Difference between revisions of "Language/Somali/Grammar/Question-Words"
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* [[Language/Somali/Grammar/Common-Adverbs|Common Adverbs]] | * [[Language/Somali/Grammar/Common-Adverbs|Common Adverbs]] | ||
* [[Language/Somali/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] | * [[Language/Somali/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]] | ||
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==Sources== | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_grammar Somali grammar - Wikipedia] | |||
* [http://learn101.org/somali_grammar.php Somali Grammar | LEARN101.ORG] | |||
* [http://morgannilsson.se/BeginnersSomaliGrammar.pdf BEGINNER'S SOMALI GRAMMAR] | |||
{{Somali-Page-Bottom}} | {{Somali-Page-Bottom}} | ||
Revision as of 22:30, 22 March 2023
As a Somali language teacher with 20 years of experience, one of the essential parts of learning Somali grammar is to understand how to form questions. In this lesson, we will explore what question words are and how to use them in Somali. Knowing the right question words is essential to hold conversations and acquire more information from others.
What are Question Words?
Question words, also called interrogative words, are words that are used to ask questions. These words help us to know specific information from others. In Somali, the six most common question words are:
- Maxaa - What
- Meesha - Where
- Markaa - When
- Maxay - Who
- Sababta - Why
- Sida - How
We use these words to ask questions related to time, place, thing, people, reason and manner. In Somali, questions can be formed by changing the word order in a sentence or by adding a question word at the beginning of the sentence.
Forming Questions
In Somali, to form a question, all we have to do is to replace the assertion word (verb) with a question word at the beginning and add the assertion word at the end of the sentence. The assertion word is the word that expresses the action done in the sentence. Here's a simple example:
- Assertion: Waxaan arki doonaa - I will see
- Question: Maxaa ku arki doonaa? - What will you see?
As you can see, the question word 'Maxaa' replaces the assertion word 'Waxaan' at the beginning of the sentence, and the assertion word 'arki doonaa' comes at the end of the sentence.
Let's take another example:
- Assertion: Ciidamada Sudan ayaa sheegtay in ay kacdoonayaan xeebaha Soomaaliya - The Sudanese army said they would invade Somali waters
- Question: Meesha ayaa loo kacay xeebaha Soomaaliya? - Where did they invade Somali waters?
Note that here, the question word 'Meesha' is added at the beginning of the sentence and replaces the assertion word 'Ciidamada Sudan ayaa sheegtay', and the assertion word 'kacdoonayaan xeebaha Soomaaliya' comes at the end of the sentence.
Let's explore the six Somali question words in more detail.
Maxaa
'Maxaa' is an interrogative word that means 'What' in English. We use this word to ask about things, events, and activities. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Maxaa jira? | Mah-ha jeer-ah? | What is there? |
| Maxaa ka dhacay? | Mah-ha kah dhah-jay? | What happened? |
| Maxaa igu dhacay? | Mah-ha i-goo dhah-jay? | What happened to me? |
Meesha
'Meesha' is an interrogative word that means 'Where' in English. We use this word to ask about places or locations. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Meesha xafiiska? | May-sha haa-fisk-ah? | Where is the office? |
| Meesha waa ku stayd? | May-sha waa koo stayd? | Where do you live? |
| Meesha ayaa xiriirka loo qaaday? | May-sha ayaa hee-ree-ir-ka loo kaad-ay? | Where did they make the appointment? |
Markaa
'Markaa' is an interrogative word that means 'When' in English. We use this word to ask about time and events. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Markaa ka hor? | Mark-ah kah hor? | When was that? |
| Markaa badan? | Mark-ah bahd-ahn? | When will that be? |
| Markaa la qabto? | Mark-ah laa kab-toh? | When will it end? |
Maxay
'Maxay' is an interrogative word that means 'Who' in English. We use this word to ask about people. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Maxay taasi yaqaan? | Mah-hay tah-see yah-kaan? | Who said that? |
| Maxay aad ahayd? | Mah-hay aad a-hayd? | Who were you? |
| Maxay ka soo baxday? | Mah-hay kah soh bakh-die? | Who sent you? |
Sababta
'Sababta' is an interrogative word that means 'Why' in English. We use this word to ask about the reason behind an action. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sababta aad u sheegtay? | Sah-bab-tah aa-duu sheeg-tay? | Why did you say that? |
| Sababta haddii aan kaa soo hadalnayn? | Sah-bab-tah had-dii aan kaa soh hadal-nyn? | Why did I talk to you? |
| Sababta ayaaba dhiirigelin karta? | Sah-bab-tah aaa-ya-bah dheee-ree-gel-in kart-ah? | Why are you laughing? |
Sida
'Sida' is an interrogative word that means 'How' in English. We use this word to ask in what manner or how something happened. Here are some examples:
| Somali | Pronounciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sida aad u soo bandhigay? | See-dah aa-duu soo ban-dhi-gahy? | How did you put it together? |
| Sida lagu dayacan karo? | See-dah lah-gu day-ah-jan kaar-o? | How can it be solved? |
| Sida aad u socotaa awrkaas? | Seen-dah aa-duu soh-cot-aa awrk-as? | How do you decorate your room? |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Somali question words are important to hold meaningful conversations with Somali speakers. With this lesson's help, you should now have a clear understanding of how to form questions in Somali and what question words to use in different circumstances. Keep practicing and try to use these question words in everyday conversation. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become speaking Somali. Good luck in your Somali language learning journey!
Related Lessons
- Future Tense
- Adjective Agreement
- Nouns
- How to Use Be
- 0 to A1 Course
- Adverbs
- Give your Opinion
- Time
- Common Adverbs
- Pronouns
Sources