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