Looking for practical Kiga to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kiga 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Somali-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kiga 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.
Okwagala
Salaan
Webale
Mahadsanid
Osiibye bulungi
Subax wanaagsan
Osiibye bulungi
Duhur wanaagsan
Osiibye bulungi
Habeen wanaagsan
Osiibye bulungi
Habeen wanaagsan
Tugenda okukutana
Ilaa dambe
Nkwagala
Nabad gelyo
Erinnya lyo ani?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Erinnya lyange nze John
Magacaygu waa John
Oli otya?
Sidee tahay?
Nneebwanga okukuyita
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oli muwandiika kiingereza?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Sikuwandiika Hindi bulungi.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Sikuganya.
Ma fahmin
Nkwenda okwandiika bulungi.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Osobola okuwandiika ekyo na?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Ekitanda kiki?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nkwenda otya mu kiti?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Genda ku kkono.
Bidix u leexo
Genda ku ddyo.
Midig u leexo
Genda mu maaso.
Toos u soco
Ekitundu kiki?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Ekitanda emu, nyamba.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Kiki ekitundu okuva wano?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Ndi mu kwegendereza.
Waan lumay
Nkwenda kutuuka wa SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eee
Haa
Oya
Maya
Wali
Malaha
Ndiinze
Waan ku raacsanahay
Sindiinze
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Ekitanga kiza
Taasi waa wax fiican
Oteka ki?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Okwetegera?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Nfuna okwetegera
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Leka akaseke
Sug daqiiqad
Ndi mwefwe
Waan ka xumahay
Tera kintu
Dhib malahan
Nkwagala
Hambalyo
Okwagala omwaka omukya
Dhalasho wacan
Okwetegera mu nsi
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eri heza y'ekitabo?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(Eri heza y'ekitabo?)
Eri heza y'ekibuga?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?(Eri heza y'ekibuga?)
Ekiyungiriro ki?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?(Ekiyungiriro ki?)
Ekitonde ki?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?(Ekitonde ki?)
Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?
Ma tan saxda ah?(Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?)
Eri wansi wano
Waa halkan u dhow(Eri wansi wano)
Eri kure wano
Waa halkan fog(Eri kure wano)
Oyinza okundabira ku karita?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?(Oyinza okundabira ku karita?)
Mugume wano, nyabo
Halkan joog, fadlan(Mugume wano, nyabo)
Ekitanga ki?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?(Ekitanga ki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ekitanga ki?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(ekitanga ki)
Ekitanga ky'ekikula
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(ekitanga ky'ekikula)
Oli n'ekintu ekirungi?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(oli n'ekintu ekirungi)
Nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi)
Nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri)