Useful Phrases

Question 1

Immisa jir baad tahay?

Answer 1

How old are you?

Question 2

Sannadkee baad dhalatey?

Answer 2

In what year were you born?

Question 3

Waa immisa?

Answer 3

How many/much?

Question 4

Waxaan ahey…(sano) jir.

Answer 4

I am … (years) old.

Question 5

Waxaan dhashey sannadkii…

Answer 5

I was born in the year…

Question 6

waa imisadii?

Answer 6

what time is it? (northern dialect)

Question 7

waa meeqa saac?

or

meeqa saac waaye?

Answer 7

what time is it? (southern dialect)

Question 8

Xaggee bay musqushu ku taal?

Answer 8

Where is the bathroom located?

Question 9

Musqushu waa xaggee?

Answer 9

Where is the bathroom? (lit. “Bathroom is where?”)

Question 10

Adigaa mudan / Idinkaa mudan

Answer 10

You’re welcome / You’re all welcome

Question 11

fadlan ku soo celi

Answer 11

please repeat it

Question 12

Ma fahamtay/fahamteen?

Answer 12

Do you/(all) understand?

Question 13

laga yaabee

Answer 13

maybe

Question 14

tartiib u hadal

Answer 14

speak slowly

Question 15

nusa saace

Answer 15

break(lit. half an hour)

Question 16

alxamdulilah

Answer 16

“praise be to God”

Question 17

arxamakalaah

Answer 17

“God give you grace”

Question 18

waan ka xumahay

Answer 18

I’m sorry.

Question 19

Ma qaadan karnaa nusa saace?

Answer 19

Can we take a break?(lit. “to have can we a break”)

Question 20

sidee loo dhahaa…?

Answer 20

how do you say…?

Question 21

Magacaygu

Magaciisu waa…

Magaceedu

Answer 21

My

His name is …

Her

Question 22

waayahay

Answer 22

OK

Question 23

Waxaan ka imi…

Waxay ka timi…

Wuxuu ka yimi…

Answer 23

I am from…

She is from…

He is from…

Question 24

Xaggee baa deggentahay?

Answer 24

Where do you live?

Question 25

Mahadsanid

Answer 25

Thank you

Question 26

Maxaad haysaa?

Answer 26

What’s up?

Question 27

mushkilad ma aha

Answer 27

no problem

Question 28

Maxaan dhaha

Answer 28

What should I say?

(common filler phrase)

Question 29

Yaa ku xigga?

Answer 29

Who’s next?

Question 30

Aad baad u mahadsantahay.

Answer 30

Thank you very much.

Question 31

mar kale

Answer 31

again, another time

Question 32

Haye

Answer 32

Ok, Aye

{acknowledgement}

Question 33

…sow ma aha?

Answer 33

isn’t it, isn’t that so?

echo tagged on the end of questions, as in English

Question 34

calaacasha oo tin ka soo baxdo

Answer 34

(lit: “when the palm grows hair”)

refers to something that can’t happen; equivalent of “when pigs fly” in English.

Question 35

Waxaan kuu rajaynayaa caafimaad.

Answer 35

I hope you feel better. (lit. “I wish health for you.”)