Looking for practical Chichewa to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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: pick five Somali phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chichewa 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.
Moni
Salaan
Zikomo
Mahadsanid
M'mawa wabwino
Subax wanaagsan
Masana abwino
Duhur wanaagsan
Madziwabwino
Habeen wanaagsan
Usiku wabwino
Habeen wanaagsan
Tiwonana
Ilaa dambe
Tsalani bwino
Nabad gelyo
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Dzina langa ndi John
Magacaygu waa John
Muli bwanji?
Sidee tahay?
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo(Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ma fahmin(Sindikumva)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal(Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
Ma ku celin kartaa?(Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?(Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?(Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)
Pangani kumanzere
Bidix u leexo(Pangani kumanzere)
Pangani kumanzere
Midig u leexo(Pangani kumanzere)
Pitani mwachindunji
Toos u soco(Pitani mwachindunji)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?(Ndi ndalama zingati?)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
Hal tigidh, fadlan(Tiket imodzi, chonde)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
Ma fog tahay halkan?(Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)
Ndakhalapo
Waan lumay(Ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?(Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Haa
Ayi
Maya
Mwina
Malaha
Ndikugwirizana
Waan ku raacsanahay
Sindikugwirizana
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Zimakoma
Taasi waa wax fiican
Mumaganiza chiyani?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Mungandithandize?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Dikirani pang'ono
Sug daqiiqad
Ndikupemphera
Waan ka xumahay
Palibe vuto
Dhib malahan
Zikomo
Hambalyo
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Dhalasho wacan
Pita bwino
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ili pafupi pano
Waa halkan u dhow
Ili kutali pano
Waa halkan fog
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Khalani pano, chonde
Halkan joog, fadlan
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zimatenga ndalama zingati?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Chikonthe, chonde.
Fadlan, biilka.
Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Ndine mvegetarian.
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Izi ndizochuluka.
Tani waa macaan.
Ndingathe kupeza menyu?
Ma heli karaa menu?
Galasi ya madzi, chonde.
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani apolisi
Wac booliiska
Fufuzani ambulansi
Wac ambalaas
Ndikufuna dokotala
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Ndikumva kutopa
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Kukonda apa
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Ndapeza pasipoti yanga
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Thandizani!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting
Aan qorshayno kulan
Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Ndzatumiza lipoti lero
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu
Aan ku soo laabto
Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.