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