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Somali phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

You can check the original Wikivoyage article Here

    Somali (Af Soomaali) is the official language of the Eastern African country Somalia.

    Pronunciation Guide

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    Vowels

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    a
    as in pat if short (a) but as in father if long (aa)
    e
    as in pet if short (e) but as in paid if long (ee)
    i
    as in sit if short (i) but as in seat if long (ii)
    o
    as in cot if short (o) but as in coat if long (oo)
    u
    as in put if short (u) but as in shoot if long (uu)


    Note that the general difference in length of vowels is important because otherwise words could get mixed up and it could end up in great confusion.

    Consonants

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    b
    as in box
    d
    as in dog
    g
    as in get
    h
    as in hat
    j
    as in jet
    k
    as in kick
    l
    as in let
    m
    as in mat
    n
    as in net
    r
    trilled as in Spanish
    s
    as in sit
    sh
    as in shut
    t
    as in ten
    w
    as in well
    y
    as in yet

    Note that the 'doubling' of consonants is also very important not to get confused. A doubled consonant is pronounced in both syllables whereas a single consonant is pronounced in one syllable.

    Also note the following complicated pronunciations.

    dh
    Can be viewed as flapped d or r depending on the speaker - either way you'll get it right. Set your mouth to pronounce as normal d or r, but then curl your tongue right up so that the bottom touches the top part of your mouth. As you try you'll feel your tongue flapping forward.
    x
    It's more of an emphantic version of h. Take the exhaling sound you make when you've just burnt your mouth after taking a sip of boiling hot soup, push it right back into the very back of your mouth, making sure your tongue also goes back and that should be a good approximation.
    c
    If you follow the same pronunciation rules for x, with the tongue and back of the mouth all pressed up against the back of the throat then simply change the hiss of the h to a sound using your vocal cords. If you're then sounding if you being choked then that's it. Hint: Think of c as a vowel modifier and if listening to a native speaker, note how it changes ("pharyngealizes") the vowel in its vicinity, sending half the sound up the nose.
    q
    It's pronounced like a k but right back in the mouth at the throat end, in the same area as c and x. Imagine you've got a marble in the back of the throat and that you're bouncing it using only the glottis and make a k sound at the same time.
    kh
    It's the rasping ch in Scottish loch and German ach. It's also pronounced like the Spanish jota.
    '
    It's what's called the glottal stop. You simply close the glottis at the very back of the mouth/top of throat, and then release the built-up air. The result is a light uh sound with a very slight grunt just before it. Although it's not written, it occurs in the conversational speech of nearly all English speakers, being most noticeable in the pronunciation of words like bottle as 'bo'el' by many Londoners.

    Phrase List

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    Basics

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    Hello.
    salaam alaykum
    How are you?
    sidee tahay?
    Fine, thanks, and you?
    waan wanaagsanahay, mahadsanid, adiguna?
    What is your name?
    magacaa (mah-gah-'ah)
    My name is ______ .
    magacay waa ___ (MAH-gah-IGH wah _____ .)
    Nice to meet you.
    kulanti wanaagsan
    Please.
    fadlan (FAHD-lahn)
    Thank you.
    mahadsanid (ma-HAD SAN-eed)
    You're welcome.
    adaa mudan ( )
    Yes.
    haa (hah)
    No.
    maya (MY-ah)
    Excuse me. (getting attention)
    iga raali ahow ( )
    Excuse me. (begging pardon)
    . ( )
    I'm sorry.
    Raali ahow/noqo.
    Goodbye
    nabad galyo (nab-ad GEL-yaw)
    Goodbye (informal)
    macasalaamo. (MAH-'ah-sal-LAM-aw)
    I can't speak Somali [well].
    [ ]. ( [])
    Do you speak English?
    Ingiriis ma ku hadasha?
    Is there someone here who speaks English?
    Qof ingiriiska kuhadla majooga halkan?
    Help me!
    I caawi! (!)
    Look out!
    iska jir
    Good morning.
    subax wanaagsan (sob-A-h wan-ax-san)
    Good afternoon
    Galab wanaagsan
    Good evening.
    Fiidnimo wanaagsan
    Good night.
    habeen wanaagsan (hab-EEN wan-ax-san)
    Good night (to sleep)
    Habeen wanaagsan.
    I don't understand you!.
    Kuma fahmin adiga!
    Where is the toilet?
    Musqusha/Suuliga aawey?

    Problems

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    Numbers

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    0 - eber

    1 - hal/kow

    2 - labo

    3 - saddex

    4 - afar

    5 - shan

    6 - lix

    7 - toddobo

    8 - sideed

    9 - sagaal

    10 - toban

    11- kow iyo toban

    12- labo iyo toban

    20 - labaatan

    21 - kow iyo labaatan

    30 - soddon

    40 - afarton

    50 - konton

    60 - lixdan

    70 - toddobaatan

    80 - siddeetan

    90 - sagaashan

    100 - boqol

    200 - labo boqol

    1000 - kun

    5000 - shan kun

    10000 - toban kun

    100000 - boqol kun

    500000 - shan boqolo kun

    1000000 - milyen

    1000000000 - bilyan

    Time

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    Morning- Subax 10-11AM- Barqo Afternoon- Duhur Evening- Casar Sunset- Maqrib Evening: fiid Night- Habeen 8-10PM- Cisha Midnight- Saqdadhaxe Early Morning (5-6 AM)- Anoor

    Days

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    Monday- Isnin Tuesday- Talado Wednesday- Arbaco Thursday- Qamis Friday- Jamco Saturday- Sabti Sunday- Axad

    Months

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    January =Bilkowaad/Toddob/janaayo

    February =Xigto/Fuushane/febraayo

    March =saddexa/Gu'soor/maarso

    Abril =Abraar/Samuulad/Abriil

    May = Riyaale/Dirir/meey

    Jun =Idaale/Diracgood/juun

    July =carfoon/luuliyo/laxadhaqe/julaayo

    August = kutuba/samalaho/Agoosto

    Septembar =dhaafa/kalahaan/sebteenbar

    OCtobar = nasteexo/Dambarsame/oktoober

    November =Asli/Balqaad/nofeenbar

    December =Cifadda/lixkor/Diseenbar.

    Writing time and date

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    Colors

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    White- Cadaan (A-daan) Black- Madow Green- Cagar (Agar) Red- Gadud Yellow- Jale Blue- Baluug Pink- Basali

    ===Transportation=== Gaadiid

    ====Bus and train==== Gaadiid Dadweyne iyo Tareenka

    Directions

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    North = Waqooyi          
    South = Koonfur 
    West  = Galbeed
    East  = Bari
    

    Taxi

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    Lodging

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    Money

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    Money = Lacag / beeso Dollar = Doolar Euro = Yuuro/Yuurow Frank = Farank

    Eating

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    Eat /Cun --Wash/Dhaq your hands/gacmahaaga-- Breakfast = Quraac/Qureec === Lunch = Qado === Dinner = Casho ===

    Bars

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    Shopping

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    Driving

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    Authority

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