Learn Somali, one real-life topic at a time.
Every word and phrase the Luuqad app teaches, free to browse: 254 entries across 18 topics, each with a native-speaker recording, a plain-English meaning, example sentences and a note on pronunciation. Start with the alphabet, or jump to the words your family uses most.
Unit 1 · First Steps
Alphabet · Alifbeetada
The Somali alphabet: 21 consonants and 5 vowels, each with a native recording of its sound.
26 letters · 26 pagesNumbers · Tirooyinka
Count from kow (1) to labaatan (20) in Somali with native audio, spelling and a pattern that makes 11–19 easy.
1 to 20 · 20 pagesColors · Midabada
Red, blue, green and eight more colours in Somali, with the words families actually use at home.
11 colors · 11 pagesUnit 2 · First Words
Family · Qoyska
Hooyo, aabo, ayeeyo and the words that keep Somali families close, with a guide to who is adeer and who is abti.
10 words · 10 pagesAnimals · Xayawaanka
Twenty animals from libaax (lion) to geel (camel), the animal at the centre of Somali life and poetry.
20 words · 20 pagesFace & Body · Wajiga & Jidhka
Head, eyes, hands and feet in Somali: fifteen body words for bath time, doctor visits and "Simon says".
15 words · 15 pagesUnit 3 · Around You
Food · Cuntada
Canjeero, bariis, shaah and the meals of a Somali day, from quraac (breakfast) to casho (dinner).
14 words · 14 pagesHouse · Guriga
Fifteen words for the home, from albaab (door) and sariir (bed) to jiko (kitchen) and burjiko (stove).
15 words · 15 pagesClothing · Dharka
Shirt, shoes, hat and the dirac: ten clothing words for getting dressed in Somali every morning.
10 words · 10 pagesUnit 4 · Out & About
Weather · Cimilada
Sunny, rainy, hot and cold in Somali: ten weather words for the daily "what is it like outside?" chat.
10 words · 10 pagesSchool · Dugsiga
Teacher, book, pen and homework: the Somali words for school, useful for weekend dugsi classes too.
9 words · 9 pagesCity · Magaalada
Road, bus, market and hospital: ten words for getting around a city in Somali.
10 words · 10 pagesUnit 5 · Everyday Life
Activities · Hawlaha
Run, walk, eat, sleep, play: the ten everyday verbs that let children start making real Somali sentences.
10 verbs · 10 pagesEmotions · Dareenka
Happy, sad, tired, scared: ten feeling words so children can tell you how they feel in Somali.
10 words · 10 pagesSmall Talk · Salaanta & Hadalka
Greetings, introductions, thank you and goodbye: the seventeen phrases that start every Somali conversation.
17 phrases · 17 pagesAdvanced topics
Express Emotion · Dareenka Muujinta
Waan ku jeclahay and fifteen more full sentences for saying how you feel in Somali.
16 phrases · 16 pagesAsking · Weydiinta
What time is it? Where do you live? Who is there? Sixteen Somali questions for time, place, people and information.
16 questions · 16 pagesOrdering · Dalbashada & Suuqa
How much is it? I'll take it. Can I have water? The phrases for shops, restaurants and Somali-style bargaining.
15 phrases · 15 pagesFour words to try tonight.
Tap the speaker on each one to hear a Somali speaker say it, then say it back. A child who can greet ayeeyo, name canjeero and count to kow has already started.
All greetings and small talk →
Hear every word, then take the quiz
The app adds pictures, quizzes for every topic and 12 games to the words on this site. Free to download on iPhone and iPad.