Learn Somali with the Vocabo Chrome Extension

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Master Somali vocabulary while browsing the web. Free Chrome extension for language learners. Somali is spoken by 16+ million people. Somali culture has a rich oral poetry tradition.

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About Somali

Somali was only standardized with Latin script in 1972.

Speakers

16+ million

Language Family

Cushitic

Writing System

Latin alphabet

Difficulty

Hard

Spoken in

SomaliaDjiboutiEthiopia (Somali Region)Kenya

Why Learn Somali?

Somali culture has a rich oral poetry tradition.

Common Somali Words

Start your Somali journey with these essential words and phrases.

Salaan

Hello/Greetings

sah-LAAN

Mahadsanid

Thank you

mah-had-sah-NEED

Fadlan

Please

FAD-lahn

Haa

Yes

haa

Maya

No

MAH-yah

Biyo

Water

BEE-yoh

Cunto

Food

CHOON-toh

Saaxiib

Friend

SAH-kheeb

Jacayl

Love

jah-CHAYL

Nabadgelyo

Goodbye

nah-bahd-GEL-yoh

Guri

House

GOO-ree

Qorrax

Sun

KHOR-rahk

History of Somali

Somali is a Cushitic language spoken by one of Africa's most homogeneous ethnic groups. It was primarily oral for centuries, with a rich tradition of poetry central to culture and politics. Various scripts (Arabic, Latin, indigenous) were proposed before the Latin Osmanya script was standardized in 1972, after Somali independence.

Is Somali Hard to Learn?

Hard

Somali has complex verb morphology with many forms indicating subject and object. Tone distinguishes meaning. The Latin script is phonetic once learned. Vocabulary has Arabic loanwords familiar to Arabic speakers.

Similar Languages to Somali

If you're interested in Somali, you might also want to explore these related languages:

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