Family · Qoyska

Abaayo

Sister · also Walaal

a-BAA-yo · Long aa in the middle: a-BAA-yo.
Abaayo (Sister): illustration from the Luuqad Family lesson

Meaning

Abaayo means sister, and like aboowe it is mostly used for an older sister or for any older girl who looks after you. Walaal, sibling, covers sisters and brothers, and walaashay means my sister.

Example sentences

Abaayo, ii kaalay.Sister, come to me.
Abaayaday waa qurux badan tahay.My sister is beautiful.

Using Abaayo at home

Point at the real thing and say "Abaayo" 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, Abaayo is taught with a picture, tested in the Family quiz and practised in Word Match.

Also heard: Walaal. Families use different forms depending on region and generation; the app records the form shown above.

Learn all 10 Family words with real voices

Aabo, Hooyo, Aboowe, Abaayo, Awoowe, Ayeeyo and more. Then take the quiz.

Open in Luuqad