Somali Alphabet & Vocabulary
Learn letters with real word examples
Vowels (Shaqalka)
Somali has both short and long vowels. Long vowels are written as double letters and held longer when spoken.
A
ab
father (aabo)
E
eey
dog (eey)
I
il
eye (indho)
O
od
run (orodo)
U
ul
stick (ul)
AA
aabe
father (aabe)
Long Vowel
EE
beer
liver (beer)
Long Vowel
II
biir
nail (biir)
Long Vowel
OO
hooyo
mother (hooyo)
Long Vowel
UU
buug
book (buug)
Long Vowel
Consonants (Shibanaha)
B
baabuur
car (baabuur)
T
timir
date (timir)
J
jeer
time (jeer)
X
xaax
chalk (xaax)
KH
khayr
good (khayr)
D
daar
house (daar)
R
rooti
bread (rooti)
S
samo
sky (samo)
SH
shaah
tea (shaah)
Special
DH
dhagax
stone (dhagax)
Special
C
caano
milk (caano)
G
geed
tree (geed)
F
far
finger (far)
Q
qorax
sun (qorax)
K
kursi
chair (kursi)
L
lo
cattle (lo)
M
miis
table (miis)
N
nin
man (nin)
W
waraabe
hyena (waraabe)
H
hilib
meat (hilib)
Y
yar
small (yar)
Short vs Long Vowel Examples
Notice how the meaning changes with vowel length!
il
eye (indho)
Short I
vs
iil
tear (ilmo)
Long II
hoyo
stay (joog)
Short O
vs
hooyo
mother (hooyo)
Long OO
bar
teach (bar)
Short A
vs
baar
investigate (baadh)
Long AA