Looking for practical Mam to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam 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 Mam 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.
Xo'j
Salaan(sho'j)
Tz'ik
Mahadsanid(tz'ik)
Xo'j nax
Subax wanaagsan(sho'j nax)
Xo'j q'ij
Duhur wanaagsan(sho'j q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Habeen wanaagsan(sho'j k'ux)
Xo'j k'ux nax
Habeen wanaagsan(sho'j k'ux nax)
K'ux q'ij
Ilaa dambe(k'ux q'ij)
Xo'j k'ux
Nabad gelyo(sho'j k'ux)
Ja' k'ux nax?
Magacaa maxay tahay?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Ja' k'ux nax John
Magacaygu waa John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Jach' k'ux?
Sidee tahay?(hach' k'ux?)
Nab' k'ux
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Ma fahmin
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
K'utun k'ux.
Bidix u leexo
K'utun k'ux.
Midig u leexo
K'utun k'ux.
Toos u soco
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Waan lumay
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Juj
Haa(hoo)
Man
Maya(mah)
K'ux
Malaha(k'ush)
Juj k'ux
Waan ku raacsanahay(hoo k'ush)
Man k'ux
Waan ku raacsaneyn(mah k'ush)
K'ux juj
Taasi waa wax fiican(k'ush hoo)
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?
Ma i caawin kartaa?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux k'ut
Sug daqiiqad(k'ush k'ut)
Juj k'ux k'ut
Waan ka xumahay(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Man k'ux k'ut
Dhib malahan(mah k'ush k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut
Hambalyo(k'ush hoo k'ut)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Dhalasho wacan(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Safar wanaagsan(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ri k'ut pa ri.
Waa halkan u dhow
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.
Waa halkan fog
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?
Halkan joog, fadlan
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
K'ux k'ulub' ri'?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)
K'ux ri' k'ulub'?
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)
¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)
¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)