Animals · Xayawaanka · Wild Animals

Libaax

Lion

li-BAAH · The final x is a breathy h from deep in the throat, not an English x.
Libaax (Lion): illustration from the Luuqad Animals lesson

Meaning

Libaax is the lion. It is the animal Somali stories and poems turn to for courage and strength, and a brave person is often compared to one. The lion is libaaxa, and the plural is libaaxyo.

Tip: In Somali tales the lion is boqorka xayawaanka, the king of the animals.

Example sentences

Kani waa libaax.This is a lion.
Libaaxu wuu ciyayaa.The lion is roaring.

Using Libaax at home

Point at the real thing and say "Libaax" whenever it comes up, then let your child hear the native recording and say it back. One word used ten times in a day beats ten words drilled once. In the Luuqad app, Libaax is taught with a picture, tested in the Animals quiz and practised in Baadiyo Journey and Animal Trails.

Learn all 20 Animals words with real voices

Libaax, Maroodi, Shabeel, Haramcad, Dawaco, Daanyeer and more. Then take the quiz.

Open in Luuqad