Looking for practical Sango to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sango 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 Sango 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
Mokolo
Mahadsanid
Mbote na nganga
Subax wanaagsan
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Duhur wanaagsan
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Habeen wanaagsan
Ndeko na nganga
Habeen wanaagsan
Tango na yo
Ilaa dambe
Ayo
Nabad gelyo
Nani na yo?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Nani na nga John
Magacaygu waa John
Oza malamu?
Sidee tahay?
Mokili 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.
O yo na nganga English?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
O na yo na mboka.
Ma fahmin
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
O tanga na mboka?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Banga na yo na ndako?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Kanga na mboko.
Bidix u leexo
Kanga na nganga.
Midig u leexo
Kende na mboka.
Toos u soco
Nde na yo na mboka?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
O na mboka na mboka?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
O na yo na mboka.
Waan lumay
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
O
Haa
Té
Maya
Sâ
Malaha
Ngâ tî
Waan ku raacsanahay
Ngâ té tî
Waan ku raacsaneyn
O bô
Taasi waa wax fiican
Nâ tî yé?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
O kâ yé tî?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ngâ kâ tî
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Bê na
Sug daqiiqad
Ngâ tî na
Waan ka xumahay
Té bô
Dhib malahan
Mâ tî
Hambalyo
Mâ na mbâ
Dhalasho wacan
O kâ na mbê
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
O na wâ na gare?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
O na tî na mbô?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
O na wâ na yâ?
Ma tan saxda ah?
O na bô na kâ.
Waa halkan u dhow
O na fâ na kâ.
Waa halkan fog
O kâ tî na mappa?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Halkan joog, fadlan
O na tî na mbô?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mboka na yo?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(mboka na yo)
Oko na mboka mingi
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(oko na mboka mingi)
Ozo na nanga mboka?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Naka na yeke na carte?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(naka na yeke na carte)
Naka na table ya mibale
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(naka na table ya mibale)
Bilan, s'il vous plaît
Fadlan, biilka.(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Service ezali na yango?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?(service ezali na yango)
Nani na mboka ya nyama
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.(te na mabele ya sika)
Oyo ezali malamu
Tani waa macaan.(oyo ezali malamu)
Naka na menu?
Ma heli karaa menu?(naka na menu)
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Banga nganga
Wac booliiska
Banga ambulance
Wac ambalaas
Mbi na doctor
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Mbi na yeke
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Mbi na alerji na kolo
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
A na hospital ya mboka?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
E yeke na mboko
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
O tanga hotel na ngai?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Sango!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mbi na yo
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(Mbi na yo)
Tala na yeke mboka
Aan qorshayno kulan
Nani ti na yo?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Nde na yeke report na tî
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Oka na yeke na lobi?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Mesi na yo na tî
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Nde na tî na yeke na yo
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Tala na yeke na yo
Aan ku soo laabto
Nani na lobi na 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.