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.

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