Somali shopping is a conversation, not a transaction. Prices are discussed, not read off labels, and a child who can say "waa meeqa?" (how much is it?) and "waa qaali" (it is expensive) has joined a very old tradition. This topic teaches the phrases for the shop, the restaurant and the market stall.
Tap a card for the meaning, examples and a native recording.
| Somali | English | Say it | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waa meeqa | How much is it? | waa MEE-qa | |
| Waan qaadan doonaa | I'll take it | waan QAA-dan doo-NAA | |
| Ma haysaa midaan? | Do you have this? | ma hay-SAA mi-DAAN | |
| Waa qaali | It's expensive | waa QAA-li | |
| Waxaan rabaa inaan dalbado | I would like to order | wa-HAAN ra-BAA i-NAAN dal-BA-do | |
| Maxaa ku jira? | What's in it? | ma-HAA ku JI-ra | |
| Biyo ma i siin kartaa? | Can I have water? | BI-yo ma i SIIN kar-TAA | |
| Lacagta inaan bixiyo ayaan rabaa | The bill, please | la-'AG-ta i-NAAN bi-HI-yo a-YAAN ra-BAA | |
| Wax ma iga dhimi kartaa? | Can you lower the price? | wah ma I-ga DHI-mi kar-TAA | |
| Qiimaha ugu danbeyn? | Final price? | QII-ma-ha U-gu dan-BEYN | |
| Waxaan bixin karaa... | I can pay... | wa-HAAN BI-hin ka-RAA | |
| Dukaanka intuu ku yaalaa? | Where is the store? | du-KAAN-ka in-TUU ku yaa-LAA | |
| Ma dhow yahay? | Is it close? | ma dhow YA-hay | |
| Sideen halkaas u tagaa? | How do I get there? | si-DEEN hal-KAAS u ta-GAA | |
| Goorma la furaayaa? | When is it open? | GOOR-ma la fu-raa-YAA |
It is organised by situation: shopping (ma haysaa midaan?, waan qaadan doonaa), restaurants (waxaan rabaa inaan dalbado, biyo ma i siin kartaa?), bargaining (wax ma iga dhimi kartaa?, qiimaha ugu dambeeya?) and finding the shop (dukaanka intuu ku yaallaa?, ma dhow yahay?).
The phrases pair naturally with the Numbers topic and the Market Day game, where children fill baskets with the right number of treats.
15 entries in the Ordering topic, each with a picture, native-speaker audio and a quiz in the app.
Yes. Every entry on this page plays a recording by a Somali speaker; nothing is synthesized.
Tap each word to hear it, say it back together, then take the Ordering quiz in the Luuqad app and play Market Day.
Waa meeqa, Waan qaadan doonaa, Ma haysaa midaan?, Waa qaali, Waxaan rabaa inaan dalbado, Maxaa ku jira? and more. Then take the quiz in the app.