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