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.

Intee le'eg... - How much/How long

Intee le'eg baad baranaysey af Soomaaliga? - How long have you been learning Somali?


Laba bilood baan baranayey af Soomaaliga - I have been learning Somali for two months


Intee le'eg buu joogayaa London? - How long is he staying in London?


Saddex toddobaad buu joogayaa - He is staying for three weeks


Cunto intee le'eg baad cuni kartaa? - How much food can you eat?


Cunto badan baan cuni karaa - I can eat a lot of food


 Muddo intee le'eg baan ku bogsan doonaa? - How long will it take me to recover?


Afar bilood - Four months