Waxaan ku noolahay Ingriiska

Waxaan ku noolahay Ingriiska - I live in the U.K.
Waxaad ku nooshahay Mareykanka - You live in the U.S.
Wuxuu ku noolahay Talyaaniga - He lives in Italy
Waxay ku nooshahay Sweden - She lives in Sweden
Waxaanu ku noolnahay Faransiiska - We live in France
Waxeynu ku noolnahay Spain - We live in Spain
Waxaad ku nooshihiin Itoobiya - You live in Ethiopia
Waxay ku noolyihiin  Sacuudiga - They live in Saudi Arabia

Xaggee baad ku nooshahay? - Where do you live?

Sabtiga iyo Axadda maxaad sameeysey?

Sabtiga iyo Axadda, maxaad sameeysey?

What did you do on the weekend?

Sabti(Saturday)

Aroortii, tobankii ilaa laba iyo tobankii, waxaan sameeyey homeworkkayga. 

Marka, saddexdii ilaa lixdii shaneemo baan tegay oo filin daawaday.

Marka, toddobadii makhaayad baan tegay oo casheeyey,

Axad(Sunday)

Aroortii, kow iyo tobankii ilaa laba iyo tobankii tennis baan ciyaarey. 

Marka, labadii ilaa afartii dukaamada baan tegay oo dhar iibsadey.

Marka, sideediii waxaan sameeyey homeworkkayga.

kowda - 1 o'clock
labada - 2 o'clock
saddexda - 3 o'clock
afarta - 4 o'clock
shanta - 5 o'clock
lixda - 6 o'clock
toddobada - 7 o'clock
siddeedda - 8 o'clock
sagaasha - 9 o'clock
tobanka - 10 o'clock
kow iyo tobanka - 11 o'clock
laba iyo tobanka - 12 o'clock

Maxaa yaallaa/taallaa - What is there?

Maxaa yaallaa? - What is there?
 (You can use this at a restaurant when a waiter wants to take your order)
Waxaa yaallaa... - There is...


For masculine nouns, use 'yaallaa',

Koob ma yaallaa? - Is there a cup?
Haa wuu yaallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma yaallo - No there isn't
 
Buug ma yaallaa? - Is there a book?
Haa wuu yaallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma yaallo - No there isn't

Computer ma yaallaa? - Is there a computer?
Haa wuu yaallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma yaallo - No there isn't

Telefoon ma yaallaa? - Is there a telephone?
Haa wuu yaallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma yaallo - No there isn't

Telefishan ma yaallaa? - Is there a television?
Haa wuu yaallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma yaallo - No there isn't


For feminine nouns, use 'taallaa'




Musqul ma taallaa? - Is there a toilet?
Haa wey taallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma taallo - No there isn't

Cunto ma taallaa? - Is there food?
Haa wey taallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma taallo - No there isn't

Sariir ma taallaa? - Is there a bed?
Haa wey taallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma taallo - No there isn't


Makhaayad ma taallaa? - Is there a restaurant?
Haa wey taallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma taallo - No there isn't


Shaneemo ma taallaa? - Is there a cinema?
Haa wey taallaa - Yes, there is.
Mey, ma taallo - No there isn't




Liquids like water (biyo) and milk (caano) are treated as plural nouns, use 'yaallaan'.


Biyo ma yaallaan? - Is there water? (Literally:'Are there water?')
Haa, wey yaallaan - Yes, there is 
Mey, ma yaallaan - No, there isn't 

Caano ma yaallaan? - Is there milk?
Haa, wey yaallaan - Yes, there is 
Mey, ma yaallaan - No, there isn't

Dhiig ma yaallaan? - Is there blood?
Haa, wey yaallaan - Yes, there is 
Mey, ma yaallaan - No, there isn't

Guriga Fadumo

Guriga Fadumo hortiisa
In front of Fadumo's house

'Sawir' means 'to draw'

Sawir gurigaaga - Draw your house
Sawir dugsigaaga - Draw your school
Sawir hooyadaa - Draw your mother

Verb practice - 'rab' to want

Maxaan rabaa? - What do I want?
Maxaad rabtaa? - What do you want?
Muxuu rabaa? - What does he want?
Maxay rabtaa? - What does she want?
Maxaanu rabnaa? - What do we (excl.) want?
Maxeynu rabnaa? - What do we (incl.) want?
Maxaad rabtaan - What do  you (pl.) want?
Maxay rabaan - What do they want?


Laba saxan oo bariis ah baan rabaa - I want two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah baad rabtaa - You want two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah buu rabaa - He wants two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah bey rabtaa - She wants two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah baannu rabnaa - We (excl.) want two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah beynu rabnaa - We (incl.) want two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah baad rabtaan - You (pl.) want two plates of rice
Laba saxan oo bariis ah bey rabaan - They want two plates of rice

Or, you can say

Waxaan rabaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
I want two plates of rice 
Waxaad rabtaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
 You want two plates of rice
Wuxuu rabaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
 He wants two plates of rice
Waxay rabtaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
 She wants two plates of rice
Waxaanu rabnaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
 We(excl.) want two plates of rice
Waxeynu rabnaa laba saxan oo bariis ah
 We(incl.) want two plates of rice
Waxaad rabtaan laba saxan oo bariis ah
 You(pl) want two plates of rice
Waxay rabaan laba saxan oo bariis ah      
 They want two plates of rice

Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Anigaa/Anaa rabaa! - I want it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Adigaa/Adaa rabtaa! - You want it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Isagaa rabaa! - He wants it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Iyadaa rabtaa! - She wants it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Annagaa rabnaa! - We want it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Innagaa rabnaa! - We want it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Idinkaa rabtaan! - You want it!
Yaa rabaa? - Who wants it?
Iyagaa rabaan! - They want it!    

Anigaa = Aniga + baa
Adigaa = Adiga + baa
etc...
 

Xawaash - Somali spices

'Xawaash' means 'spices' in Somali. It's a very important part of Somali cuisine. 


Dadka Soomaaliyeed, markay wax karinayaan, marmar way isticmaalaan xawaash.
When Somalis cook something, they often use spices.


Markay shaah karinayaan, marmar xawaash bey ku daraan.
When they make tea, they often put spices in it.


Shaah noocan ah oo 'Shaah xawaash leh' baa la yiraahdaa.
This type of tea is called 'Spicy tea'.


 Daawo videoga oo fiiri sida loo sameeyo xawaash.
Watch the video and see how Somali spices are made.

nooc - kind/type

'nooc' means 'type' or 'kind'

noocan - this type 

Haddaad dhibaato noocan ah ku haysato, la xiriir dhaktarkaaga! - If you have this type of problem, contact your doctor!

noocaas - that type

Cuntada noocaas ah aad baan u necebahay - I really hate that kind of food

noocee? - Which type?


Baabuurka noocee ah baad dooneysaa? - What type of car do you want?

Xaggee baa laga keenaa? - From where are they brought?

Khudradda xaggee baa laga keenaa? - Where do the vegetables come from?
Khudradda koonfurta baa laga keenaa - The vegetables come from the south

Sonkorta noocan oo kale xaggee baa laga keenaa? - Where does this type of sugar come from?
Sonkorta Brasil baa laga keenaa  - It comes from Brazil

Buugagga xaggee baa laga keenaa? - Where are these books brought from?
Buugagga Yurub baa laga keenaa  - These books are brought from Europe

'laga' =     'la'              +        'ka'
                   PASSIVE                'FROM'

Awoowahey/Ayeeyadey

'Kuwani' means 'these' in Somali.

Awoowe - grandfather
Awoowahey - my grandfather
Awoowahaa - your grandfather
 
Ayeeyo - grandmother
Ayeeyadey - my grandmother
Ayeeyadaa - your grandmother


Kani waa Awoowahey - This is my grandfather
Tani waa Ayeeyadey - This is my grandmother


Kuwani waa Awoowahey iyo Ayeeyadey - These are my grandfather and grandmother

Guriga gudihiisa - Inside the house

Maxaad ku arki kartaa sawirka?

Guriga Faadumo

Halkani waa guriga Faadumo. Guriga Faadumo ma dariishad leeyahay? Ma albaab leeyahay? Ma beer(garden) leeyahay? Qoyska Faadumo maxay sameynayaan?

Ha iska badin! - Don't overdo it!

Miyaad garanaysaa sida loo yiraahdaa af Soomaali ' Don't ....'


Ha + cun + in      = Ha cunin - Don't eat 
Ha + cab + in      = Ha cabbin - Don't drink
Ha + bood + in    = Ha boodin - Don't jump
Ha + kari + in      = Ha karinnin - Don't cook (Group 2 verb)
Ha + guurso + in = Ha guursannin - Don't marry (Group 3 verb)
etc...


If you want to say 'Don't eat/drink/work too much', you should use the phrase 'Ha iska badin'


On its own it means 'Don't overdo it'


Cuntada ha iska badin - Don't eat too much (lit: 'Don't overdo the food')
Shaqada ha iska badin - Don't work too much (lit: 'Don't overdo the work')
Qosolka ha iska badin - Don't laugh too much

Beer iyo basal - A Traditional Somali Breakfast

Dadka Soomaaliyeed marmar waxay ku quraacdaan beer iyo basal.
Somalis sometimes eat liver and onions for breakfast.


Miyaad dooneysaan inaad barataan sidii loo sameeyo?
Do you want to know how it is made?


Halkan waad arki kartaan sidii loo sameeyo.
Here you can see how it is made.

la (passive) - Brief review

Remember that 'la' makes the sentence passive,


Waan cunay - I ate it

Waa la cunay - It was eaten


'La' combines with prepositions 'u', 'la', 'ku', 'ka'


la + u   =  'loo' for someone/something
la + ku = 'lagu' by means of something
la + la  =  'lala' with someone/something
la + ka = 'laga' from/out of something


Yaa dhisey? - Who built it?

Yaa loo dhisey? - For whom was it built?



Remember that to say 'why' in Somali is 'Maxaa...u'. This can be combined with the passive 'la', to make passive 'Why?' questions.

Maxaa la cunay? - What was eaten?
Maxaa loo cunay? - Why was it eaten?


Maxaa la keenay? - What was brought?
Maxaa loo keenay? = Why was it brought?


Maxaa la dhigey? - What was it taught?
Maxaa loo dhigey? - Why was it taught?

Bariis Udgoon

'Bariis' means 'rice'. 'Udgoon' means 'fragrant'. When something smells nice, you say 'Udgoon!'

Dadka Soomaaliyeed bariis aad bey u jeclihiin!
Somali people love rice a lot!


Aynu baranno sidee loo kariyaa!
Let's learn how it's made!

P.S.: For some strange reason Somalis love to eat their meals with bananas. I think only Somalis do this. 

Vocab

dhaq - to wash (a pot, rice, utensils, etc)
yaanyo (ta)- tomatoes
basal(ta) - onions
xawaash(ka) - spices
qorfe(ha) - cinnamon
shub - to pour

Aynu sameeyno sambuus! Let's make samosas!

Sambuus is the Somali name for samosa. Videogan wuxuu ku tusayaa sidii loo sameeyo sambuus( This video shows you how to make samosas)

P.S. I think traditionally, Somalis didn't eat beef. Usually sambuus is made with lamb, mutton.

Sabaayad sidii loo sameeyo - video

This is a video that shows you how to make sabaayad.

Sabaayad is like Indian chapati.

Sabaayad aad baan u jeclahay!

Vocab

ku dar - add
bur - flour
saliid - oil (for cooking)
sonkor - sugar
daqiiq - minute(s)
bac - bag
u qaybi - to divide
dabool - to cover (a pot or food etc)

Shakespeare : Sonnet 12

Abdullahi Botan took part in the largest ever poetry festival in London’s Southbank Centre, which brought together up to 200-plus poets who represented the Olympic nations. Thousands of nominations were whittled down to one poet per country. Botan was selected to represent Somalia.

 When I do count the clock that tells the time,
Goortaan xisaabiyo waqtiga yaan, garan waxaan joogo
 
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
Iyo waxaan dharaar wacan arkoo, wahab-habeenowday, 
 
When I behold the violet past prime
Ubaxii is wadhay iyo markaan, eego wixii doorshay
 
And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white;
Oo waafi timo qurux madow, wahee! cadday-siiyey,
 
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves
Waqti bay dhirtuba waayi dhogor, iyo caleen waabta 
 
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
Waxay waayo’ weyliyo lo’duba, wiire kaga baydho,
 
And summer's green all girded up in sheaves
Wixii tacab xagaagii la guray iyo, qamadi waaxiishey
 
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
Wax is jiita baqal weyn ku raran baa, muuq gadh-waayeel leh.
 
of thy beauty do I question make,
Waxse aan walaaley is warin, qurux wacnaantaadan 
 
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Waxa xiga inuu yahay gabow sidii, Waaqla' omasoore, 
 
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
Wanaagsane waxgarad baa aqbala, inuusan waarayne
 
And die as fast as they see others grow;
Wareegtadana uu dhiman’ dhashuna, noqon dad waaweyne
 
And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
Wedkuna difaac maleh wax celin, waran Azraa’iile!
 
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
Warasiyo carruur inaad dhashoo waxaan ahayn mooyi!

Somali interpreter/translator vacancy at the Red Cross

There is a vacancy available at the International Red Cross for a Somali interpreter. The details are here,
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/job/current-vacancies/fd-som-interp.htm

I think that, for reasons of neutrality, ethnic Somalis are not allowed to apply for the post. So this is a good opportunity for those non-Somalis who have gone to the trouble of learning this obscure language.

Adjectives - past tense

How do you say ' I am fine/Ok' in Somali? 


Waan ladnahay/fiicanahay/wanaagsanahay


How do you say 'I was fine'?


...
You chop off the 'ahay' at the end of the word and add 'aa'


Waan ladnaa/ Waan fiicnaa*/Waan wanaagsanaa - I was fine


*I think 'fiican' could be a special case. You have to remove the 'a' before the 'n' as well.


You use this for sentences like 'I am/was beautiful', 'I am/was tall', 'I am/was rich'


Waan     + adjective + ahay  >      Waan  + adjective + aa
Waad     + adjective + tahay >      Waad  + adjective + ayd
Wuu       + adjective + yahay >    Wuu    + adjective + aa
Wey       + adjective  + tahay >    Wey    + adjective + ayd
Waannu + adjective  + nahay > Waannu + adjective + ayn
Weynu   + adjective  + nahay > Weynu  + adjective  + ayn
Waad     + adjective   + tihiin >  Waad    + adjective  + aydeen
Wey       + adjective   + yihiin>  Wey      + adjective  + aayeen


Waan dhuubanahay - I am slim  >   Waan dhuubanaa - I was slim
Waan guruxsanahay - I am beautiful > Waan guruxsanaa - I was beautiful
Waan buuranahay >  Waan buuranaa - I was fat
Waan dheerahay - I am tall > Waan dheeraa - I was tall