Family words are among the first words we use with one another. Somali has useful distinctions for relatives on a mother’s side and a father’s side, as well as words that can serve as warm, respectful forms of address. This guide introduces common terms, short examples, and a few notes about variation.
Pronunciation and word choice can differ by region, family, and conversational context. Treat these examples as a starting point, and follow the forms used by the Somali speakers around you.
Close family
qoys — family or household
Qoys commonly refers to a family or household. Qaraabo refers more broadly to relatives or kin.
Qoyskaygu waa weyn yahay.
My family is large.
hooyo — mother
Hooyaday guriga ayay joogtaa.
My mother is at home.
aabbe — father
You may also see or hear spellings such as aabe or aabo.
Aabbahay shaqo ayuu aaday.
My father went to work.
walaal — sibling; also a friendly or respectful address
The exact English translation depends on context: walaal can mean brother or sister, and plural walaalo means siblings.
Walaalkay iyo walaashay guriga ayay joogaan.
My brother and my sister are at home.
wiil — boy or son; gabadh — girl or daughter
These words can describe a child by gender or mean son and daughter, depending on the sentence.
Wiilkoodu dugsiga ayuu aaday.
Their son went to school.
Gabadhaydu buug ayay akhrinaysaa.
My daughter is reading a book.
Grandparents, aunts, and uncles
Somali often names an aunt or uncle more specifically than English does. A useful common distinction is whether the relative is on your father’s side or your mother’s side.
awoowe — grandfather; ayeeyo — grandmother
Awoowgay sheeko ayuu noo sheegay.
My grandfather told us a story.
Ayeeyaday shaah ayay samaysay.
My grandmother made tea.
adeer — father’s brother; eedo — father’s sister
Adeerkay berri ayuu imanayaa.
My paternal uncle is coming tomorrow.
Eeddaday waxay deggan tahay Hargeysa.
My paternal aunt lives in Hargeisa.
abti — mother’s brother; habaryar — mother’s sister
Abtigay wuxuu ka yimid Muqdisho.
My maternal uncle came from Mogadishu.
Habaryartay waan booqannay.
We visited my maternal aunt.
In everyday conversation, some families use shorter or alternate forms—for example, habo for an aunt—or use an aunt/uncle term more broadly. Listen for local usage rather than assuming one form is universal.
Cousins and in-laws
Words for cousins
English uses one everyday word, cousin, for many relationships. Somali expressions may identify the connection through the parent’s sibling. Forms such as ina adeer or ina abti are used in some contexts; you may also encounter ilma adeer, ina eedo, or ina habaryar. Which term a family prefers can vary, so it is helpful to ask how someone describes the relationship.
A few in-law terms
soddoh commonly means a parent-in-law or mother-in-law, while soddog commonly refers to a father-in-law. seeddi and dumaashi are used for certain in-law relationships, but their exact English equivalents can depend on who is speaking and local usage.
Forms of address: speaking warmly and respectfully
Kinship words are not only labels for relatives. In many Somali-speaking settings, they can also be used when addressing an older person, family friend, or someone with whom the speaker wants to show warmth or respect.
Adeer or abti may be used for a man who is an uncle or an older man treated with familiarity and respect. Eedo or habaryar may be used similarly for a woman.
Walaal is also a common friendly way to address someone, including a person who is not a sibling.
These choices depend on age, relationship, community, and personal preference. When uncertain, use the person’s name or ask what they prefer.
Talking about your family
Possessive forms you may hear
To say “my mother,” “my father,” or “my sibling,” Somali often attaches a possessive ending to the family word. Common examples include hooyaday (“my mother”), aabbahay (“my father”), walaalkay (“my brother/sibling”), and walaashay (“my sister/sibling”). The shape of the ending depends on the word, and spellings may vary.
Useful sample sentences
Qaraabadaydu way noo timid.
My relatives came to visit us.
Walaashay waxay la joogtaa ayeeyaday.
My sister is with my grandmother.
Waxaan la hadlayaa abtigay.
I’m talking with my maternal uncle.
Qoyskaygu waxay ku nool yihiin Hargeysa.
My family lives in Hargeisa.
A note on regional and family variation
Somali is spoken across different regions and communities, and families may differ in pronunciation, spelling, and which relative terms they use most often. Some English relationships also do not map neatly to one Somali word. The distinctions above are common learning guides, not a rule that every speaker follows in exactly the same way.
For a new word, check its dictionary entry, then listen to how relatives and other fluent speakers use it in a sentence.
Keep learning
Look up Somali terms in the Qaamuus dictionary. For a linguistic word list with common family terms, see the University of Gothenburg’s Somali corpus vocabulary appendix.
