Looking for practical Acholi to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Somali.
Tip: read the Somali line out loud three times, then cover the Acholi side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Somali translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ayo
Salaan(ah-yo)
Naki
Mahadsanid(nah-kee)
Bok moti
Subax wanaagsan(bok mo-tee)
Bok nongo
Duhur wanaagsan(bok non-go)
Bok obedo
Habeen wanaagsan(bok oh-beh-do)
Bok ngat
Habeen wanaagsan(bok ngat)
Tye kany
Ilaa dambe(tye kan-yee)
Itye
Nabad gelyo(ee-tye)
Iti ma ineno?
Magacaa maxay tahay?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Ineno John
Magacaygu waa John(ee-neh-no John)
Iti ma inyo?
Sidee tahay?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Gat ma inyo
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Nye neno.
Ma fahmin
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Iti kanyim ngat?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Konyo kuc.
Bidix u leexo
Konyo kuc.
Midig u leexo
Tye kanyim.
Toos u soco
Iti kanyim ngat?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
One ticket, please.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Iti kanyim kanyim?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Nye konyo.
Waan lumay
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Haa
Bila
Maya
Kweyo
Malaha
Ng'ato konyo
Waan ku raacsanahay
Ng'ato konyo ni
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Okwero kany
Taasi waa wax fiican
Ika kany?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Ikwok kany?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ng'ato konyo kany
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Tye kany
Sug daqiiqad
Ng'ato konyo
Waan ka xumahay
Bila kany
Dhib malahan
Tye kany
Hambalyo
Aye konyo
Dhalasho wacan
Tye kany ma ng'ato
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(Atye kany kwo?)
Atye kany bura?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?(Atye kany bura?)
Kati onyo kwo?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Nye kwo nongo?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Kik kwo gwen?
Ma tan saxda ah?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Okwang kany ici
Waa halkan u dhow(Okwang kany ici)
Okwang kany piny
Waa halkan fog(Okwang kany piny)
Nye konyo i map?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?(Nye konyo i map?)
Doko ici, pe?
Halkan joog, fadlan(Doko ici, pe?)
Nye kwo ngat?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nye keken me?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(Nye keken me?)
Okwero keken
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(Okwero keken)
Itye keken me?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(Itye keken me?)
Nye konyo kadi?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(Nye konyo kadi?)
Nye tye kany kwo
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(Nye tye kany kwo)
Kaka, nyinga
Fadlan, biilka.(Kaka, nyinga)
Kati kany me?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?(Kati kany me?)
Nye konyo wot
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.(Nye konyo wot)
Kati wot kany, nyinga
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.(Kati wot kany, nyinga)
Iti kany
Tani waa macaan.(Iti kany)
Nye konyo kadi me?
Ma heli karaa menu?(Nye konyo kadi me?)
Kadi me kic, nyinga
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.(Kadi me kic, nyinga)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Yat ma police
Wac booliiska
Yat ma ambulance
Wac ambalaas
Nye konyo doctor
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Nye konyo wot
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Nye konyo kany kic
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Kati ki hospital ma kany?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Okwero ineno
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Nye tye konyo passport
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Okwero yat ma hotel amoni?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Yat!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nye kany me
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(Nye kany me)
Dano kany oting
Aan qorshayno kulan(Dano kany oting)
Nye kany ma kany?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?(Nye kany ma kany?)
Ngatye kany report kany
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta(Ngatye kany report kany)
Nye kany ma kany tye?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Nye kany ma file kany
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan(Nye kany ma file kany)
Atye kany ma kany
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga(Atye kany ma kany)
Nye kany ma kany kany
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo(Nye kany ma kany kany)
Nye kany ma kany tye?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Dano kany ma kany
Aan ku soo laabto(Dano kany ma kany)
Kany kany Friday
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha(Kany kany Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.