Looking for practical Somali to Acholi phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali phrase first, then the Acholi translation (Acholi) — 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 Acholi.
Tip: read the Acholi line out loud three times, then cover the Somali 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 Somali to Acholi 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.
Salaan
Ayo(ah-yo)
Mahadsanid
Naki(nah-kee)
Subax wanaagsan
Bok moti(bok mo-tee)
Duhur wanaagsan
Bok nongo(bok non-go)
Habeen wanaagsan
Bok obedo(bok oh-beh-do)
Habeen wanaagsan
Bok ngat(bok ngat)
Ilaa dambe
Tye kany(tye kan-yee)
Nabad gelyo
Itye(ee-tye)
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Iti ma ineno?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Magacaygu waa John
Ineno John(ee-neh-no John)
Sidee tahay?
Iti ma inyo?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Gat ma inyo(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Itye konyo English?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
Ma fahmin
Nye neno.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Iti kanyim ngat?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Bidix u leexo
Konyo kuc.
Midig u leexo
Konyo kuc.
Toos u soco
Tye kanyim.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Iti kanyim ngat?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
One ticket, please.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Iti kanyim kanyim?
Waan lumay
Nye konyo.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Aye
Maya
Bila
Malaha
Kweyo
Waan ku raacsanahay
Ng'ato konyo
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Ng'ato konyo ni
Taasi waa wax fiican
Okwero kany
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Ika kany?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ikwok kany?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Ng'ato konyo kany
Sug daqiiqad
Tye kany
Waan ka xumahay
Ng'ato konyo
Dhib malahan
Bila kany
Hambalyo
Tye kany
Dhalasho wacan
Aye konyo
Safar wanaagsan
Tye kany ma ng'ato
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Atye kany kwo?(Atye kany kwo?)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Atye kany bura?(Atye kany bura?)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Kati onyo kwo?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Nye kwo nongo?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Kik kwo gwen?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Waa halkan u dhow
Okwang kany ici(Okwang kany ici)
Waa halkan fog
Okwang kany piny(Okwang kany piny)
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Nye konyo i map?(Nye konyo i map?)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Doko ici, pe?(Doko ici, pe?)
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Nye kwo ngat?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Nye keken me?(Nye keken me?)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Okwero keken(Okwero keken)
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Itye keken me?(Itye keken me?)
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Nye konyo kadi?(Nye konyo kadi?)
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Nye tye kany kwo(Nye tye kany kwo)
Fadlan, biilka.
Kaka, nyinga(Kaka, nyinga)
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Kati kany me?(Kati kany me?)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Nye konyo wot(Nye konyo wot)
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Kati wot kany, nyinga(Kati wot kany, nyinga)
Tani waa macaan.
Iti kany(Iti kany)
Ma heli karaa menu?
Nye konyo kadi me?(Nye konyo kadi me?)
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Kadi me kic, nyinga(Kadi me kic, nyinga)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Yat ma police
Wac ambalaas
Yat ma ambulance
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Nye konyo doctor
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Nye konyo wot
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Nye konyo kany kic
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Kati ki hospital ma kany?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Okwero ineno
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Nye tye konyo passport
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Okwero yat ma hotel amoni?
Caawimaad!
Yat!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nye kany me(Nye kany me)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Dano kany oting(Dano kany oting)
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Nye kany ma kany?(Nye kany ma kany?)
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Ngatye kany report kany(Ngatye kany report kany)
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Nye kany ma kany tye?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Nye kany ma file kany(Nye kany ma file kany)
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Atye kany ma kany(Atye kany ma kany)
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Nye kany ma kany kany(Nye kany ma kany kany)
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Nye kany ma kany tye?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Aan ku soo laabto
Dano kany ma kany(Dano kany ma kany)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Kany kany Friday(Kany kany Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.