Vocabulary for Lesson 2 (Oct. 8, 2013)
Somali
Hooddi! & Hoodayn!
English Meaning
Notes
Hello. I’m here! (like knocking
on a door)
(used only to announce your
presence at an entrance)
Ayo?
Who?
Kuma?
Who? (male)
Tuma?
Who? (female)
Yaa?
Who?
Waa ayo?
Who is it?
Who kuma/tume?
Who is it?
Yaa waaye?
Who is it?
Waa aniga.
It is I/It’s me.
Dhow (adj.)
Near; close (adj.)
Dhowow (v)
Come near; get close (v)
soo
“this way”, “toward here”,
“in this direction”
Put in front of verbs to indicate
movement in the direction of the
speaker or return after an action is
done; often no English equivilant.
Soo dhowow.
Welcome.
(lit. “become near to me”)
Gel/gal (v)
Enter in; go into (v)
Dhaaf (v)
Leave out; pass by;
overtake; go past; surpass
Soo gal.
Come in. (Enter in.)
Enter in towards me.
Soo dhaaf.
Come in. (Pass on in.)
Pass on by the doorway towards me.
Iska warran.
Give news of yourself. (lit.)
(= how are you?)
Alxamdullilah!
Praise God!
Fariiso / Fashiiso (v)
Sit down; be seated.
Mahad
Thanks; gratitude
Mahadsanid.
Thanks; thank you.
short form of “Waad mahadsan
tahay.” (You are thanked.)
Adaa _______.
It is you _______.
Adiga + baa (emphasizes
that “IT IS YOU that is ….”
Mudan
Deserved, worthy of
Adaa mudan.
You’re welcome.
1
Vocabulary for Lesson 2 (Oct. 8, 2013)
Somali
Wax
English Meaning
Something; thing; item;
object; matter; event
Notes
-an
Suffix meaning “this”, “these”
(used to indicate “the one nearby,
close at hand, within reach”)
-aas;
Suffix meaning “that”, ”those”
(used to indicate “the one farther
away, over there, out of reach”)
Waxan(i)
This thing; this (neutral)
(gender unknown; not indicated)
Waxaas(i)
That thing; that (neutral)
(gender unknown; not indicated)
Kan(i)
This thing; this (male)
Tan(i)
This thing; this (female)
Kaas; Kaa
That thing; that (male)
Taas; Taa
That thing; that (female)
-ka, -ga, -ha, -a
Suffixes indicating “the” (male)
Fill in with any of the above for
“this” or “that” – useful question
to elicit lots of vocabulary!
Articles for male gender nouns
-ta, -da, -sha
Suffixes for “the” (female)
Articles for female gender nouns
-kii, -gii, -hii, -ii
Suffixes indicating “thee” (male)
-tii, -dii, -shii
Suffixes for “thee” (female)
Referring to a very specific “one”
that we have talked about before
and all know (male/female)
Buug(ga/gii)
Book (the book/thee book)
(not for “Holy Book” = Kitaab(ka))
Xaashi(da/dii)
Paper (the paper/thee paper)
A single piece of paper
Warqad(da/dii)
Paper (the paper/thee paper)
A single piece of paper
Fure(ha/hii)
Key (the key/thee key)
Muftaax(a/ii)
Key (the key/thee key)
Lacag(ta/tii)
Money (the money/thee money) (lit. “silver”)
Dhalo(da/dii)
Bottle (the bottle/thee bottle)
Quraarad(da/dii)
Bottle (the bottle/thee bottle)
Tarraq(a/ii)
Match (the match/thee match)
Also “matches” (pl.)
Kabriid(ka/kii)
Match (the match/thee match)
Also “matches” (pl.)
Qalin(ka/kii)
Pen (the pen/thee pen)
Saabbuun(ta/tii)
Soap (the soap/thee soap)
_______waa maxay?
Waa maxay _______? What is ___________?
2
Vocabulary for Lesson 2 (Oct. 8, 2013)
Somali
Saacad(da/dii)
English Meaning
Notes
Watch (the watch/thee watch)
Also “clock”; hour, time;
Miis(ka/kii)
Table (the table/thee table)
Kursi(ga/gii)
Chair (the chair/thee chair)
(not “stool” = gambar(ka))
Hal(ka/kii)
One; the one (adj.)
Only when saying “of something”
Hal(ka)
Place, spot, location
Halkan
Here; this place
Halkaas
There; that place
Kaalay!; kaalaya!
Come!; You all come!
Imow; imaada
Come; come (pl)
Tag; taga
Go (to); go (pl)
Haye
All right; okay
Keen; keena
Bring; bring (pl)
ku
in; on; at; by means of; with;
using;
Used only as a command.
(like “Waa yahay.”
Preposition; meaning depends
on verb it is used with
Sug; suga
Wait; wait (pl)
Bangii(ga/gii)
Bank (the bank/thee bank)
Albaab(ka/kii)
Door (the door/thee door)
Fur; fura
Open; open (pl);
Also “untie”; “set free”
iyo
and
For joining two nouns only
Kow iyo toban; or
toban iyo kow
eleven
Also “koobyo toban”
Laba iyo toban; or
toban iyo laba
twelve
Also “labyo toban”
Some additional vocabulary:
eber
zero
fadlan
Please (Arb.)
mid(ka)
Traditionally served as polite
way of asking
One (of something not named)
midkan
This one
midkaas
That one
bal
3
Can be used with command to
ask politely (not commonly used)
Can be used before or after the
command
(when number used as a noun)