English to SomaliOpen tool
Beginner lessonSource reviewedNative review pending

Somali greetings as real conversations.

Learn the greeting, the likely reply, and the situation together. This lesson uses documented course and institutional sources; uncertain web-only translations are left out.

Lesson 01

Start with wellbeing.

Everyday Somali greetings frequently ask about the other person's condition or whether things are peaceful.

Iska warran? [1]

How are you? / How are things?

Waan ladnahay.

I am well.

Ma nabad baa? [1]

Is it peace? / Is everything well?

Waa nabad.

It is peace. / Everything is well.

Adigu sideed tahay? [1]

And you, how are you?

Waan fiicanahay.

I am fine.

Lesson 02

Choose the greeting for the time.

Subax wanaagsan. [1]

Good morning

Maalin wanaagsan. [1]

Good day

Galab wanaagsan. [1]

Good afternoon

Habeen wanaagsan. [1]

Good night

Keep evening and night separate. Omniglot lists Fiid wanaagsan for Good evening and Habeen wanaagsan for Good night [4].

Lesson 03

Exchange names.

The beginner materials use a compact question, a subject-marked answer, and Barasho wanaagsan after the names are known.

  1. Ask

    Magacaa? [1]

    What is your name?

  2. Answer

    Magacaygu waa Yuusuf.

    My name is Yusuf.

  3. After the introduction

    Barasho wanaagsan. [2]

    Nice to meet you / Good to get acquainted.

Both checked beginner courses place Barasho wanaagsan after the name exchange.

Lesson 04

Separate two kinds of “welcome.”

Receiving a guest

Soomaaliya ku soo dhowoow. [1]

Welcome to Somalia.

Mahadsanid.

Thank you.

Responding to thanks

Aad baad u mahadsan tahay. [3]

Thank you very much.

Adaa mudan.

You're welcome.

Lesson 05

Leave with the right phrase.

Use a general farewell separately from a bedtime or night-time wish.

Nabadgelyo. [4]

Goodbye.

Habeen wanaagsan. [1]

Good night.

Nabad ku bari! [1]

Spend the night in peace. One person.

Nabad ku barya! [1]

Spend the night in peace. A group.

Lesson 06

Practice complete exchanges.

Meeting someone [1]

A
Iska warran?
How are you?
B
Waan nabad qabaa.
I have peace / I am doing well.
B
Adiguse?
And you?
A
Waan fiicanahay.
I am fine.

Introducing yourself [2]

A
Magacaa?
What is your name?
B
Magacaygu waa Cabdi. Adigana magacaa?
My name is Abdi. And what is your name?
A
Magacaygu waa Cali.
My name is Ali.
B
Caliyow, barasho wanaagsan.
Ali, nice to meet you.

Accuracy boundary

What this lesson leaves out.

Some common English prompts have several Somali versions across translation sites but no sufficiently clear match in the course and institutional materials checked for this release. They remain draft content until a named Somali reviewer confirms the wording, register, and context. Source-checked does not mean native-reviewed.

Content provenance

References checked

  1. [1] Somali Textbook, Chapters 1-5 (Zorc and Osman)

    Primary source for wellbeing greetings, time-of-day greetings, welcome, introductions, and traditional night wishes.

  2. [2] Beginner's Somali Lesson Notes (Morgan Nilsson)

    Confirms the name-exchange pattern and Barasho wanaagsan after introductions.

  3. [3] Somali Beginning Course (Harvard ELIAS)

    Provides the documented thank-you-very-much and Adaa mudan exchange.

  4. [4] Useful phrases in Somali (Omniglot)

    Secondary phrase reference for evening, farewell, and other time-based forms.

Continue with the individual phrase guides.

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