A Dictionary of Somali Verbs in Everyday Contexts

The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in the dictionary:

Colloq.: colloquial
Gram.: grammar
Intr.: intransitive
Irr. v.: irregular verb
Masc. : masculine
Pass. v.: passive verb
Pl.: plural
Sb: somebody
Sing.: singular
SMA: same meaning as
Sth: something
Trans.: transitive
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A
Aad (intr.- conj. 1) To go. Waxaan aadayaa London berri - I am going to London tomorrow. (Used with la (with), ku (in), u (for)): Waxay suuqa la aadday Raxma - She has gone to the market with Rahma. Aadis (n).
Aafee (trans.- conj. 2b) (Of illnesses and natural disasters). To have an adverse effect on someone. Bariis baa loo qaybiyay dadka abaartu ay aafaysay - Rice has been distributed to people affected by the drought.
Aafayn (n). SMA: wax-yeellee (conj. 2b).
Aafow (intr.- conj. 1) To be affected adversely by a disease or a natural disaster. (Used with ku (in)): Dadka abaarta ku aafoobay waxay u baahan yihiin gargaar - People affected by the drought need assistance.
Aafoobis (n). SMA: wax-yeellow (conj. 1).
Aammin (trans.- conj. 1 arb.) To trust. Waa in la aammino waalidka - Parents should be trusted. (Used with ku (for)): Waxaa lagugu aamminay xilkan - You have been entrusted with this responsibility. Aamminis (n). Aamminka (n): trustworthiness.
Aar (intr.- conj. 1) To avenge. (Used with u (for)): Wuu u aaray saaxiibkiis oo la gadhaacay - He avenged his friend's beating. Aaris (n).
Aargudo (trans.- conj. 3b) To take revenge. (Used with ka (on)): Wuu iga aargutay - He took revenge on me.
Aargudasho (n). SMA: aarso (conj. 3a and used with ka (on)).
Aas (trans.- conj. 1) To bury. Cabdi baa bisaddii ku aasay beerta dhexdeeda - Cabdi has buried the cat in the garden. Aasid (n). Aaska (n) burial. SMA: duug and xabaal (both conj. 1).
Aay (trans.- conj. 1) To derive future benefit from something. (Used with u (for)): Waan u aayay taladaada - I have benefited from your advice (in hindsight). Waad u aayi doontaa waxbarashada - You will benefit from education in the future. SMA: ka faa'iid. Aayaha (n).
Abaabul (trans.- conj. 1) To organise. Axmed baa abaabulaya bandhigga caanaha geela - Axmed is organising the camel milk exhibition. (Used with `is' (self)): Is-abaabul - To organise oneself/to get oneself organised. Abaabulis (n). Abaabulka (n).
Abaarso (intr.- conj. 3a) To become dry (e.g. hair or land). Dhulku wuu abaarsaday - The land is/has been parched. Abaarsasho (n).
Ababi (trans.- conj. 2a) To bring up a child. Hooyadu waa inay ubadkeeda u ababiso si wanaagsan - The mother should bring up her children in a good manner. Ababin (n). SMA: barbaari and kori (both conj. 2a).
Abbaar (trans.- conj. 1) To head in a direction. (Used with prepositions ku (in) or u (for)): Waxaan abbaaray Bari - I headed East. Abbaaris (n).
Abtiri (trans. - conj. 2a) To identify one's genealogy by mentioning names of father, grandfather, great-grandfather etc. (Used with u (for)): Rooble baa ii abtiriyay - Rooble identified my genealogy. Abtirin (n).
Abtirso (intr.- conj. 3a) To identity the genealogy of a family tree by mentioning names of father, grandfather, great-grandfather etc. Geeddi wuu abtirsaday - Geeddi has identified his genealogy/family tree.
Abtirsasho/abtirsiga (n).
Abuur (trans.- conj.1) To create; to plant seeds; to result in. (Used with preposition u (for), ku (in)). Beertii buu abuuray saaka - He planted seeds at the farm in the morning.
Abuuris (n). Abuurka (n): seed. Abuurta (n): creation/creature, human beings and animals.
Addoonso (trans.- conj. 3a) To enslave. May wanaagsana in qof la addoonsado - It is not good to enslave anyone. Addoonsasho/addoonsiga (n).
Adeeg (trans.- conj. 1) To serve someone. (Used with prepositions u (for), ka (at) or la (with)): Ii adeeg! - Serve me! U adeeg Cali - Serve Ali.
Adeegis (n). Adeegga (n): service.
Adeegso (trans.- conj. 3a) To use. Qalabka cusub adeegso! - Use the new equipment! (Used with prepositions u (for), la (with) or ku (in)).
Adeegsasho (n). SMA: isticmaal (conj. 1 arb).