20 | Waan fahmay | I understood |
| 21 | Ma fahmin | I didn't understand |
| 22 | Af-Soomaali miyaad ku hadashaa? | do you speak Somali? |
| 23 | Waxaan baranayaa Af-Soomaali | I am learning Somali |
| 24 | Waa immisa? | how much is it? |
| 25 | Waan rabaa | I want (it) |
| 26 | Ma rabo | I don't want (it) |
| 27 | Waan ku jeclahay | I love you |
| 28 | kow | one (in counting) |
| 29 | hal | one (with nouns); also: she-camel |
| 30 | laba | two |
| 31 | saddex | three |
| 32 | afar | four |
| 33 | shan | five |
| 34 | lix | six |
| 35 | toddoba | seven |
| 36 | siddeed | eight |
| 37 | sagaal | nine |
| 38 | toban | ten |
| 39 | koob iyo toban | eleven |
| 40 | labaatan | twenty |
| 41 | soddon | thirty |
| 42 | afartan | forty |
| 43 | konton | fifty |
| 44 | lixdan | sixty |
| 45 | toddobaatan | seventy |
| 46 | siddeetan | eighty |
| 47 | sagaashan | ninety |
| 48 | boqol | one hundred |
| 49 | kun | one thousand |
| 50 | qof | person |
| 51 | dad | people |
| 52 | nin | man (pl. niman) |
| 53 | haweeney | woman, lady |
| 54 | naag | woman, wife (informal) |
| 55 | wiil | boy, son |
| 56 | gabar | girl, daughter (also gabadh) |
| 57 | inan | boy or girl — tone decides: ÍNan = boy, inÁN = girl |
| 58 | carruur | children |
| 59 | ilmo | child, offspring |
| 60 | aabbe | father |
| 61 | hooyo | mother |
| 62 | walaal | sibling; brother or sister; also a warm address |
| 63 | ayeeyo | grandmother |
| 64 | awoowe | grandfather |
| 65 | adeer | paternal uncle |
| 66 | abti | maternal uncle |
| 67 | eeddo | paternal aunt |
| 68 | habaryar | maternal aunt |
| 69 | saaxiib | friend (male) |
| 70 | saaxiibad | friend (female) |
| 71 | qoys | family, household |
| 72 | reer | family, clan, the people of … |
| 73 | oday | old man, elder |
| 74 | islaan | old woman |
| 75 | macallin | teacher |
| 76 | arday | student, pupil |
| 77 | dhakhtar | doctor |
| 78 | askari | soldier, police officer |
| 79 | beeraale | farmer |
| 80 | geeljire | camel herder |
| 81 | boqor | king |
| 82 | madax | head; leader |
| 83 | il | eye (pl. indho) |
| 84 | dheg | ear (pl. dhego) |
| 85 | san | nose |
| 86 | af | mouth; language (Af-Soomaali) |
| 87 | carrab | tongue |
| 88 | ilig | tooth (pl. ilko) |
| 89 | gacan | hand, arm (pl. gacmo) |
| 90 | lug | leg, foot (pl. lugo) |
| 91 | wadne | heart (organ) |
| 92 | qalbi | heart, mind (figurative) |
| 93 | dhiig | blood |
| 94 | timo | hair |
| 95 | waji | face |
| 96 | calool | stomach, belly |
| 97 | dhabar | back |
| 98 | maqaar | skin, hide |
| 99 | laf | bone (pl. lafo) |
| 100 | ey | dog |
| 101 | bisad | cat |
| 102 | sac | cow |
| 103 | lo' | cattle |
| 104 | lax | ewe, sheep (pl. ido) |
| 105 | ri' | goat |
| 106 | ari | sheep and goats, small livestock |
| 107 | geel | camels (collective) — the treasured herd |
| 108 | awr | male pack camel |
| 109 | faras | horse |
| 110 | dameer | donkey — tone decides gender: damÉEr male, dameÉR female |
| 111 | digaag | chicken |
| 112 | kalluun | fish |
| 113 | shimbir | bird |
| 114 | libaax | lion |
| 115 | maroodi | elephant |
| 116 | waraabe | hyena — the trickster-villain of Somali tales |
| 117 | dawaco | fox, jackal |
| 118 | shabeel | leopard |
| 119 | mas | snake |
| 120 | kaneeco | mosquito |
| 121 | duqsi | fly (insect) |
| 122 | biyo | water |
| 123 | webi | river |
| 124 | bad | sea |
| 125 | haro | lake |
| 126 | qorrax | sun |
| 127 | dayax | moon |
| 128 | xiddig | star |
| 129 | cir | sky |
| 130 | daruur | cloud |
| 131 | roob | rain — the great blessing |
| 132 | dabayl | wind |
| 133 | ciid | sand, soil (also: Eid festival — context decides) |
| 134 | dhul | earth, land, ground |
| 135 | buur | mountain |
| 136 | dhagax | stone, rock |
| 137 | geed | tree, plant |
| 138 | caws | grass |
| 139 | duur | bush, wilderness |
| 140 | dab | fire |
| 141 | qiiq | smoke |
| 142 | abaar | drought |
| 143 | barwaaqo | abundance, prosperity (the green after rain) |
| 144 | cunto | food |
| 145 | bariis | rice |
| 146 | baasto | pasta (an Italian-era staple) |
| 147 | canjeero | canjeero — Somali sourdough flatbread |
| 148 | laxoox | laxoox — spongy flatbread (northern name) |
| 149 | rooti | bread |
| 150 | hilib | meat |
| 151 | hilib geel | camel meat |
| 152 | caano | milk |
| 153 | caano geel | camel milk |
| 154 | shaah | tea (spiced Somali tea) |
| 155 | bun | coffee; coffee beans |
| 156 | sonkor | sugar |
| 157 | cusbo | salt |
| 158 | subag | ghee, clarified butter |
| 159 | ukun | egg |
| 160 | khudaar | vegetables |
| 161 | muus | banana |
| 162 | liin | lemon, lime, citrus |
| 163 | timir | dates (fruit) |
| 164 | sambuus | sambusa (samosa) |
| 165 | xalwo | halwa — Somali sweet |
| 166 | guri | house, home |
| 167 | aqal | house; the domed nomadic hut (aqal Soomaali) |
| 168 | albaab | door |
| 169 | daaqad | window |
| 170 | miis | table |
| 171 | kursi | chair |
| 172 | sariir | bed |
| 173 | buug | book |
| 174 | qalin | pen, pencil |
| 175 | warqad | paper; letter |
| 176 | lacag | money |
| 177 | dhar | clothes |
| 178 | koob | cup |
| 179 | dheri | clay pot |
| 180 | mindi | knife |
| 181 | dhalo | bottle, jar |
| 182 | masaajid | mosque |
| 183 | suuq | market |
| 184 | dukaan | shop, store |
| 185 | dugsi | school (also Qur'anic school) |
| 186 | jaamacad | university |
| 187 | isbitaal | hospital |
| 188 | waddo | road, street |
| 189 | jid | road, way, path |
| 190 | magaalo | city, town |
| 191 | tuulo | village |
| 192 | xero | corral, enclosure, camp |
| 193 | Soomaaliya | Somalia |
| 194 | Muqdisho | Mogadishu |
| 195 | Hargeysa | Hargeisa |
| 196 | Jabuuti | Djibouti |
| 197 | maanta | today |
| 198 | shalay | yesterday |
| 199 | berri | tomorrow |
| 200 | subax | morning |
| 201 | duhur | midday, noon |
| 202 | galab | afternoon |
| 203 | fiid | early evening |
| 204 | habeen | night |
| 205 | maalin | day (pl. maalmo) |
| 206 | toddobaad | week |
| 207 | bil | month; moon (in compounds) |
| 208 | sannad | year |
| 209 | saacad | hour; clock, watch |
| 210 | daqiiqad | minute |
| 211 | hadda | now |
| 212 | goor | time, moment (goorma? — when?) |
| 213 | waagii hore | long ago, in the old days (story opener) |
| 214 | had iyo jeer | always |
| 215 | mararka qaar | sometimes |
| 216 | cun | eat! (verb stem: to eat) |
| 217 | cab | drink! (to drink) |
| 218 | tag | go! (to go) |
| 219 | kaalay | come! (to come) |
| 220 | soco | walk, go along! (to walk, proceed) |
| 221 | orod | run! (to run) |
| 222 | seexo | sleep! (to sleep) |
| 223 | toos | wake up! (to wake) |
| 224 | fadhiiso | sit down! (to sit) |
| 225 | istaag | stand up, stop! (to stand) |
| 226 | qaado | take, pick up! (to take) |
| 227 | sii | give! (to give) |
| 228 | keen | bring! (to bring) |
| 229 | qor | write! (to write) |
| 230 | akhri | read! (to read) |
| 231 | baro | learn! (to learn) |
| 232 | bar | teach! (to teach) |
| 233 | hadal | speak! (to speak); speech, talk |
| 234 | dhegayso | listen! (to listen) |
| 235 | maqal | hear! (to hear) |
| 236 | arag | see! (to see) |
| 237 | eeg | look! (to look at) |
| 238 | samee | do, make! (to do, make) |
| 239 | shaqee | work! (to work); shaqo — work (noun) |
| 240 | dhis | build! (to build) |
| 241 | jar | cut! (to cut) |
| 242 | dil | hit, kill! (to hit, kill) |
| 243 | maydh | wash! (to wash) |
| 244 | iibso | buy! (to buy) |
| 245 | iibi | sell! (to sell) |
| 246 | bixi | pay, give out! (to pay) |
| 247 | hel | find, get! (to find) |
| 248 | raadi | look for! (to search) |
| 249 | sug | wait! (to wait) |
| 250 | caawi | help! (to help) |
| 251 | fur | open! (to open) |
| 252 | xir | close, tie! (to close) |
| 253 | guurso | marry! (to marry) |
| 254 | dhal | give birth! (to bear, beget) |
| 255 | qosol | laugh! (to laugh); laughter |
| 256 | ooy | cry! (to weep) |
| 257 | baq | fear! (to be afraid) |
| 258 | fiirso | watch, observe! (to watch) |
| 259 | sheeg | tell, say! (to tell) |
| 260 | weydii | ask! (to ask) |
| 261 | jawaab | answer! (to answer); an answer |
| 262 | bilow | begin! (to begin); beginning |
| 263 | dhammee | finish! (to finish) |
| 264 | jooji | stop (something)! (to stop) |
| 265 | kari | cook! (to cook) |
| 266 | qabo | hold, catch! (to hold; to have) |
| 267 | qaad | carry, take up! (to carry) |
| 268 | xasuuso | remember! (to remember) |
| 269 | ilaaw | forget! (to forget) |
| 270 | weyn | big, great |
| 271 | yar | small, little; young |
| 272 | wanaagsan | good |
| 273 | xun | bad |
| 274 | fiican | fine, good, well |
| 275 | dheer | long, tall |
| 276 | gaaban | short |
| 277 | cusub | new |
| 278 | hore | former, previous, old; first |
| 279 | qurux badan | beautiful (qurux = beauty) |
| 280 | adag | hard, difficult |
| 281 | fudud | easy, light |
| 282 | culus | heavy |
| 283 | kulul | hot |
| 284 | qabow | cold; the cold |
| 285 | cad | white; a piece of meat |
| 286 | madow | black |
| 287 | cas | red |
| 288 | buluug | blue |
| 289 | cagaar | green; greenery |
| 290 | badan | much, many |
| 291 | dhow | near |
| 292 | fog | far |
| 293 | dhakhso | fast, quickly |
| 294 | gaajo | hunger |
| 295 | oon | thirst |
| 296 | waa | declarative classifier: X waa Y — X is Y |
| 297 | baa | focus marker (follows the focused word) |
| 298 | ayaa | focus marker (variant of baa) |
| 299 | waxaa | cleft/presentative marker: waxaa … — it is … who/that |
| 300 | ma [1] | question marker (Ma nabad baa?) |
| 301 | ma [2] | negative marker (Ma garanayo — I don't know) |
| 302 | aan | I / we (subject clitic); also negative in subordinate clauses |
| 303 | aad | you (subject clitic); also: very (aad u …) |
| 304 | uu | he (subject clitic) |
| 305 | ay | she / they (subject clitic) |
| 306 | -ka / -ga | the (masculine definite article suffix) |
| 307 | -ta / -da | the (feminine definite article suffix) |
| 308 | -kii / -tii | the (aforementioned) — past-reference article |
| 309 | kan / tan | this (masculine / feminine) |
| 310 | kaas / taas | that (masculine / feminine) |
| 311 | halkan | here |
| 312 | halkaas | there |
| 313 | ka | from, about, at (preverbal particle) |
| 314 | ku | in, into, with, at (preverbal particle) |
| 315 | la | with, together with (preverbal particle) |
| 316 | u | to, for (preverbal particle) |
| 317 | iyo | and (joins nouns) |
| 318 | oo | and, while (joins clauses/modifiers) |
| 319 | ee | and, of (links modifiers after a definite noun) |
| 320 | in | that (complementizer) |
| 321 | laakiin | but |
| 322 | ama | or |
| 323 | haddii | if |
| 324 | markii | when, at the time that |
| 325 | maxaa yeelay | because (lit. what did it do?) |
| 326 | yaa? | who? |
| 327 | maxaa? | what? (maxaad rabtaa? — what do you want?) |
| 328 | xaggee? | where? which direction? |
| 329 | goorma? | when? |
| 330 | sidee? | how? |
| 331 | immisa? | how many? how much? |
| 332 | gabay | gabay — the classical Somali epic poem |
| 333 | buraanbur | buraanbur — women's poetry genre |
| 334 | hees | song |
| 335 | maahmaah | proverb |
| 336 | sheeko | story, tale (Sheeko sheeko! — story-time opener) |
| 337 | xeer | xeer — Somali customary law |
| 338 | dhaqan | culture, tradition |
| 339 | suugaan | literature |
| 340 | aroos | wedding |
| 341 | shir | meeting, assembly |
| 342 | qoraal | writing, text |
| 343 | erey | word (pl. erayo) |
| 344 | jumlad | sentence |
| 345 | aqoon | knowledge |
| 346 | nolol | life |
| 347 | dhimasho | death |
| 348 | jacayl | love |
| 349 | farxad | joy, happiness |
| 350 | murugo | sadness, grief |
| 351 | caafimaad | health |
| 352 | cudur | illness, disease |
| 353 | shaqo | work, job |
| 354 | safar | journey, travel |
| 355 | dagaal | war, fighting |
| 356 | nabadda | the peace (nabad + -da) |