Language/Somali/Vocabulary/Family

Somali Vocabulary - Family

In today's lesson, we will learn some basic Somali words related to family.

Main Terms

Below is a table with some of the most common words related to family in Somali.

Word in Somali	Pronunciation	Translation in English
Aabbe	[ˈaːbbe]	Father
Hooyo	[ˈhoːjo]	Mother
Walaal	[waˈlaːl]	Brother
Walaash	[waˈlaʃ]	Sister
Wiil	[wiːl]	Son
Gabar	[gaˈbar]	Daughter
Ninka	[ˈniŋka]	Man
Haween	[haˈweːn]	Woman
Aabe iyo hooyo	[ˈaːbe iːjo ˈhoːjo]	Parents
Walaalo	[waˈlaːlo]	Siblings
Ilmo	[ˈiːlmo]	Children
Qoys	[qɔjs]	Family

Dialogue

Let's practice using these words in a dialogue.

• Person 1: Maxaa magacaaga? (mah-ha mah-gah-kah-ah?) – What is your name?
• Person 2: Magacaan waa Cabdi. (mah-gah-kahn wah cahb-dee) – My name is Cabdi.
• Person 1: Ma adigu aad tahay aabe? (mah ah-dee-goo ah-dee tah-hay ah-beh?) – Are you the father?
• Person 2: Maya, anigu waan wiil. (mah-yah ah-nee-goo wahn wi-eel) – No, I am a son.
• Person 1: Maxaa magaca hooyadaada? (mah-ha mah-gah-kah hoh-yah-dah-ah?) – What is your mother's name?
• Person 2: Magaca hooyadeyda waa Faadumo. (mah-gah-kah hoh-yah-dey-dah wah fah-ah-doo-moh) – My mother's name is Faadumo.
• Person 1: Ma adigu aad tahay walaal? (mah ah-dee-goo ah-dee tah-hay wah-lah-ahl?) – Are you a brother?
• Person 2: Maya, anigu waan gabar. (mah-yah ah-nee-goo wahn gah-bar) – No, I am a daughter.
• Person 1: Maxaa magaca qoyskaaga? (mah-ha mah-gah-kah kohys-kah-ah?) – What is your family's name?
• Person 2: Magaca qoyskeena waa Xasan. (mah-gah-kah kohys-keh-nah wah hah-sahn) – Our family's name is Xasan.

Related Lessons

• Animals
• Days of the Week
• Drinks
• Family and Relatives
• Languages
• Offering or asking for help
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Weather
• Colors
• Feelings and Emotions