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100 Essential Somali Verbs—with Conjugations and Examples

100 Essential Somali Verbs—with Conjugations and Examples

September 2, 2026 cilmi, Maqaal No Comments

Somali verbs are the engine of everyday conversation. This practical reference introduces 100 high-frequency verbs with an English meaning, an approximate pronunciation cue, four useful forms, and model conjugations.

Important: The present, past, and future columns model the first-person singular (“I”). Somali verb forms change with person, number, gender, focus, tense, aspect, and dialect. Pronunciation cues below are appro100 Essential Somali Verbs—with Conjugations and Examplesximate guides for English speakers, not formal IPA.

How to read the table

  • Simple/Habitual Present: an affirmative “I do…” or “I usually do…” form with waan.
  • Present Continuous: an “I am doing…” form. Stative verbs normally keep their ordinary present form.
  • Past: a common affirmative “I…” form.
  • Future: typically the infinitive plus doonaa (“will”).
  • Imperative: a singular command addressed to one person.

Somali uses the Latin alphabet, but several letters differ from English: c represents a voiced throat sound, x is a breathy throat sound, q is pronounced deep in the throat, dh is a retroflex sound, and doubled vowels are held longer.

100 essential Somali verbs

# Verb English Pronunciation Simple/Habitual Present: I… Present Continuous: I am… Past: I… Future: I will… Command
1 ahow be ah-HOW waan ahay waan ahay (stative) waan ahaa waan ahaan doonaa ahow
2 aad go aad waan aadaa waan aadayaa waan aaday waan aadi doonaa aad
3 imaaw come ee-MAOW waan imid waan imanayaa waan imid waan iman doonaa imow/kaalay
4 cun eat choon waan cunaa waan cunayaa waan cunay waan cuni doonaa cun
5 cab drink chab waan cabbaa waan cabbayaa waan cabbay waan cabbi doonaa cab
6 seexo sleep SAY-kho waan seexdaa waan seexanayaa waan seexday waan seexan doonaa seexo
7 toos wake up tohs waan toosaa waan toosayaa waan toosay waan toosi doonaa toos
8 fadhiiso sit down fah-DHEE-so waan fadhiistaa waan fadhiisanayaa waan fadhiistay waan fadhiisan doonaa fadhiiso
9 istaag stand is-TAAG waan istaagaa waan istaagayaa waan istaagay waan istaagi doonaa istaag
10 socod walk so-KHOD waan socdaa waan soconayaa waan socday waan socon doonaa soco
11 orod run oh-ROD waan ordaa waan ordayaa waan orday waan ordi doonaa orod
12 bood jump bohd waan boodaa waan boodayaa waan booday waan boodi doonaa bood
13 gal enter gal waan galaa waan gelayaa waan galay waan geli doonaa gal
14 bax leave/go out bah waan baxaa waan baxayaa waan baxay waan bixi doonaa bax
15 joog stay/be present johg waan joogaa waan joogayaa waan joogay waan joogi doonaa joog
16 tag go to/visit tag waan tagaa waan tagayaa waan tagay waan tegi doonaa tag
17 soo-noqo return soh NO-kho waan soo noqdaa waan soo noqonayaa waan soo noqday waan soo noqon doonaa soo noqo
18 safar travel SAH-far waan safraa waan safrayaa waan safray waan safri doonaa safar
19 kaxee take/drive someone kah-KHAY waan kaxeeyaa waan kaxaynayaa waan kaxeeyay waan kaxayn doonaa kaxee
20 wad drive/carry on wad waan wadaa waan wadayaa waan waday waan wadi doonaa wad
21 keen bring kayn waan keenaa waan keenayaa waan keenay waan keeni doonaa keen
22 qaad take/lift qaad waan qaadaa waan qaadayaa waan qaaday waan qaadi doonaa qaad
23 sii give see waan siiyaa waan siinayaa waan siiyay waan siin doonaa sii
24 hel find/get hel waan helaa waan helayaa waan helay waan heli doonaa hel
25 raadi search for RAA-dee waan raadiyaa waan raadinayaa waan raadiyay waan raadin doonaa raadi
26 lun lose/get lost loon waan lumaa waan lumayaa waan lumay waan lumi doonaa lun
27 hay have/hold hay waan hayaa waan hayaa (stative) waan hayay waan haysan doonaa hay
28 fur open foor waan furaa waan furayaa waan furay waan furi doonaa fur
29 xir close/wear hir waan xiraa waan xirayaa waan xiray waan xiri doonaa xir
30 jebi break JEH-bee waan jebiyaa waan jebinayaa waan jebiyay waan jebin doonaa jebi
31 dhis build dhis waan dhisaa waan dhisayaa waan dhisay waan dhisi doonaa dhis
32 samee make/do sah-MAY waan sameeyaa waan samaynayaa waan sameeyay waan samayn doonaa samee
33 dhaq wash dhahq waan dhaqaa waan dhaqayaa waan dhaqay waan dhaqi doonaa dhaq
34 nadiifi clean nah-DEE-fee waan nadiifiyaa waan nadiifinayaa waan nadiifiyay waan nadiifin doonaa nadiifi
35 kari cook KAH-ree waan kariyaa waan karinayaa waan kariyay waan karin doonaa kari
36 dub bake/roast doob waan dubaa waan dubayaa waan dubay waan dubi doonaa dub
37 jar cut jar waan jaraa waan jarayaa waan jaray waan jari doonaa jar
38 beer plant/cultivate bayr waan beeraa waan beerayaa waan beeray waan beeri doonaa beer
39 iibso buy EEB-so waan iibsadaa waan iibsanayaa waan iibsaday waan iibsan doonaa iibso
40 iibi sell EE-bee waan iibiyaa waan iibinayaa waan iibiyay waan iibin doonaa iibi
41 bixi pay BI-khee waan bixiyaa waan bixinayaa waan bixiyay waan bixin doonaa bixi
42 shaqee work shah-QAY waan shaqeeyaa waan shaqaynayaa waan shaqeeyay waan shaqayn doonaa shaqee
43 caawi help AA-wee waan caawiyaa waan caawinayaa waan caawiyay waan caawin doonaa caawi
44 isticmaal use is-tij-MAAL waan isticmaalaa waan isticmaalayaa waan isticmaalay waan isticmaali doonaa isticmaal
45 bilow begin bee-LOW waan bilaabaa waan bilaabayaa waan bilaabay waan bilaabi doonaa bilow
46 dhammee finish dham-MAY waan dhammeeyaa waan dhammaynayaa waan dhammeeyay waan dhammayn doonaa dhammee
47 jooji stop JOH-jee waan joojiyaa waan joojinayaa waan joojiyay waan joojin doonaa jooji
48 sug wait soog waan sugaa waan sugayaa waan sugay waan sugi doonaa sug
49 degdeg hurry deg-DEG waan degdegaa waan degdegayaa waan degdegay waan degdegi doonaa degdeg
50 akhri read AKH-ree waan akhriyaa waan akhrinayaa waan akhriyay waan akhrin doonaa akhri
51 qor write qor waan qoraa waan qorayaa waan qoray waan qori doonaa qor
52 baro learn BAH-ro waan bartaa waan baranayaa waan bartay waan baran doonaa baro
53 bar teach bar waan baraa waan barayaa waan baray waan bari doonaa bar
54 xifdi memorize HIF-dee waan xifdiyaa waan xifdinayaa waan xifdiyay waan xifdin doonaa xifdi
55 faham understand FAH-ham waan fahmaa waan fahmayaa waan fahmay waan fahmi doonaa faham
56 garan know/recognize GAH-ran waan garanayaa waan garanayaa waan gartay waan garan doonaa garan
57 xusuuso remember hoo-SOO-so waan xusuustaa waan xusuusanayaa waan xusuustay waan xusuusan doonaa xusuuso
58 illow forget il-LOW waan illoobaa waan illoobayaa waan illoobay waan illoobi doonaa illow
59 weydii ask way-DHEE waan weydiiyaa waan weydiinayaa waan weydiiyay waan weydiin doonaa weydii
60 jawaab answer jah-WAAB waan jawaabaa waan jawaabayaa waan jawaabay waan jawaabi doonaa jawaab
61 hadal speak/talk HAH-dal waan hadlaa waan hadlayaa waan hadlay waan hadli doonaa hadal
62 sheeg tell/say shayg waan sheegaa waan sheegayaa waan sheegay waan sheegi doonaa sheeg
63 dheh say dheh waan idhaahdaa waan odhanayaa waan idhi waan odhan doonaa dheh
64 dhageyso listen dhah-GAY-so waan dhageystaa waan dhageysanayaa waan dhageystay waan dhageysan doonaa dhageyso
65 maqal hear MAH-qal waan maqlaa waan maqlayaa waan maqlay waan maqli doonaa maqal
66 eeg look ayg waan eegaa waan eegayaa waan eegay waan eegi doonaa eeg
67 arag see AH-rag waan arkaa waan arkayaa waan arkay waan arki doonaa arag
68 daawo watch DAA-wo waan daawadaa waan daawanayaa waan daawaday waan daawan doonaa daawo
69 tus show toos waan tusaa waan tusayaa waan tusay waan tusi doonaa tus
70 wac call wah waan wacaa waan wacayaa waan wacay waan wici doonaa wac
71 dir send deer waan diraa waan dirayaa waan diray waan diri doonaa dir
72 soo-dir send over soh deer waan soo diraa waan soo dirayaa waan soo diray waan soo diri doonaa soo dir
73 qosol laugh qo-SOL waan qoslaa waan qoslayaa waan qoslay waan qosli doonaa qosol
74 ooy cry oy waan ooyaa waan ooyayaa waan ooyay waan ooyi doonaa ooy
75 dhoolla-caddee smile dhool-la kad-DAY waan dhoolla-caddeeyaa waan dhoolla-caddaynayaa waan dhoolla-caddeeyay waan dhoolla-caddayn doonaa dhoolla-caddee
76 jeclow love/like jeh-KLOW waan jeclahay waan jeclahay (stative) waan jeclaa waan jeclaan doonaa jeclow
77 necboow hate/dislike nej-BOH waan necbahay waan necbahay (stative) waan necbaa waan necbaan doonaa necboow
78 rab want rab waan rabaa waan rabaa (stative) waan rabay waan rabi doonaa rab
79 dooro choose DOH-ro waan doortaa waan dooranayaa waan doortay waan dooran doonaa dooro
80 go’aanso decide go-AAN-so waan go’aansadaa waan go’aansanayaa waan go’aansaday waan go’aansan doonaa go’aanso
81 rajee hope rah-JAY waan rajaynayaa waan rajaynayaa waan rajaynayay waan rajayn doonaa rajee
82 rumayso believe roo-MAY-so waan rumaysanahay waan rumaysanahay (stative) waan rumaysnaa waan rumaysan doonaa rumayso
83 aamin trust AA-min waan aaminaa waan aaminayaa waan aaminay waan aamini doonaa aamin
84 ka-fakar think about ka FAH-kar waan ka fakaraa waan ka fikirayaa waan ka fikiray waan ka fikiri doonaa ka fakar
85 dareen feel dah-RAYN waan dareemaa waan dareemayaa waan dareemay waan dareemi doonaa dareen
86 farax be happy FAH-rah waan farxaa waan farxayaa waan farxay waan farxi doonaa farax
87 murugood be sad/grieve moo-roo-GOHD waan murugoodaa waan murugoonayaa waan murugooday waan murugoon doonaa murugood
88 cadhow be angry adh-HOW waan cadhoodaa waan cadhoonayaa waan cadhooday waan cadhoon doonaa cadhow
89 cabso fear/be afraid CHAB-so waan cabsadaa waan cabsanayaa waan cabsaday waan cabsan doonaa cabso
90 naso rest NAH-so waan nastaa waan nasanayaa waan nastay waan nasan doonaa naso
91 ciyaar play chee-YAAR waan ciyaaraa waan ciyaarayaa waan ciyaaray waan ciyaari doonaa ciyaar
92 dabaal swim dah-BAAL waan dabaashaa waan dabaalanayaa waan dabaashay waan dabaalan doonaa dabaal
93 hees sing hays waan heesaa waan heesayaa waan heesay waan heesi doonaa hees
94 qoob-ka-ciyaar dance qohb ka chee-YAAR waan qoob-ka-ciyaaraa waan qoob-ka-ciyaarayaa waan qoob-ka-ciyaaray waan qoob-ka-ciyaari doonaa qoob-ka-ciyaar
95 sawir draw/photograph SAH-wir waan sawiraa waan sawirayaa waan sawiray waan sawiri doonaa sawir
96 booqo visit BOH-qo waan booqdaa waan booqanayaa waan booqday waan booqan doonaa booqo
97 la-kulan meet la KOO-lan waan la kulmaa waan la kulmayaa waan la kulmay waan la kulmi doonaa la kulan
98 guurso marry GOOR-so waan guursadaa waan guursanayaa waan guursaday waan guursan doonaa guurso
99 dhal give birth/be born dhal waan dhalaa waan dhalayaa waan dhalay waan dhali doonaa dhal
100 kori raise/grow KOH-ree waan koriyaa waan korinayaa waan koriyay waan korin doonaa kori

Simple present versus present continuous

Compare waan cunaa (“I eat/I usually eat”) with waan cunayaa (“I am eating”). The first describes a habit or general action; the second emphasizes an action in progress.

Five example sentences

  1. Waxaan akhriyaa buug maalin kasta. — I read a book every day.
  2. Shalay waxaan qoray warqad. — Yesterday I wrote a letter.
  3. Berri waxaan booqan doonaa saaxiibkay. — Tomorrow I will visit my friend.
  4. Fadlan albaabka fur. — Please open the door.
  5. Halkan fadhiiso oo dhegeyso. — Sit here and listen.

A note about variation

Somali is spoken across a wide geographic area, and natural speech varies by region and community. You may encounter alternative spellings or forms—for example idhaahdaa/iraahdaa and odhan/oran. These are not necessarily mistakes. This guide favors broadly recognizable forms while acknowledging that a native speaker may choose another standard or regional form.

How to study these verbs

  1. Learn ten verbs at a time.
  2. Say the present, past, and future forms aloud.
  3. Write one original sentence for each verb.
  4. Practice the singular command with a partner.
  5. Review difficult verbs after one day, one week, and one month.

Further reading

Which verbs should we add next? Leave a comment with a Somali verb you use often.

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