Somali language has 21 consonants and 5 vowels BJT is the ABC of the Somali language. The Somali contains some sounds especially associated with the Arabic language; it also contains some Arabic words.
Far waaweyn | capital letters
B T J X Kh D
R S Sh Dh C G
F Q K L M N
W H Y
b t j x kh d
r s sh dh c g
f q k l m n
w h y
Shaqal gaaban | short vowels
A E I O U
Shaqal gaaban | short vowels
a e i o u
Shaqal dheer | long vowels
AA EE II OO UU
Shaqal gaaban | short vowels
a e i o u
Shaqal dheer | long vowels
aa ee ii oo uu
Shibbane Dhawaaqa caalamiga Tusaale Soomaali Macnaha Ingiriiska u dhow
Consonants
Phonetic
Transcription Somali Example Meaning English approximate
b [b] baraf snow back
t [t] tartan race tall
j [ʤ] jeer hippo jumping
x [ħ] xaas wife
kh [x] khuuro snore
d [d] dab fire dog
r [r] run truth room
s [s] san nose some
sh [ʃ] shinbir bird shake
dh [ɖ] dhul land
c [ʕ] col enemy
g [g] gabar girl girl
f [f] far finger finger
q [q] qalin pen
k [k] kulan meeting kiss
l [l] layli exercise like
m [m] maskax brain mistake
n [n] naag woman narrow
w [w] wiil son week
h [h] hooyo mother home
y [j] yar small young
Shaqal Dhawaaq la soo guuriyay Tusaale Soomaali Macnaha Ingiriiska u dhow
Vowels PhoneticTranscriptio Somali Exampl Meaning English approximate
aa [a:] qaab style car
ee [e:] geel camels head
ii [i:] jiir mouse feet
oo [o:] nool alive door
uu [u:] suun belt soon
Shibbane (Consonants) Tusaale( Example) Macanaha (meaning)
1. Kh Khadiija waa gabar fiican Kadija is good girl
2. C Cali wuu dhoofay Ali traveled
3. X Xafiiska ayaan joogaa I am in office
4. Q Boqol qof ayaan arkay I saw one hundred person
5. Dh dharkayga ii dhaq Wash my clothes
6. ' lo’ ma heli kartid lacag la’aan you will not get a cow
without money
