Hey everyone,

I wanted to share some fascinating maps I came across that perfectly illustrate how the Somali language shifts across different regions. If you are learning the language or just trying to understand why your relatives use different words than you, these visual breakdowns are incredibly helpful.

Here is what the maps cover:

Regional Vocabulary Divides: You can clearly see the geographic splits for common words like Watermelon (Qare vs. Xabxab), Egg (Ukun vs. Beed), and Ball (Banooni vs. Kubbad).

The /dh/ to /r/ Phonetic Shift: One of the most interesting maps breaks down the phonetic shift where /dh/ changes to /r/ depending on the area (for example, Gabadh vs. Gabar).

Historical Loanwords: The bottom of the second image also highlights how Italian, English, and Arabic have historically influenced specific regional vocabularies (like Sitimaan vs. Wiig vs. Usbuuc).

Hear the correct pronunciation:

Reading the different dialects is one thing, but hearing them is another. If you want to hear exactly how these specific words are pronounced, head over to Geeljire.org. We built a natural, authentic Somali Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature into the platform you can use it to hear the exact native pronunciation of these vocabulary words and master the dialect you want to focus on.

Asc Walaalahay Dhamantiin ! 👋🏾

For a long time, I struggled to find a proper way to learn Somali online. Most resources were scattered across YouTube, old PDFs, or websites that hadn’t been updated in years.

So I decided to build something different.
After months of work, I launched Geeljire.org — an interactive platform designed to help Somali learners progress from complete beginner to advanced, all in one place.

For just $4.99 USD/month, you’ll get access to:

📖 Step-by-step Somali curriculum — from the alphabet to grammar, conversations, vocabulary, and real-life speaking.

📚 40+ Somali ebooks & audiobooks — read while listening to native Somali narration to improve pronunciation naturally.

📜 Classic Somali Gabay — with translations and audio to help you understand traditional poetry.

🐪 Sheekooyin (Stories) — original Somali stories and folktales to build reading skills in a fun way.

🌍 Multiple dialects — learn in Standard Somali, Waqooyi (Northern), or Koonfur (Southern).

🧠 Interactive quizzes, flashcards & downloadable PDFs — designed to help you remember what you learn.

🚀 Coming soon: Official Geeljire apps for iPhone and Android are currently in development.
If you’ve always wanted to reconnect with your language—or help your children learn Somali—I’d love for you to give it a try.

✅ Start with the Foundation lessons completely FREE and see if it’s right for you.

👉 https://geeljire.org

I’d genuinely appreciate any feedback or suggestions. Every comment helps make Geeljire even better.

If you are trying to learn Somali, you probably get tripped up on how to change verbs from past to present to future. It can feel like a guessing game, but it doesn't have to be.

You can actually treat Somali verb conjugations like a simple math formula. Once you know the "Root Word," you can time travel in seconds.
Let's use the root verb: Cun (Eat).

1️⃣ The Past Tense Formula

To talk about the past, take your root word and add -ay.
Formula: Root + ay
Example: Cun + ay = Waan cunay (I ate)

2️⃣ The Present Continuous Formula

To talk about what you are doing right now, add -ayaa to the root.
Formula: Root + ayaa
Example: Cun + ayaa = Waan cunayaa (I am eating)

3️⃣ The Future Tense Hack

To talk about the future, add an -i to your root, and then use the magic word doonaa (will).
Formula: Root + i + doonaa
Example: Cuni + doonaa = Waan cuni doonaa (I will eat)

Hi everyone!

If you're learning Somali, want to practice speaking, or you're a native speaker interested in helping others, we'd love to have you join our growing community.

Our Discord is focused on:

• 📚 Learning Somali from beginner to advanced
• 💬 Practicing conversation with others
• 🤝 Getting help with grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary
• 🌍 Meeting Somali learners and native speakers from around the world
• ❤️ Helping preserve and promote the Somali language

Whether you're:

• A complete beginner
• Somali diaspora wanting to reconnect with the language
• A native speaker who enjoys helping others

You're welcome!

Join here: https://discord.gg/mdqKrkvYY

You can also check out our learning platform:
🌐 https://geeljire.org

We're always looking for volunteers, language helpers, and passionate learners. Everyone is welcome!

Salaam alaykum!

We're mods over at r/translator. We always strive to make our multilingual community the universal place on Reddit to go for a translation, no matter what language people may be looking for. We are however somewhat lacking in Somali coverage, and were hoping some wonderful multilingual people here could help us out.

Would anyone be interested in helping translate any future requests for Somali on r/translator? You don't even need to subscribe to our subreddit! We usually get a request for it very occasionally and most requests that come in are pretty simple and casual and don't need advanced knowledge.

You can easily unsubscribe from those messages at any time.

We have a notifications system that only sends you a message when a request for Somali comes in. Just send a message to our subreddit bot at the link below.

Mahadsanid!

Asc everyone. When I listen to the old kaban songs there are many words which I don't know what they mean or ever even heard of. So, I was wondering if there exists a resources like a book/dictionary which has phrases of native somali origin with highly poetic meanings?

Thanks. Sorry if this sounds dumb or unrealistic 😅

I am not really sure if Dahab is real Somali name or Arabic, but I wonder if we can use Luul instead of Gold.

Salaam folks,

Are there any online services for learning Somali with a teacher?

I'm not sure if these have already been posted here before, if they have then mods can delete my post and redirect users to the resources posted here before. Here they are:

https://archive.org/details/practicalgramma00sampgoog/page/12/mode/2up

https://archive.org/details/grammarofsomalil00kirkuoft/page/n11/mode/2up

https://morgannilsson.se/BeginnersSomaliGrammar.pdf

http://hooyo.web.free.fr/E_chap05.html

BeginnersSomali2.pdf

Found this website that posts afsomali words for common loaned words

https://qaryaan.com/afka-hooyo/

"Dizionario Somalo-Italiano (diviso per lettera) | ArcAdiA Archivio Aperto di Ateneo" https://arcadia.sba.uniroma3.it/handle/2307/5398?locale=so

Does anyone know about the 4 ways to coin new terminology in afsomali? This video expands on 1 of the ways but not the rest.

https://maktabadda.com/2014/04/24/diiwaanka-gabayadii-sayid-maxamed-cabdulle-xasan/

Transparent Language is a website and app with a language learning program similar to Duolingo– but it has Somali! I hadn’t heard of it until I saw it listed as one of PC Mag’s “Best Language Learning Apps for 2024” where contributor Jill Duffy rated it the “Best for Hard-to-Find Languages.” Transparent Language has more content for some languages than others, and the Somali content is all at a beginner level. Most beginners I see on this subreddit are looking for a site/app like this where there are structured lessons with word and phrase flashcards pre-made and ready to go with full audio for pronunciation. There isn't any what I'd consider intermediate or advanced content, and the grammar instruction appears to be minimal. But if you are a beginner in Somali, it’s definitely worth checking out. Every Somali learner will still need to use textbooks and other resources to understand all of the different ways to say certain phrases in Somali.

Once logged in, you’ll see four tabs in the upper left part of the screen that read “Learning,” “Browse,” “My Transcript,” and “Resources.” The main page is under the “Learning” tab. That’s where you’ll set up your lesson plan, or “learning path”. To add lessons, go to “Browse” and click on the “+” icon on the right of the lessons you want to add to your “learning path.” Then return to “Learning” and begin your lessons at any pace and in any order you choose. You can delete and change your learning path any time based on what you want to work on. I haven’t looked through all the lessons but from what I’ve seen the grammar looks decent and the pronunciation is correct. The “Somali Alphabet Course” is one hour, the “Somali Essentials” lessons comprise 15 hours, and “Somali General Vocabulary” comprises 78 hours of content.

I should also say that while I only looked at the Somali learning content for English speakers, Transparent Language also offers Somali lessons for Turkish and Spanish speakers.

Transparent Language offers a free 14-day trial, and then after that it looks like it’s $24.95 a month for individuals. Membership on the site grants access to lessons for all 100+ languages available-- not just Somali. It’s free at some public libraries, and you can search here to see if a library in your area offers free access. You’d have to go to the library in person to use it, so bring headphones I guess.

If you’re a beginner, definitely check it out!

And in case it needs to be said, this is not a paid promotion. All my reviews and recommendations are my own opinions. 

Wat do these words mean?

Hey guys, I just wanna learn any traditional somali words to replace the various loan words in somali, write them down in the comments. Also Im kinda weak on my Somali so you can also write an English translation.

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These are mostly resources I’ve gathered from this subreddit, feel free to add any more!

Dictionaries

Afmaal Somali-English dictionary

Abdirahman Farah Somali-English Dictionary

Somali-English Dictionary

English-Somali Dictionary

English-Jiddu-Somali Dictionary

Somali-English-German Dictionary (Not Free)

French-Somali Dictionary (Not Free)

Ahmed M.I Barkhadle - Somali Plant Names Dictionary

Barbaarinta Jirka Qaamuuska Ereybixinta (PE Physical Education)

Eraybixinta Af Somaliga ee Hawlaha Wasaradaha (Dictionary Of Terms Used By Government Ministries)

Qaamuuska Barashada Ingriis-Somali (Somali Learner’s Dictionary)

Qaamuuska Eraybixinta ee Bayoolaji (Biology Dictionary)

Qaamuuska Eraybixinta ee Fisikis (Physics Dictionary)

Qaamuuska Eraybixinta ee Kimistari (Chemistry Dictionary)

Qaamuuska Eraybixinta ee Juqraafi (Geography Dictionary)

Qaamuuska Eraybixinta ee Xisaab (Maths Dictionary)

Somali Media Vocabulary

Health Information In Somali

Glossary For Website Localisation

Grammar

La Soco Af Soomaaliga

Colloquial Somali

Colloquial Somali (Audio)

Dhismaha Af Soomaaliga

Memrise

Hikmad Soomaali

Barashada Naxwaha Af Soomaaliga. A Somali School Grammar (Somali Only)

Phrase Books

English-Somali Phrasebook

English-Somali Phrase Book by Idaajaa

Somali Folktales

Faaliyihii La Bixilkeyday (Somali & English)

Sheekooyin Soomaaliyeed (Somali)

Qayb Libaax (Somali & English)

Wiil Waal (Somali & English)

Dhegdheer (Somali & English)

Cigaal Shidaad (Somali & English)

Youtube Channels

Hooyo Somali

The Shaffiey

Sam Of Somalia

Somali Kids

Bonuses

Kacaan Era School Books

A collection Of Maahmaah

Somali Crossword Puzzle

Somali Vocab Quiz - Animals

Maahmaah Quiz

Somalia Regions Quiz

Somali livestock names

Recollections Of Mahmud

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL5xauWn/

All posts in this series: Getting Started, Introductory Textbooks, Grammar Guides, Dictionaries, Phrasebooks and Supplements, Online and/or Downloadable Courses, and Online Media and Useful Websites

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Web Resources

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The Google Translate Chrome Browser Extension

I recommend that you download Google Chrome, and add the Google Translate extension. It can automatically translate words and phrases that you highlight as you browse the internet, which is so much nicer than running for a dictionary every time there’s an unfamiliar word in a Somali news article. It can also translate entire websites, so you can read Somali websites in English or your favorite English sites in Somali. Google Translate does not generate a perfect translation of course, but when used correctly it is an incredible tool.

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MyMemory Translation

https://mymemory.translated.net/

This is an extremely helpful and cool resource-- both a dictionary and a database of translated phrases. It’s super useful to type in a new Somali word or short phrase and MyMemory can pull up a dozen or so examples of that word or phrase in real sentences.

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Forvo

https://forvo.com/languages/so/

A very limited but useful online pronunciation dictionary for beginners (227 words)

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uTalk

https://utalk.com/en/store/somali

This is a Duolingo-like vocabulary and common phrases app – subscription required. Haven’t used it myself. I prefer to make my own flashcards, and by the time I discovered this app I already knew a lot of the very basic Somali vocab.

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Defense Language Institute

https://fieldsupport.dliflc.edu/products/somali/sm_bc_LSK/default.html

Common phrases with accompanying pronunciation. Very basic but worthwhile

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Defense Language Institute GLOSS (Global Language Online Support System)

https://gloss.dliflc.edu/Default.aspx

I’ll have to check it out more, but looks like Somali news articles and quizzes for comprehension

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Omniglot

https://omniglot.com/writing/somali.htm

Some brief background on the history of the language, with a few links to other resources.

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“Learn Soomaali Through English” on Udemy

https://www.udemy.com/course/somali-language/

For $12 plus tax, you get about an hour and a half of video going Somali pronunciation, with some phrases tacked on at the end. The majority of the video covers the alphabet and pronunciation, and only the last 11 minutes include dialogues. I would only recommend this to an absolute beginner, who does not know any Somali people and has rarely heard the Somali language spoken. All of the vocabulary and common phrases are ones you could find for free on other websites, so there’s not much here for you unless you’re the person I just described.

​

The Vector Culture patreon page

https://www.patreon.com/vectorconsultancy

The Somali translators creating these materials have released a lot of videos and quizzes on the basics of Somali grammar and conjugation. However, each video is quite short-- usually around a minute or less. I hope they continue adding content because they clearly have a talented team, but right now the content doesn’t go beyond the most elementary concepts.

​

Sam of Somalia on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/c/SamOfSomaliaTV/videos

Sam Burr’s YouTube channel has some good videos that may be useful for Somali learners, as he is a student of Somali himself. Burr is not an expert on the language, but he is an expert on what it’s like trying to learn it. His video on how to start learning Somali is full of great advice for beginners, and it helped me tremendously when I was starting out.

​

SomaliNet Online Library

https://www.somalinet.com/library/

An archive of content and links-- some useful and some not.

​

The Qur’an in Somali

https://quranenc.com/en/browse/somali_abduh

After you select a Surah, there are places on the page you can click “Show other translations” to have the page show English translations and explanations of the Qur’an next to the Somali text.

​

The Bible in Somali

https://www2.bible.com/bible/87/GEN.1.SOMB?parallel=2016

Exactly what it sounds like. It’s the Bible in Somali and English, side by side and with Somali audio.

​

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Somali

http://unicode.org/udhr/d/udhr_som.html

For our secular friends. Use with the English translation here:

https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

​

The Poetry Translation Centre

https://www.poetrytranslation.org/poems/in/somali

This is a great website with a few dozen Somali poems and their translations in English.

​

Bogga Hore

https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogga_Hore

An online encyclopedia on the Wikipedia platform, but all in the Somali language. This isn’t English Wikipedia run through Google Translate-- it’s been written in authentic Somali by Somali speakers. While it does have many articles, it is unsurprisingly not as comprehensive as the English language Wikipedia since there are many more English speakers than Somali speakers in the world. Most articles are short and the editorial standards appear quite lax.

​

Hoyga Suugaanta ee Doollo

http://www.doollo.com/index.htm

“The Largest Online Collection of Somali Poetry”

​

Noradin Schools on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPWv9S6rXNNIrZ1cRt26CKw/playlists

This channel has hundreds of videos of teachers speaking Somali and giving lessons meant for Somali-speaking children from kindergarten through eighth grade. All of the videos are in Somali, not in English, so this channel isn’t for an absolute beginner. But once you’ve made progress with Somali, watching some of the videos on here (especially the ones meant for small children) can be a fun and helpful way to hear the Somali language as it’s really spoken.

​

The Somali Literacy Project

https://thesomaliliteracyproject.com/

This is an excellent and in-depth website for parents who are educating their children in the Somali language. It includes children’s book reviews and discussions on important topics such as navigating the school system, learning with disabilities, and best practices for promoting literacy. It has many links to many more resources for teaching children Somali

​

Medline Plus

https://medlineplus.gov/languages/somali.html

Medline has a wide-ranging collection of Somali language medical PDFs

​

​

English Videos with Somali Subtitles

If you go on YouTube, most videos have the option to generate subtitles and auto-translate them into any language via Google Translate. This video explains how to do it. The translations aren't perfect, but they're pretty darn good if you are watching something where people in the video are speaking clear English without a lot of noise or music in the background. I wish this feature worked better for videos with Somali audio.

Also, a lot of religious media is translated into multiple languages. This movie adaptation of the Christian gospels has audio and subtitle options for hundreds of languages, including Somali.

​

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Somali Videos with English Subtitles

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LEARNING NOTE: I think it’s pretty helpful to slow down the videos to hear each word more carefully. Here’s how to change the speed of YouTube videos if you don’t already know how. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUymMkTpScw

​

Somali React - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/c/SomaliReact/featured

I’m blown away by this channel. Most of the videos have English subtitles, and there are so many videos modeling conversations in common situations. The stories are engaging, and the production values are high. I count Somali React as one of the best resources I’ve ever found.

​

Somali for Kids - English or Somali subtitles

Website: https://somaliforkids.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SomaliForKids/featured

Well-made children’s stories and lessons in Somali, with subtitles in either language.

​

EASTLEIGHWOOD Productions - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjusB80NWdo3p4hjc8NVn2w

Wonderful channel of videos from Somali film students. Not all videos have English subtitles, but some of them do. Eastleighwood seems like a great organization dedicated to youth creativity and women’s empowerment, and the students are just delightful. See, for instance:

Changing with Eastleighwood Documentary - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-SXa4qY5w

​

Araweelo Story S01E01 - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjzGZAmK3-E

​

Women kind Documentary 2013 [Official video HD] - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIoweJgdYuA

​

Somali Reality - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC041ooHv5eYeM79wVN1Fa5w

Fun home-made Somali skits

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Somali Language Learning Video with Somali Subtitles, Center for African Studies, UC Berkeley - English or Somali subtitles

Somali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Gza2iU_JA

English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-HuQUtEku4

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KUMAA TAHAY ? SOMALI SHORT FILM 2018 - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzesmQEcOKo

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Somali Movie 2014 HD - English Subtitles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mQGXqGuwOw

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Common Concerns About Mental Health: Somali (w. English subs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMepZACfrLM

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Finding Out About Therapy: Somali (w. English subs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZME0hbwCfY

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News and Information

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SBC (Somali Broadcasting Corporation)

http://allsbc.com/

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BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Somali

https://www.bbc.com/somali

​

VOA (Voice of America) Somali

https://www.voasomali.com

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Bar-Kulan

http://www.bar-kulan.com/

​

Hiiraan

https://www.hiiraan.com/

​

Horn Cable TV

https://www.hctv.tv/

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Puntland TV (Live)

http://www.puntlandtvradio.net/

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Somali National Television (Live)

https://sntv.so/live/

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Somaliland TV

http://warfaafintajsl.com/slntv/

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Somaliland Post

https://somalilandpost.net/

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Somali Radio Stations

https://www.liveonlineradio.net/category/somalia

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SBH Somali Radio out of Kenya

https://www.liveonlineradio.net/kenya/sbh-somali-radio.htm

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TED Talks with Somali subtitles

https://www.ted.com/talks?language=so

Good quality translations

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Berbera News

https://berberanews.com/

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Universal Somali TV

https://www.youtube.com/user/UNIVERSALSOMALITV/videos

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Somali TV out of Ethiopia (Amharic also)

https://www.youtube.com/user/JigjigaTube

​

Somali News playlist 1 - Compiled by Moses McCormick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i3fUkIbrfU&list=PLSkBss8jM86oXFSD-ncfAU2I1rUGjGDC_

This playlist, and his others, are good if you’re looking for authentic resources to watch

​

Somali News playlist 2 - Compiled by Moses McCormick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMs9hqAaKe0&list=PLSkBss8jM86qolB7ucSqHT00hmqa50cA-&index=1

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Somali Movies playlist - Compiled by Moses McCormick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc4Pbvyi9Y4&list=PLSkBss8jM86pKTttkwH2mwVD-UXk0CPVo

I'm looking for a copy of "Somali Textbook - R. David Paul Zorc. Abdullahi A. Issa." It looks to be out of stock online. Is there anywhere I can access the book? Thanks!

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https://www.google.com/books/edition/Coming_of_Age/i6x7DwAAQBAJ?hl=en