Looking for practical Lingala to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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: when a Somali phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Lingala wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Lingala 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.
Mbote
Salaan
Melesi
Mahadsanid
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Subax wanaagsan
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Duhur wanaagsan
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Habeen wanaagsan
Malamu na butu
Habeen wanaagsan
Tala yo nsima
Ilaa dambe
Kende malamu
Nabad gelyo
Nkombo na yo nani?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Magacaygu waa John
Ozalaki malamu?
Sidee tahay?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
Ma fahmin(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Ma ku celin kartaa?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Bidix u leexo(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Midig u leexo(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Toos u soco(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Hal tigidh, fadlan(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Ma fog tahay halkan?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Waan lumay(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Haa
Te
Maya
Soki
Malaha
Nalingi
Waan ku raacsanahay
Nalingi te
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Eza malamu
Taasi waa wax fiican
Oyo olingi nini?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Sunga moke
Sug daqiiqad
Nasalaki mabe
Waan ka xumahay
Nani azali na problème
Dhib malahan
Mokolo malamu
Hambalyo
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Dhalasho wacan
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ezali pene awa.
Waa halkan u dhow
Ezali mbali awa.
Waa halkan fog
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Halkan joog, fadlan
Ekozala ntango nini?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
Fadlan, biilka.
Service eza na kati?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Nazali mvegetarian.
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Yango ezali malamu.
Tani waa macaan.
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
Ma heli karaa menu?
Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît.
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tindá polisi
Wac booliiska
Tindá ambulance
Wac ambalaas
Nalingi médecin
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Nazali na maladi
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Nazali na allergie na mbala
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Ezalaka na nse awa
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Nazwi passport na ngai
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
S.O.S!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nasepeli na yo
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Tika tozala na mitema
Aan qorshayno kulan
Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Naboya raport lelo
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Tango tozali na mposo?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Mersi mpo na ntango na yo
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Nasalela yo na mosala
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Napesi yo nzela
Aan ku soo laabto
Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.