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.

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

Ramadan kariim - Happy Ramadan

Ramadan kariim
Happy Ramadan


Dadka Muslimiinta wey soomaan bisha Ramadan.
Muslims fast the month of Ramadan.


Qorraxbax ilaa qorraxdhac wey soomaan.
They fast from sunrise to sunset.
 
Qorraxdhac wey cunaan cunto oo 'afur' la tiraahdo.
At sunset, they eat food which is called 'afur'.  

Halkan ka daawo video oo idinka tusayaa sida loo sameeyo 'mashmash'. Mashmash waa cunto lagu cunaa bisha Ramadan

Watch here a video that shows you how to make 'mashmash'. Mashmash is a meal that is eaten in Ramadan.

Kani/Tani waa...

Kani waa/Tani waa... - This is...

If you are talking about a masculine noun, then use 'Kani', for feminine nouns 'Tani'


Kani waa miis - This is a table
Kani waa Cabdi walaalkiis - This is Abdi's brother
Kani waa Faadumo dukaankeed - This is Faadumo's shop


Tani waa magaalo Jowhar la tiraahdo - This is a town called Jowhar
Tani waa Muna hooyadeed - This is Muna's mother
Tani waa Jamal shimbirtiis - This is Jamal's bird

'Isku aaadi' means 'join up to each other'. You have to join the pictures with the statements.

Malawax - Somali crêpes

Another great video from Xawaash.com. This is about 'malawax' which is the Somali version of crêpes or pancakes. Halkan ka daawo sida loo sameeyo 'malawax'(Watch here how 'malawax' is made).

Waan ilaalin doonaa - I will protect it

Muslimiin ilaalin doona kaniisadaha 


Muslims will protect the churches 


ilaali - to protect/look out for
ilaali caruurta! - look after the children!


ilaalin doonaa - will look after


karin doonaa - will cook

Waan karin doonaa bariis iyo hilib lo'aad - I will cook rice with beef

joojin doonaa - will stop

Waan joojin doonaa sigaarka - I will stop smoking


Type 1 verb - cun + i + doonaa = cuni doonaa
Type 2 verb - kari + n + doonaa = karin doonaa
Type 3 verb - guurso + an + doonaa = guursan doonaa


Muslimiinta Kenya ayaa sheegey inay dhisan doonaan guddiyo dhallinyaro ah oo ilaalo kaniisadaha.
The Muslims of Kenya said that they will assemble youth committees who will protect the churches.

Verb practice - doon (to want)

Waxaan dooneyaa inaan tago Baariis - I want to go to Paris
Waxaad dooneysaa inaad tagto  - You want...
Wuxuu dooneyaa inuu tago - He wants...
Waxay dooneysaa inay tagto - She wants...
Waxaanu dooneynaa inaanu tagno - We want...
Waxeynu dooneynaa inaanu tagno - We want...
Waxaad dooneysaan inaad tagtaan - You want...
Waxay dooneyaan inay tagaan - They want...


Aad baan u dooneyaa inaan tago Baariis - I really want to go to Paris
Aad baan u dooneyey inaan tago Baariis - I really wanted to go to Paris
Ma dooneyo inaan tago Baariis - I don't want to go to Paris

Maan dooneyn inaan tago Baariis - I didn't want to go to Paris
Maad dooneyn inaad tagto Baariis - He didn't want to go to Paris
Muu dooneyn inuu tago Baariis - He didn't want to go to Paris
Mey dooneyn inay tagto Baariis- She didn't want to go to Paris
Maannu dooneyn inaanu tagno Baariis - We didn't want to go to Paris
Meynu dooneyn inaanu tagno Baariis - We didn't want to go to Paris
Maad dooneyn inaad tagtaan Baariis - You didn't want to go to Paris
Mey dooneyn inay tagaan Baariis - They didn't want to go to Paris

xawaash.com

There is a website called xawaash.com.
I encourage you to visit it because they show you how traditional Somali dishes are made, and most of their video explain how to make the dishes in both Somali and English. So it is a good opportunity to learn cooking vocabulary. I have been linking some of their videos to this blog. Here are some basic phrases related to cuisine,


Waxaa loo baahanyahay... - What is needed is...
Wuxuu ku filan yahay 8 ilaa 10 qofood - It is sufficient for 8 to 10 people
Ku dar biyaha/caanaha/sonkorta - Add the water/milk/sugar
Waxaad isticmaali kartaa nooca hilibka aad jeceshahay - You can use the type of meat that you prefer

Muqmad - Beef jerky

Anigu Muqmad aad baan u necebahay - I really hate Muqmad.

Laakin Soomaalidu aad bey u jecelyihiin -

 But the Somalis really like it.

Markey sameeynayaan Muqmad, waxay isticmaalaan hilib lo'aad ama hilib geel.

When they make Muqmad, they use beef or camels' meat.

Daawo sida loo sameeyo.

Watch how it is made.

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'