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Practice 50 common Somali phrases
FLASHCARDS
Tap a card to reveal the English translation. Browse by category.
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English
How to Read Somali โ Pronunciation Guide
โผ
Somali uses the Latin alphabet but some letters sound very different from English. Here are the key ones to know:
C
A deep throat sound โ like saying “ah” from the back of your throat (similar to Arabic ุน)
e.g. Cunto โ “uh-OON-to” (food)
X
A soft breathy “h” โ like the Scottish “loch” or Spanish “j”
e.g. Xaggee โ “ha-GEY” (where)
DH
A retroflex “d” โ curl your tongue slightly back as you say “d”
e.g. Nadhiifsanaa โ “clean”
SH
Just like the English “sh” โ as in “shop” or “she”
e.g. Shan โ “shahn” (five)
KH
A strong “k” breathed from the back of the throat โ like Arabic ุฎ
e.g. Khayr โ “goodness”
Q
A “k” pressed further back in the throat โ deeper than English “k”
e.g. Qoran โ “written”
‘ (stop)
A brief catch in the throat โ like the pause in “uh-oh”
e.g. Waa na‘an โ “it is clean”
AA / EE / OO
Double vowels are held longer โ stretch the sound out for emphasis
e.g. Naag โ “naahg” (woman)
๐ก
Somali is a tonal language โ pitch (high or low) can change a word’s meaning. In the phonetic guides on each flashcard, CAPS mark the stressed syllable to help you get the rhythm right.
QUIZ
Choose the correct English meaning for each Somali phrase. 10 questions, instant feedback.