These phrases are designed to be practical for everyday communication, covering greetings, introductions, directions, shopping, dining, emergencies, travel and common expressions.
(Remember the letter X is pronounced as “H” and the letter C as short “A”)
Table of Contents
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Somali-Swahili-English phrases for introduction
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Magacaygu waa | Jina langu ni… | My name is… |
| Xagee ka timid? | Unatoka wapi? | Where are you from? |
| Waxaan ka imid… | Ninatoka… | I am from… |
| Waan ku faraxsanahay inaan kula kulmo | Nimefurahi kukutana nawe | Nice to meet you |
| Waa maxay shaqadaada? | Unafanya kazi gani? | What is your job? |
| Waxaan ahay… | Mimi ni… | I am a… (e.g., teacher, student) |
| Intee jir baad tahay? | Una miaka mingapi? | How old are you? |
| Waxaan ahay labaatan jir. | Nina miaka ishirini | I am 20 years old |
| Ma leedahay qoys? | Una familia? | Do you have a family? |
| Haa, qoys waan leeyahay | Ndiyo, nina familia | Yes, I have a family |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for greetings
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Subax wanaagsan | Habari za asubuhi | Good morning |
| Fiid wanaagsan | Habari za jioni | Good evening |
| Sidee tahay? | Habari yako? | How are you? |
| Waan fiicanahay | Niko sawa | I am fine |
| Mahadsanid | Asante | Thank you |
| Fadlan | Tafadhali | Please |
| Nabad gelyo | Kwaheri | Goodbye |
| Iska warran? | Vipi? | What’s up? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for asking for directions
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Xagee …? | iko wapi? | Where is…? |
| Sideen u tagaa…? | Ninawezaje kufika…? | How do I get to…? |
| Ma dhowdahay? | Iko karibu? | Is it near? |
| Bidix ama midig? | Kushoto au kulia? | Left or right? |
| Ilaa intee? | Hadi wapi? | How far? |
| Ma jiraa bas halkan? | Kuna basi hapa? | Is there a bus here? |
| Waa maxay meesha ugu dhow? | Sehemu ya karibu ni ipi? | What is the nearest place? |
| Ma i caawin kartaa? | Unaweza kunisaidia? | Can you help me? |
| Kharitad ma haysaa? | Una ramani? | Do you have a map? |
| Halkaan ma joogsan karaa? | Ninaweza kusimama hapa? | Can I stop here? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for shopping
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Waa imisa qiimaha? | Bei ni kiasi gani? | How much is it? |
| Ma jiraa qiimo dhimis? | Kuna punguzo la bei? | Is there a discount? |
| Kaar ma ku bixin karaa? | Ninaweza lipa na kadi? | Do you accept cards? |
| Waxaan doonayaa tan | Nataka hii | I want this |
| Ma haysaa cabbir kale? | Una saizi nyingine? | Do you have another size? |
| Ma haysaa midab kale? | Una rangi nyingine? | Do you have another color? |
| Waxaan jeclaan lahaa inaan tijaabiyo | Ningependa kujaribu | I would like to try it |
| Waaranti ma leedahay? | Una waranti? | Do you have a warranty? |
| Ma beddeli kartaa? | Unaweza kubadilisha? | Can you exchange it? |
| Boorso ma haysaa? | Unatoa mfuko? | Do you provide a bag? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for dining
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Ma heli karaa liiska cuntada? | Naweza kupata menu? | Can I get the menu? |
| Maxaad ku talin lahayd? | Unapendekeza nini? | What do you recommend? |
| Cuntadan dhadhan fiican ma leedahay? | Chakula hiki kina ladha nzuri? | Does this food taste good? |
| Ma diyaar baa? | Iko tayari? | Is it ready? |
| Waxaan jeclaan lahaa… | Ningependa… | I would like… |
| Ma heli karaa biyo? | Naweza kupata maji? | Can I get water? |
| Cuntada aad bay u fiicnayd | Chakula kilikuwa kizuri sana | The food was very good |
| Ma jirtaa cunto khudradeed? | Kuna chakula cha mboga? | Is there vegetarian food? |
| Waa imisa qiimaha guud? | Bei ya jumla ni kiasi gani? | What is the total cost? |
| Ma ku dari karaa tip? | aweza kuongeza bakshishi? | Can I add a tip? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for emergencies
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Caawimaad | Msaada | Help |
| Wac booliiska! | Pigia simu polisi! | Call the police! |
| Wac ambalaaska! | Pigia simu ambulansi! | Call an ambulance! |
| Waa xagee isbitaalka? | Hospitali iko wapi? | Where is the hospital? |
| Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar | Nahitaji daktari | I need a doctor |
| Ma jiraa farmashiye halkan? | Kuna duka la dawa hapa? | Is there a pharmacy here? |
| Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun | Nahisi maumivu | I feel pain |
| Waan lumay | Nimepotea | I am lost |
| Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad degdeg ah | Nahitaji msaada wa haraka | I need urgent help |
| Ma nabad qabaa? | Iko salama? | Is it safe? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for travel
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Tigidhka waa imisa? | Tikiti ni ngapi? | How much is the ticket? |
| Goorma ayuu baxayaa? | Inatoka lini? | When does it leave? |
| Amuu imaanayaa? | Itafika lini? | When will it arrive? |
| Ma haysaa boos firaaqo ah? | Kuna nafasi wazi? | Is there an empty seat? |
| Waa xagee saldhiga tareenka? | Stesheni ya treni iko wapi? | Where is the train station? |
| Ma jiraa bas u socda…? | Kuna basi inayoelekea…? | Is there a bus going to…? |
| Waxaan u baahanahay taksi | Nahitaji teksi | I need a taxi |
| Ma heli karaa jadwalka? | Naweza kupata ratiba? | Can I get the schedule? |
| Boorsado ma la ogol yahay? | Mizigo yanaruhusiwa? | Are bags allowed? |
| Waa intee meesha socdaalka ugu fiican? | Sehemu gani ya watalii ni bora? | What is the best tourist destination? |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for numbers
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Kow | Moja | One |
| Laba | Mbili | Two |
| Saddex | Tatu | Three |
| Afar | Nne | Four |
| Shan | Tano | Five |
| Lix | Sita | Six |
| Toddoba | Saba | Seven |
| Sideed | Nane | Eight |
| Sagaal | Tisa | Nine |
| Toban | Kumi | Ten |
Somali-Swahili-English phrases for time and dates
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Saacadu waa imisa? | Ni saa ngapi? | What time is it? |
| Goorma? | Lini? | When? |
| Maanta waa Isniin | Leo ni Jumatatu | Today is Monday |
| Berri waa Talaado | Kesho ni Jumanne | Tomorrow is Tuesday |
| Hal saac | Saa moja | One o’clock |
| Labo saac iyo bar | Saa mbili na nusu | Half past two |
| Ma ogtahay waqtiga saxda ah? | Unajua wakati halisi? | Do you know the exact time? |
| Shalay waxay ahayd Sabti | Jana ilikuwa Jumamosi | Yesterday was Saturday |
| Waa maxay taariikhda maanta? | Tarehe ya leo ni ipi? | What is today’s date? |
| Waxaan sugayaa toban daqiiqo | Nangoja kwa dakika kumi | I am waiting for ten minutes |
Common Somali-Swahili-English expressions
| Somali | Swahili | English |
| Waan ku raacsanahay | Nakubali | I agree |
| Waan ka xumahay | Pole | I’m sorry |
| Ma fahmin | Sielewi | I don’t understand |
| Ku celi, fadlan | Rudia, tafadhali | Repeat, please |
| Waxaan jeclaan lahaa inaan… | Ningependa… | I would like to… |
| Maxaa dhacay? | Nini kimetokea? | What happened? |
| Ma hubtaa? | Una hakika? | Are you sure? |
| Waxaan rajaynayaa inaad… | Natumai uta… | I hope you… |
| Waan ku faraxsanahay | Nimefurahi | I am happy |
| Soo dhowow | Karibu | Welcome |