Looking for practical Somali to Swahili phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali phrase first, then the Swahili translation (Swahili) — 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 Swahili.
Tip: read the Swahili 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 Swahili 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
Habari
Mahadsanid
Asante
Subax wanaagsan
Habari ya asubuhi
Duhur wanaagsan
Habari ya mchana
Habeen wanaagsan
Habari ya jioni
Habeen wanaagsan
Usiku mwema
Ilaa dambe
Tutaonana baadaye
Nabad gelyo
Kwaheri
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Jina lako nani?
Magacaygu waa John
Jina langu ni John
Sidee tahay?
Habari gani?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Unazungumza Kiingereza?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.
Ma fahmin
Sielewi.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Tafadhali ongea polepole.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Unaweza kusema tena?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Choo kiko wapi?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?
Bidix u leexo
Geuka kushoto.
Midig u leexo
Geuka kulia.
Toos u soco
Nenda moja kwa moja.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Je, ni mbali na hapa?
Waan lumay
Nimepotea.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Ndio
Maya
Hapana
Malaha
Pengine
Waan ku raacsanahay
Ninakubaliana
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Sikubaliani
Taasi waa wax fiican
Inasikika vizuri
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Unafikiriaje?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Unaweza kunisaidia?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Nahitaji msaada
Sug daqiiqad
Subiri kidogo
Waan ka xumahay
Ninasikitika
Dhib malahan
Hakuna shida
Hambalyo
Hongera
Dhalasho wacan
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema
Safar wanaagsan
Safari njema
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ni jukwaa gani?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Inatoka saa ngapi?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?
Waa halkan u dhow
Iko karibu hapa
Waa halkan fog
Iko mbali na hapa
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?
Halkan joog, fadlan
Simama hapa, tafadhali
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Inachukua muda gani?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Hiyo ni ghali sana
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Ningependa meza ya watu wawili
Fadlan, biilka.
Tafadhali, bili
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Je, huduma imejumuishwa?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Mimi ni mboga
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili
Tani waa macaan.
Hii ni tamu
Ma heli karaa menu?
Naweza kupata menyu?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Tafadhali, glasi ya maji
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Piga simu polisi
Wac ambalaas
Piga simu ya wagonjwa
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Nahitaji daktari
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Ninajisikia mgonjwa
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Nina mzio wa karanga
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Inaniuma hapa
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu?
Caawimaad!
Nisaidie!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nafurahi kukutana nawe
Aan qorshayno kulan
Tuweke mkutano
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Ni saa ngapi inakufaa?
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Nitaituma ripoti leo
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Tunaweza kuzungumza kesho?
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Tafadhali pata faili iliyoambatishwa
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Asante kwa muda wako
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Natarajia kufanya kazi na wewe
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Unaweza kufafanua hiyo pointi?
Aan ku soo laabto
Nitarudi kwako
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Muda wa mwisho ni Ijumaa
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.