Looking for practical Somali to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: when a Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Mahadsanid
O seun(oh shayoon)
Subax wanaagsan
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Duhur wanaagsan
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Habeen wanaagsan
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Habeen wanaagsan
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Ilaa dambe
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Nabad gelyo
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Magacaygu waa John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Sidee tahay?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Ma fahmin
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Bidix u leexo
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Midig u leexo
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Toos u soco
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Waan lumay
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Bẹẹni
Maya
Rara
Malaha
Bóyá
Waan ku raacsanahay
Mo gba
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Mo kọ
Taasi waa wax fiican
Iyẹn dára
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Sug daqiiqad
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Waan ka xumahay
Mo bínú
Dhib malahan
Kò sí ìṣòro
Hambalyo
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Dhalasho wacan
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Safar wanaagsan
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Waa halkan u dhow
O sunmọ ibi yi
Waa halkan fog
O jinna si ibi yi
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Fadlan, biilka.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Tani waa macaan.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ma heli karaa menu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Wac ambalaas
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Caawimaad!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Aan ku soo laabto
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.