oo dhan - the whole ..

oo dhan - the whole ...

Maalintii oo dhan - the whole day 

Way murmeen maalintii oo dhan - they argued the whole day

Way wada hadleen maalintii oo dhan - they talked the whole day

Dadka oo dhan - all of the people

Way qosleen dadka oo dhan - all the people laughed

Dunida oo dhan - the whole world

Hay'adda UNICEF waxay ka shaqaynaysaa dunida oo dhan - The organisation UNICEF is working all over the world

Ordinal numbers

Cardinal numbers are basically the numbers we normally use when counting,

One apple  - Hal tufaax
Two oranges - Laba liin

Ordinal numbers are numbers we use to rank things or put things in a certain order(hence 'ordinal')

The third man - Ninkii saddexaad
The 11th century - Qarnigii kow iyo tobnaad

First - Kowaad
Second - Labaad
Third - Saddexaad
Fourth - Afraad
Fifth - Shanaad
Sixth - Lixaad
Seventh - Toddobaad
Eighth - Sideedaad
Ninth - Sagaalaad
Tenth - Tobnaad 

Finland ayaa gashay kaalinta kowaad - Finland was ranked first (lit. "Finland entered the first rank/tier")
Dagaalkii labaad ee Aduunka - The Second World War (lit. "The Second War of the World") 

Somali manga

Someone has translated a chapter of the Japanese manga 'Vinland Saga' into Somali. Check it out, the translation is really good, although you will probably need to be at intermediate/advanced Somali level to fully appreciate it. 

http://afsomali.com/manga/vinland/cutubka_1/1/

Raashinka - Food

Generally, the word for food in Somali is 'cunto'

cunto - food; cuntada - the food

But, there is another food that you will often hear

raashin (ka) - food

The word 'raashin' comes the English military term 'rations' which is food provisions for soldiers.

Google Translate - Now in Somali!

Google Translate can now translate between Somali and other languages. It's not perfect, but it is a start! It is particularly effective at translating short, uncomplicated sentences. Try it here,

https://translate.google.com/

Ha i salaamin (Don't greet me) A Somali short film

Another Somali short film called 'Ha i Salaamin' ("Don't greet me"). This one is better since it has English subtitles, so you will find it easier to follow.

Waad iga furan tahay - You are divorced

A clip from a Somali film about divorce. 

Some key phrases

See tahay? - How are you?

Maxaa dhacay? - What happened?

Maxaad sameesey? - What did you do?

Mar kasta wuu i dilaa, wuu i qayliyaa - Every time, he hits me, he shouts at me

Gabadha wey is bedeshay - The girl has changed

Hadda waxay noqotay habar - Now she has become an old woman

... uma baahni - I don't need... 

Divorce - Waan ku furay

'fur' literally means 'to open'

Albaabka fur! - Open the door!

However, Somalis also use the verb 'fur' to mean 'to divorce (s.o.)'

Waan ku furay - I divorce you/ I have divorced you

Waan furayaa xaaskayga - I am going to divorce my wife

Waad furan tahay - You are divorced 

Waad iga furan tahay - You are divorced from me

Another Danish article - Dumar badan ayaa ragga garaaca

Dumar badan ayaa ragga garaaca

Many women hit men

 

 Marka rabshado ka dhacaan guriga gudihiisa ee la is waydaarsado dharbaaxooyin, garaacis iyo aflegaaddo, xaalado ka badan sida la filayo, dumarka ayaa gacanta iyo aflegaadada gaysta.

 

When disturbances occur inside the home,  and blows, beatings and insults are exchanged, more often than is commonly believed it is the women who are the ones perpetrating the abuse.

 

Sidu sheegay ururka 'Dialog mod Vold', oo ka shaqeeya sidii loo joojin lahaa rabshadaha guryaha gudahooda, shantii rabshadood ay maareeyeenba mid ayay qof dumar ahi gacanta ama aflegaadada gaysatay sannadkii 2012.

 

 According to Dialogue against Violence, a counselling and therapy centre that works to put a stop to violence inside the home, one in five perpetrators of domestic abuse undergoing therapy with them in 2012 were women. 

 

 Teeda kale dhibbanayaasha ragga way ku adag tahay, inay raadsadaan caawimo, waayo waa arrin aan afka la soo marin oo laga sheexo, in ninku sheego inay garaacday gabadhiisu, markaasoo loo arkayo nin aan caadi ahayn.

 

 “It’s especially hard for male victims of abuse to reach out for help because of the taboo and the association of not being a real man if you’re hit by a woman,” she added.

 

 Vocab

dumar(ka) - women

rag(ga)  - men

dharbaaxooyin - blows(physical)

garaacis - beatings

aflegaaddo - insults

urur(ka) - organisation

Useful phrases
 guriga gudihiisa - inside the home, domestic
rabshadaha guryaha gudahooda - domestic violence
xaalado ka badan sida la filayo - more often than thought
waa arrin aan afka la soo marin - it's taboo (lit. "it is a matter which does not pass the mouth")

Danish news article - Where are the gangs?

Bil cidna isma toogan: Meeye baandooyinki?

For a month no gunfire: Where are the gangs?

Bil ka hor maalin arbaca ah ayaa ugu danbaysay is rasaasayntii ugu danbaysay ee xiisadaha baandooyinka.

Wednesday marked one month since the last shots were fired in connection with the recent gang conflict.

Tan iyo bilawgii sannadka cusub, baandooyinka Kobanheegan iyo agagaarkeeda ayaa is rasaaseeyay in ka badan 40 jeer, sida lagu sheegay DR Nyheder. Laakiin maanta bil ayaa ka soo wareegtay mudadda aan la maqlin is rasaasaynta baandddooyinka xiisaduhu dhex yaalliin.

Since the New Year, gangs in the greater Copenhagen area have shot at each other more than 40 times, according to DR News. However, it has now been a month since the gangs last opened fire as a result of an internal conflict.

Waxa aannu u malaynaynaa, inay ku wada hadleen, in aanay isu toogan qaabkii hore. Waxa lagu yaabaa, inay khaati iska taageen bilayska, ayuu dr.dk ku yidhi Michael Ask, oo madax ka ah xarunta debnibaadhista qaranka.

“It is our opinion that they (the gangs, ed.) may have come to the conclusion that shooting at each other doesn’t accomplish anything. They may have realised that being under constant surveillance by police is a nuisance in itself,” said Michael Ask, head of the Danish National Police Investigation Centre, to DR. dk.
  
Dhawr baando ayaa bilihii ugu danbeeyay is hayay - xiisadahaas oo dhawr jeer la isku rasaaseeyay, laba dhallinyaro ahina ku waayeen naftooda, waxay bilaysku ku tilmaameen, inay dhex marayeen baandada 'Loyal to Familia' iyo baandada 'Værebros Hårde Kerne'.

In recent months, several gangs have been in conflict with each other, but the conflict which police believe to have caused the majority of the shootouts and which has claimed the lives of two young men is the conflict between gangs Loyal to Familia and Værebros Hårde Kerne.

Vocab 
bil ka hor - a month ago
meeye - where is/are?
ugu danbaysay(also 'dambaysey') - the latest
xiisad(da) - crisis, riot, chaos
tan iyo - since
agagaar(ka) - surroundings
ka soo wareegay - transfer, move away
 - bil ayaa ka soo wareegay - a month has passed

dib...u - again

The word construction 'dib...u' can be used to say 'again'

Dib u samee - Do it again

Waa inaad dib u eego applicationkiisa - You should review his application

Qaxootiga Soomaaliyeed oo Kenya joogaa waxay doonayaan inay dib loogu celiyo Soomaliya
Somali refugees living in Kenya want to be sent back to Somalia 

Mar hore - Already, Mar keliya - Just once

The word for 'already' in Somali is 'mar hore'. 'Mar' means '(a)time' and 'hore' means 'before'. So it literally means 'a time before'.

Waad i siisey mar hore - You already gave (it) to me

Waan tagey Mareykanka mar hore - I've already been to America

Waan dhameyey shaqadii mar hore - I've already finished the work

To say you've done something just one time, use 'mar keliya'

Waxaan la kulmay boqoradda mar keliya
I've met the Queen only once

Shirkadaha Roodhidu waxay kordhiyeen qiimaha ay ku Iibiyaan mar keliya.
The bakery businesses have increased the prices that are selling just once.

Wuu akhriyey buugga la yiraahdo "War and Peace" mar keliya.
He read the book called "War and Peace" just once.

Dumarka oo ka riixaya ragga madaxnimada

More female managers in public sector(lit. 'Women are shoving men aside to leadership')

 

Dumar badan ayaa ragga karbaashaya, oo kala wareegaya xilalka madaxnimada ee goobaha shaqada dawladda, ayuu qoray wargayska Politiken khamiista maanta ah.

 

The Danish daily Politiken reports that the number of female managers in the public sector is growing.

 

 Arrintaasi waxay farxad gelisay wasiirka sinnaanta Manu Sareen. 

 

 These developments have been praised by Minister for Gender Equality Manu Sareen.

 

 Hore waxa loogu doodayay, in dumarku aanay rabin xilalka hoggaanka. Laakiin waxa muuqata, inay rabaan, ayuu yidhi wasiirka.

 

“There has been a tendency in the public debate to assume that women don’t want managerial positions. It has been shown, however, that they do,” said Sareen.

 

 

Vocab 

dumar(ka) - women

rag(ka) - men

xil(ka; plural 'xilal') - responsibility

farxad(ta) - happiness

geli - to insert

hore - before, previously

dood - to argue, debate

hoggaan(ka) - leadership

waxa muuqata - it is clear

Maxaa laga doodayaa? - What is being debated?

Maxaa(what) la(passive) + ka(about)  doodayaa(debating)

 

Waxa muuqata inaad bixin kartaa xisaabta haddaad rabtid.

It is clear that you could pay the bill if you wanted to.

Runtii, wey i farxad gelisay sida aad u diyaarsan tihiin

Truly, it pleased me how well-prepared you all are.

 

Dumar badan ayaa ragga karbaashaya madaxnimada

Women are beating men to managerial (positions) 

Sheeko - Saaxiibaddii (A story - The Friends)

Waxaa jirey laba nin oo saaxiib ah oo midkoodna uusan wax xoolo ah lahayn. Berigii dambe baa midkood weydiiyey kii kale:

There were once two men who were friends and neither of them had any wealth. One day, one of them asked the other:

"War hebelow, maxaad ugu jeclaan lahayd inaad heshid intaad nooshahay?"

"Tell me, what's the thing you want most while you're alive?"

"Waxaan jeclay inaan helo ari badan oon caano iyo hilib ka helo doog iyo jiilaalba." buu ku jawaabay.

"I wish I could have a lot of sheep and goats, so that I could have milk and meat all year round" , he replied.

"War adna, maxaad jeclaan lahayd inaad heshid?", kii kale baa isna la weydiiyey.

"And you, what would you like to have most", the other was asked.

"Waxaan jeclaan lahaa inaan helo raxan yey ah oo arigaaga cunta", buu ku jawaabay.

"I wish I owned I pack of wolves that would eat up all your sheep and goats.", he replied.

"War maxaad yeyda arigayga u cunsiinaysaa, ma sidaas baynu saaxiibo ku nahay?", buu weydiiyey kii labaad isaga oo caraysan.

"But why do you wish your wolves to eat my livestock, do you call that 'friendship'", the other asked angrily.

"Maxaa yeelay, keligaa baa ariga oo dhan isla damcayoo waxba iga maad siin anoo saaxiibkaa ah", buu ku jawaabay kii kowaad. Ka dib, way isu caroodeen oo dirireen, ilaa ay iska daaleen oo midba dhinac u dhacay.

"That's because you want to keep all the herds to yourself and you didn't give me anything, even though I'm your best friend", the first man replied. Then, they both got angry and fought with each other, until they both got tired and collapsed.

"War maxaynu isku dileynaa?", midkood baa weydiiyey kii kale.

"What were we fighting for?" one of them asked the other.


"Rajo keli ah!", buu kii kale ku jawaabay.

"Only a wish!", answered the other.



Vocab

war(or 'warya') - hey there (used towards males; to women, you say 'naaya'
uusan - not (used in relative clauses)
Berigii dambe - one day
intaad nooshalay - while you live
weydii - to ask
is damac - to keep for oneself
rajo - wish, hope


Waxaan jeclaan lahaa inaan noqo qof hodon ah.
I would have wanted to become a rich person.

Waxaan jeclaan lahaa inaan tago Mareykanka.
I would have wanted to go to America. 



Idinkuna, maxaad ugu jeclaan lahaydeen inaad hesheen intaad nooshihiin?

Article translation - from the Danish news website DR

Wasiir u digay waalidka ajinebiga ah

Minister warns immigrant parents

Qaar badan oo ka mid ah wiilasha asal ahaan ajinebiga ah ayaa ku dhammaada denbiilayaal, wasiirka arrimaha bulshada, Karen Hækkerup, ayaana arrintaas uga digtay waalidkood.
  
According to Minister for Social Affairs Karen Hækkerup, far too many boys with immigrant backgrounds are involved in crime, and she is now voicing criticism of their parents.

Waraysi uu la yeeshay wargayska Berlingske ayay ku ballanqaaday dadaalo cusub oo wax lagaga qabanayo arrintan.

In an interview with Danish daily Berlingske, Hækkerup proposed new initiatives for addressing this problem.

"Waa in aynnu ka tallaabsanaa fikradda ah, in loo cudurdaaro carruurta iyo waalidka, waayo meel innama gaynayso. Wiilka yar ee deriskiisa ku odhanaya dhillo ama laadaya ee jejebinaya alaabada, maaha qof meel lagaga dhacayo" ayay tidhi.

“We must do away with the attitude that it is a shame for the children and their parents, because that doesn’t help anyone. A little boy who yells obscenities at his neighbour or kicks things until they break is not a victim,” said Hækkerup.

Vocab
 u dig - to warn
waalid - parent
ajnebi - foreign
 wasiir - minister
arrin(ta) - matter, affair(pl. 'arrimmo')
bulsho(ta) - society
ka qabo - to do something about (something) 
ballanqaad - to promise (lit. 'to take a debt')
lagaga qabanayo - something will be done about (something)



Waxaan u digaa waalidkooda - I blame their parents
Arrintaasi wuu ii digay - He blamed me for that
Waxaan idiin ballan qaadayaa in aan bixinayo lacagta - I promise you(all) that I will pay the money
 Wax lagaga qabanayo arrintan - Something will be done about this matter.
lagaga = la(passive) + ka(?) + ka(about) 



 

BBC article - Gaariye the poet

Sorry for the long absence, I have been trying to learn French, amongst other things. But I hope to kick-start this site, starting off with a few translations of articles from the BBC website. This article is about the famous Somali poet Gaariye. 

Waddanka Britain, waxaa intii muddo ahba ka socday bandhig dhinaca gabayada ku saabsan oo loogu magac daray Socdaalka Caalamiga ah ee Gabayaaga.

The country of Britain, 

Bandhigan, oo sadaxdii-sanaba mar la qabto, ayaa waxaa ka qabqaadanayay dad arimaha gabayada ku xeel-dheer oo ka kala socday waddamo kala duwan oo caalamka ka tirsan .

Maxmed Xaashi Dhamac (Gaarriye) oo ah abwaan caan ku ah hal-abuurka tixaha Gabayada afka somaaliga ayaa magaca Gabayaaga somaliyeed ka qayb qaatay badhigaasi socdaalka gabayaaga

Yusuf Garaad Cumar ayaa wareysi dheer la yeeshay Abwaan Gaarriye, iyo Professor Martin Orwin, oo macallin ka ah jaamacadda SOAS ee dalka Britain, isla markaana kamid ah aqoonyahanno tarjumay qaar kamid ah gabayada Gaarriye.

Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac(Gaariye) who is a famous poet

Wareysigaas oo dhinacyo badan taabanaya, uuna ku jiro gabay oo tiriyey abwaanka.

calaa kulli xaal

How do you say 'anyway' in Somali?


Calaa kulli xaal, lacag ma lihi, marka ma tegi karo
Anyway, I don't have any money so I can't go.

'Calaa kulli xaal' is an Arabic phrase. It literally means ' in any case'.  


Calaa kulli xaal, meel fog ma aha, marka waad lugeeyn kartaa.
Anyway, it's not far, so you can walk.

Calaa kulli xaal, aabahaa weeyey, marka waa inaad la hadal.
Anyway, he is your father so you should talk to him.

Calaa kulli xaal, waan isku dayayaa.
Anyway, I will try it out.

Ciid mubarak

'Ciid mubarak' means 'Happy Eid'

You can also say 'Ciid Wanaagsan'

'Ciid' is also a verb

'Dadka muslimiinta ayaa maanta si weyn ugu ciiday munaasabada Ciidul Adxa'

The Muslim people today celebrated in a big way, the occasion of Eid ul Adha

BBC Article - Mo Farah is victorious once again

Mo Faarax ayaa gaarey guushii labaad ee Olympics-ka London ka dib markii uu ku guuleystey orodka 5,000 oo mitir.

Mo Farah achieved a second victory at the London Olympics after winning the 5000m race.

Waa billadii labaad oo dahab ee uu helo Mo Faarax iyadoo uu horey ugu guuleystay orodka 10,000 oo mitir.

It is the second gold medal Mo Farah has got since he won the 10,000 metre race before. 

Mo Farax ayaa sheegey in uu ku faraxsan yahay guushani, “Waan daalanaa markaan ka qeyb-galayey orodka, kolkii aan arkey inaan ugu horreeyo, waxaan ogaa inaan ku qasbanahay inaan guuleysta,” ayuu yiri.

Mo Farah said that he is happy with this victory, "I was tired when I entered the race, 

Faysal Farax oo orodka walaalkii ka daawanayey Televishonka magaalada Wajaale ee xadka Somaliland iyo Ethiopia, aya sheegey in uu ku faraxsanyahay guusha walaalkiis uu gaaray.

Faysal Farah, who was watching his brother's race on television in Wajaale on the Somaliland/Ethiopia border, said that he is happy with the victory his brother achieved.

Faysal waxaa uu sheegey in uu ka soo safrey meel aan sidaa ugu fogeyn Wajaale si uu Telefishonka ugu daawado orodka walaalkiis.

Faysal said that he travelled as far as Wajaale in order to watch his brother's race on television.

Mo Farax ama Maxamad Farax, waxaa uu ka soo tegay Soomaaliya isagoo ay da’diisu yar tahay, waxaa uuna u ordaa dalka Britain.

Mo Farah or Mohammed Farah left Somalia at a young age, and runs for Britain.

Soomaali badan oo ku nool Kenya iyo Soomaaliya aya soo dhaweeyay guusha Mo Farax.

Many Somalis who live in Kenya and Somalia welcomed Mo Farah's victory.

Sentence practice

Wuxuu ordaa - He runs
Wuxuu u ordaa - He runs for...
Wuxuu u ordaa Britain - He runs for Britain

Soomaali badan - Many Somalis
Soomaali badan oo ku nool - Many Somalis who live in
Soomaali badan oo ku nool Kenya iyo Soomaaliya - Many Somalis who live in Kenya and Somalia
Soomaali badan oo ku nool Kenya iyo Soomaaliya ayaa soo dhaweeyay
Many Somalis who live in Kenya and Somalia welcomed
Soomaali badan oo ku nool Kenya iyo Soomaaliya ayaa soo dhaweeyay guusha Mo Farah
Many Somalis who live in Kenya and Somalia welcomed the victory of Mo Farah.

Plurals of Somali Nouns

In English, it is generally very easy to make a plural of a noun. Most of the time, you just add 's',

book > books
house > houses
girl > girls

Occasionally there are nouns for whom there are different ways to make a plural,

woman > women
mouse > mice
tooth > teeth

Sometimes, the word is the same when it is single and plural,
 
fish > fish
sheep > sheep

Somali is the same. Most nouns are made plural by adding 'o' or 'yo' to the end.


kab (shoe) > kabo (shoes)
naag (woman) > naago (women)
dhinac(side) > dhinacyo(sides)
nacas(idiot) > nacasyo(idiots)

Some others are made plural by reduplicating the last consonant of the word,

af(language) > afaf(languages)
miis(table) > miisas(tables)
nin(man, *originally 'nim') > niman(men)
san(nose) > sanan(noses)

Some other nouns are made plural by adding 'oyin',

hooyo(mother) > hooyooyin(mothers)
magaalo(town) > magaalooyin(towns)
waddo(road) > waddooyin(roads)
sheeko(story) > sheekooyin(stories)

Some other nouns are the same in singular and plural mode, but pronounced differently,

ey(dog) > ey(dogs)
Soomaali(Somali) > Soomaali(Somalis)
balli(pond) > balli(ponds)


How can you know when to use the right plural? Somali has seven 'declensions'. A 'declension' is just a group of nouns that share the same characteristics like spelling, no. of syllables, tone, etc. Once you can recognise the declension, you will know how to make the plural and also how to pronounce it. I will show the seven declensions of Somali nouns soon inshallah.