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
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?
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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