How do you say password, cloud storage, or artificial intelligence in Somali? This Modern Somali Technology Dictionary introduces 38 useful terms for working, learning, and communicating in the digital world. Each entry includes an English meaning, a short explanation, and a Somali example with its English translation.
How to use this dictionary
Somali technology vocabulary combines existing words, borrowed terms, and explanatory phrases. Spellings and preferred expressions vary between communities and publications. The labels below describe how an entry is presented here; they do not imply universal agreement or official approval.
- General vocabulary: an existing word used in a digital context.
- Loanword / international term: a borrowed expression or a name retained across languages.
- Technology vocabulary: a technical expression whose usage may vary.
- Descriptive phrase / action phrase: a practical explanation or instruction, not a claim that this is the only accepted translation.
- Institutional usage: wording found in the Somali public-sector sources linked below.
Terminology is actively developing. In June 2026, Somalia’s National Communications Authority announced a Somali cybersecurity glossary developed with language institutions. This article is an independent learning guide, not a reproduction of that glossary. Read the NCA announcement.
Jump to: Devices and software · Internet and communication · Files, data, and storage · Accounts and cybersecurity · AI and digital payments.
Devices and software
1. Kombiyuutar — Computer
Loanword. An electronic device that processes information and runs programs.
Kombiyuutarka ayaan ku qorayaa maqaal.
I am writing an article on the computer.
2. Telefoon casri ah — Smartphone
Descriptive phrase. A mobile phone that runs apps and provides internet access.
Telefoonka casriga ah ayaan ku akhriyaa wararka.
I read the news on my smartphone.
3. Shaashad — Screen
General vocabulary. The surface on which a device displays text and images.
Shaashadda waxaa ka muuqda sawir.
A picture appears on the screen.
4. Kiiboodh — Keyboard
Loanword. A set of keys used to enter letters, numbers, and commands.
Kiiboodhka ku qor magacaaga.
Type your name on the keyboard.
5. Barnaamij — Program / app
General vocabulary. Instructions that let a computer perform a task; an app is a program designed for particular activities.
Barnaamijkan ayaan ku bartaa Af-Soomaaliga.
I use this app to learn Somali.
6. Nidaamka hawlgalka — Operating system
Descriptive phrase. The core software that manages a device and supports its applications.
Nidaamka hawlgalka ayaa u baahan cusboonaysiin.
The operating system needs an update.
Internet and communication
7. Internet — Internet
International term. The global network that connects computer networks.
Internetka ayaan ka raadiyaa macnaha erayada.
I search the internet for word meanings.
8. Shabakad — Network
General vocabulary. Connected devices or systems that exchange information.
Kombiyuutarradu waxay ku xiran yihiin hal shabakad.
The computers are connected to one network.
9. Wi-Fi — Wi-Fi
International term. Wireless networking that connects nearby devices; a Wi-Fi connection does not by itself guarantee internet access.
Telefoonka ku xir Wi-Fi-ga.
Connect the phone to Wi-Fi.
10. Mareeg — Website
Technology vocabulary. A collection of related web pages under a shared site identity.
Qaamuus.net waa mareeg lagu barto erayada Soomaaliga.
Qaamuus.net is a website for learning Somali words.
11. Bog internet — Web page
Descriptive phrase. An individual page on the web, such as the article you are reading.
Boggan waxaa ku qoran erayo cusub.
New words are written on this page.
12. Barnaamijka lagu daalacdo internetka — Web browser
Descriptive phrase. Software that opens and displays web pages. Keep “browser” alongside this explanation when teaching it.
Ku fur bogga barnaamijka aad ku daalacato internetka.
Open the page in the program you use to browse the internet.
13. Matoorka raadinta — Search engine
Descriptive phrase. A service that helps you find information by searching an index of content.
Matoorka raadinta ku qor erayga aad rabto.
Type the word you want into the search engine.
14. Iimayl — Email
Loanword. An electronic message sent to an email address, or the service used to send it.
Iimayl ayaan u diray macallinka.
I sent the teacher an email.
15. Baraha bulshada — Social media
Descriptive phrase. Online services where people publish, share, and respond to content.
Sawirka waxaan ku wadaagay baraha bulshada.
I shared the picture on social media.
16. Xiriiriye — Link / hyperlink
Technology vocabulary. A selectable reference that takes you to another page, file, or location.
Riix xiriiriyaha si aad u furto bogga.
Click the link to open the page.
Files, data, and storage
17. Xog — Data
General vocabulary. Information represented in a form that can be stored or processed, such as text, numbers, or images.
Xogta ku kaydi meel ammaan ah.
Store the data in a safe place.
18. Fayl — File
Loanword. A named item of stored digital information, such as a document or photograph.
Faylka waxaan u diray saaxiibkay.
I sent the file to my friend.
19. Galka faylasha — Folder
Descriptive phrase. A container used to organize files.
Faylka geli galka sawirrada.
Put the file in the pictures folder.
20. Kaydinta daruurta — Cloud storage
Descriptive phrase. Storing files on a provider’s remote systems rather than only on your own device; “daruur” is a metaphor here.
Sawirrada waxaan ku kaydiyaa adeegga kaydinta daruurta.
I store pictures using a cloud storage service.
21. Nuqul kayd ah — Backup
Descriptive phrase. An extra copy kept so information can be recovered if the original is lost or damaged.
Samee nuqul kayd ah oo faylka ah.
Make a backup copy of the file.
22. Soo dejin — Download
Action phrase. Transferring a file from a remote service to your device.
Soo deji buugga.
Download the book.
23. Soo gelin — Upload
Action phrase. Sending a file from your device to a website or remote service. State the destination to make the direction clear.
Sawirka soo geli mareegta.
Upload the picture to the website.
24. Cusboonaysiin — Update
General vocabulary. A newer version or change to software, often adding improvements or fixes.
Barnaamijka cusboonaysii.
Update the program.
Accounts and cybersecurity
25. Akoon — Account
Loanword. Your registered identity and settings within a service.
Waxaan sameystay akoon cusub.
I created a new account.
26. Furaha sirta ah — Password
Descriptive phrase. A secret string used to help prove that you are allowed to access an account.
Ha wadaagin furahaaga sirta ah.
Do not share your password.
27. Xaqiijinta laba arrimood — Two-factor authentication / 2FA
Descriptive phrase. Checking identity with two different kinds of evidence, such as a password and an authenticator on your phone.
Daar xaqiijinta laba arrimood.
Turn on two-factor authentication.
28. Amniga saaybarka — Cybersecurity
Institutional usage. Protecting digital systems, networks, and information against unauthorized access and other threats.
Amniga saaybarka wuxuu caawiyaa ilaalinta xogta.
Cybersecurity helps protect data.
29. Sirgelin — Encryption
Technology vocabulary. Transforming readable data into a protected form that requires the appropriate key to recover.
Sirgelintu waxay ilaalisaa fariimaha.
Encryption protects messages.
30. Barnaamij waxyeello leh — Malware
Descriptive phrase. Software intended to damage systems, steal information, or carry out other harmful actions.
Barnaamij waxyeello leh ayaa dhaawici kara kombiyuutarka.
Malware can damage a computer.
31. Fariin khiyaano ah oo xog lagu xado — Phishing
Descriptive phrase. A deceptive message intended to trick someone into revealing information or taking a harmful action. This is an explanation, not a standardized one-word equivalent.
Fariinta khiyaanada ah waxay iga codsatay furaha sirta ah.
The fraudulent message asked me for my password.
32. Xogta gaarka ah — Personal data
Descriptive phrase. Information that identifies or relates to a person.
Ha ku daabicin xogtaada gaarka ah meel dadweyne.
Do not publish your personal data in a public place.
AI and digital payments
33. Garaad gacmeed — Artificial intelligence / AI
Institutional usage. Computer systems that perform tasks such as recognizing patterns, generating content, or making predictions. AI output can contain mistakes.
Garaad gacmeedku wuxuu soo saari karaa qoraal.
AI can generate text.
34. Barashada mashiinka — Machine learning
Descriptive phrase. An approach to AI in which systems learn patterns from data.
Barashada mashiinku waxay ku tiirsan tahay xog.
Machine learning depends on data.
35. Tilmaanta la siiyo AI-ga — Prompt
Descriptive phrase. The instruction or input you give an AI system.
AI-ga sii tilmaamo cad.
Give the AI clear instructions.
36. Lacagta moobilka — Mobile money
Descriptive phrase. Money stored and transferred through a mobile money service; it is not the same as airtime credit.
Lacagta moobilka ayaan ku bixiyey biilka.
I paid the bill with mobile money.
37. Lambar sir ah (PIN) — Personal identification number
Descriptive phrase. A numeric code used to authorize access or a transaction.
Ha siin qof kale lambarkaaga sirta ah.
Do not give your PIN to anyone else.
38. Lacag-bixin dijitaal ah — Digital payment
Descriptive phrase. A payment carried out electronically rather than by handing over physical cash.
Lacag-bixin dijitaal ah ayaan sameeyey.
I made a digital payment.
Words that are easy to confuse
- Internet, web, and Wi-Fi: the internet connects networks; the web is a system of pages accessed through that network; Wi-Fi connects devices wirelessly. A device can connect to Wi-Fi even when the internet connection is unavailable.
- Browser and search engine: a browser displays pages; a search engine helps you find them. You can use a search engine inside a browser. MDN: browser; MDN: World Wide Web.
- Save, upload, and back up: saving stores your work, uploading sends it to a remote service, and backing up keeps a recoverable extra copy. Synchronizing files does not necessarily provide an independent backup.
- Mobile money and airtime: money held in a mobile money service is different from credit used to pay for calls or data.
Useful Somali instructions
| Somali | English |
|---|---|
| Fur faylka. | Open the file. |
| Kaydi qoraalka. | Save the text. |
| Nuqul ka samee qoraalka. | Copy the text. |
| Tirtir faylka. | Delete the file. |
| Gal akoonkaaga. | Log in to your account. |
| Ka bax akoonkaaga. | Log out of your account. |
Build your vocabulary with Qaamuus.net
Explore these underlying Somali words in the dictionary: xog, aalad, qoraal, sawir, dir, and fur. A general dictionary meaning may differ from a specialized computing meaning. For newer expressions, try the dictionary search; not every technical phrase has its own entry.
Quick practice
- Which term means an extra copy kept for recovery?
- Translate: Soo deji buugga.
- Which is the web browser: a program that displays pages or a service that searches an index?
- What does xogta gaarka ah mean?
- Which AI expression is used by the Somali ministry source below?
Answers: 1. Nuqul kayd ah. 2. Download the book. 3. The program that displays pages. 4. Personal data. 5. Garaad gacmeed.
Frequently asked questions
Must every technology word have a single Somali translation?
No. An English term alongside a clear Somali explanation is often more useful than an unfamiliar coinage. Learn the meaning, then follow the terminology used by your school, workplace, or intended audience.
Is “garaad gacmeed” the only expression for AI?
No. You may encounter other expressions, including “sirdoon macmal ah.” This article uses “garaad gacmeed” because that wording appears in the Ministry of Communications and Technology’s Somali coverage of the 2026 AI summit. Usage is not uniform.
Can I use these examples in class?
Use them as a starting point for discussion: ask learners to identify the device, explain the action, and create a new sentence. Invite speakers to compare the terms they use at home and at work.
Sources and terminology notes
The definitions and practice sentences were written for this article. The following sources support specific technical distinctions and examples of institutional terminology; they do not endorse every Somali translation above.
- NCA: launch of the Somali cybersecurity terminology glossary.
- NCA: Somali announcement of SOMCIRT, using “amniga saaybarka.”
- Ministry: Somali coverage of the second AI summit, using “garaad gacmeed.”
- MDN: Browser and World Wide Web.
Which technology expressions do you use in Somali? Share a term, its English meaning, and a sentence showing how you use it.
