Language/Somali/Grammar/Common-Prepositions
As a Somali language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I am excited to help you learn the most common Somali prepositions and how to use them in sentences. Understanding how to use prepositions is essential to mastering Somali grammar and achieving fluency in the language. In this lesson, we will cover the most common prepositions used in Somali.
What are prepositions?
Before we delve into the common Somali prepositions, let's briefly discuss what prepositions are. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They indicate things like location, time, direction, and manner. Here are some examples of prepositions:
- With
- At
- On
- In
- From
In Somali, prepositions are placed before a noun or pronoun to show the relationship between that noun or pronoun and the rest of the sentence.
Common Somali Prepositions
Here are the most common Somali prepositions:
- Ilaa - Until/to
- Marka - When
- Kaddib/ Kudheceysa/ Dhawaan - After
- Ka - To
- Gudaha - Inside
- Horay - Before
- Koonfur - South of
- Kudhawaa - Beside
- Jidka - Under
- Midig - Middle of
- Laga soo - Around
- Ka baxsan - Near
Let's take a closer look at each preposition and some examples of how they are used in sentences.
Ilaa - Until/to
"Ilaa" means "until" or "to" in English. This preposition is used to indicate the endpoint of an action or a time period.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Waxaan arki doonaa filimka iibka ilaa sanadkan. | waan ar-ki doo-naa fil-im-ka iib-ka ilaa sa-naad-kan | I will watch the movie from the beginning to the end of the year. |
Aanu ku yimaado ilaa iyo maalintii shanaad. | Aa-nuu ku yi-maa-do ilaa iy-o maalin-tii shan-aad. | We will stay here until the seventh day. |
Marka - When
"Marka" means "when" in English. This preposition is used to indicate a point in time when a particular event takes place.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Marka cabashada la socdaa. | marka ca-bash-ada la soc-daa | When the food is ready. |
Aniga marka asaga tago. | a-nig-a marka aa-sa-ga ta-go | When I leave. |
Kaddib, Kudheceysa, Dhawaan - After
"Kaddib," "Kudheceysa," and "Dhawaan" all mean "after" in English. These prepositions are used to indicate the time after another event occurred.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Kaddibna waxaan ku dhuftay dukaamada. | Kad-dib-na waa-xaan ku dhuftay dukaa-ma-da | After that, I slammed the door. |
Waxaan lasoco kaddib markii aan ku kulmay cicilka. | waan la-so-co kad-dib markii aan ku kuul-may ci-cil-ka | I saw her after I met the girl. |
Ka - To
"Ka" means "to" in English. This preposition is used to indicate movement or direction toward a specific location or destination.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Waxaan ka soo jeedinayaa hawl kale. | waan ka soo jee-di-nayaa hawl ka-le | I am moving to another job. |
In ka baxsan, waxaan kuu dhiibaa. | in ka bax-san, waan kuu dhiibaa | I will find you if you are nearby. |
Gudaha - Inside
"Gudaha" means "inside" in English. This preposition is used to indicate location inside a particular object or building.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Ninkaas gudahooda ka jooga waa dhashay. | nin-kaas gudahoo-da ka joo-ga waa dha-shay | The man inside is sleeping. |
Waxaan ku dhacaa gudaha xafada. | waan kuu dhacaa gu-daha xa-fa-da | I am within the boundary of the market. |
Horay - Before
"Horay" means "before" in English. This preposition is used to indicate time before another event.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Horay in dhakhtarku kusoo dhameeyo, wuxuu ka dhexeeyaa gurigoodii. | ho-ray in dhakhtar-ku ku-soo dhamee-yo, wuxuu ka dhexeeyaa guri-goo-di-i | Before the doctor arrives, he unites with his family. |
Qofkii horay u awooddey dib u heshiiyaa. | qofkii ho-ray u a-wooddey dib u hes-hiiyaa | The person who prepares beforehand enjoys the outcome. |
Koonfur - South of
"Koonfur" means "south of" in English. This preposition is used to indicate location in the southern direction of another object or place.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Magaalada Garoowe waxaa ku yaala koonfurta dalka. | magaa-la-da garoo-we waxaa ku yaa-la koon-fur-taa dal-ka | The city of Garowe is located south of the country. |
Koonfurta arooska waxaa jiray caruur iyo walaashaa. | koon-fur-ta a-roos-ka waxaa ji-ray ca-ruur iyo wa-laa-shaa | South of the wedding, there were children and women. |
Kudhawaa - Beside
"Kudhawaa" means "beside" in English. This preposition is used to indicate proximity or location next to another object or place.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Wiilasha kudhawaa ayaa u gudbiyey xayeysiinta. | wiilasha ku-dha-waa ayaa u gud-bi-yey xa-yey-siin-ta | The nearby boys have thrown stones. |
Jirka kudhawaa ayaa dhashay baabuurta. | jir-ka ku-dha-waa ayaa dha-shay ba-buu-rta | The elderly man next to the bus has fallen. |
Jidka - Under
"Jidka" means "under" in English. This preposition is used to indicate location below another object or place.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Wiilasha jidka ayaa ka qoslaa saaran koraheyda. | wiilasha jid-ka ayaa ka qos-laa saaran kor-ah-ey-da | The boys under the bridge are walking together. |
Qofka jidka ayaa ku dhexmaray karuurta. | qof-ka jid-ka ayaa ku dhex-ma-ray ka-ruur-ta | The person hiding under the bed is hiding the children. |
Midig - Middle of
"Midig" means "middle of" in English. This preposition is used to indicate location at a point equidistant from boundaries or surrounding objects.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Dukaamada dalka waxaa lagu jiro midig. | dukaa-ma-da dal-ka waxaa la-gu ji-ro mi-dig | The market of the country is located in the middle. |
Wiilasha midig ayaa ku weyneyd baabuurta lagu qabtay. | wiilasha mi-dig ayaa ku wey-neyd baabuur-ta la-gu qab-tay | The boys in the middle have boarded the bus. |
Laga soo - Around
"Laga soo" means "around" in English. This preposition is used to indicate proximity or location near or surrounding another object or place.
Here are some examples:
Somali | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Laga soo dhacay gurigii ayaa ka dhigta taariikhdii aan duleelayn. | la-ga soo dha-cay gu-ri-gii ayaa ka dhi-gta taa-riikh-dii aan dulee-layn | The house around which the historical event took place is still there. |
Waxaan soo dhaweeyay muddo laga soo hadlaya qofkaas. | waan soo dhaw-ee-yay mud-do la-ga soo had-la-ya qof-kaas | I met the person around whom they were talking for some time. |
Ka baxsan - Near
"Ka baxsan" means "near" in English. This preposition is used to indicate proximity or location close to another object or place.
Here are some examples:
Related Lessons
- Adjectives
- How to Use Be
- Conjunctions
- Pronouns
- Question Words
- Negation
- 0 to A1 Course
- Adverbs
- Prepositions
- Adjective Agreement
Sources