Looking for practical Kanuri to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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.
Sannu
Salaan
Nagode
Mahadsanid
Ina kwana
Subax wanaagsan
Ina yamma
Duhur wanaagsan
Ina dare
Habeen wanaagsan
Sai da safe
Habeen wanaagsan
Zan ganka
Ilaa dambe
Sai anjima
Nabad gelyo
Menene sunanka?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Sunana John
Magacaygu waa John
Lafiya lau?
Sidee tahay?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Ba na fahimta.
Ma fahmin
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Ina wanka?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Juya hagu.
Bidix u leexo
Juya dama.
Midig u leexo
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Toos u soco
Nawa ne farashin?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Na ɓace.
Waan lumay
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Haa(ee-y)
A'a
Maya(ah-ah)
Wata
Malaha(wah-tah)
Na amu
Waan ku raacsanahay(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Waan ku raacsaneyn(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Taasi waa wax fiican(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Ma i caawin kartaa?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Sug daqiiqad(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Waan ka xumahay(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Dhib malahan(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Hambalyo(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Dhalasho wacan(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Safar wanaagsan(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Nye boko na bas?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Wane boko na?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Yana kusa da nan
Waa halkan u dhow
Yana nesa da nan
Waa halkan fog
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Halkan joog, fadlan
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Fadlan, biilka.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Tani waa macaan.
Zan iya samun menu?
Ma heli karaa menu?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Wac booliiska(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Wac ambalaas(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(nde gaishe)
Mu gaishe taro
Aan qorshayno kulan(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Aan ku soo laabto(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.