How do you say is it close? in Somali?

Is it close? in Somali is Ma dhow yahay?, pronounced ma dhow YA-hay.

Ordering · Dalbashada & Suuqa · Location

Ma dhow yahay?

Q: What does Ma dhow yahay? mean in Somali?

Ma dhow yahay? means "Is it close?". Ma is the question marker, dhow means near and yahay means it is, so the question is is it close? Ask it after getting directions, or name the place first: Dukaanku ma dhow yahay? (is the shop close?).

Q: How do you pronounce Ma dhow yahay??

ma dhow YA-hay. dh is a single sound, a d made with the tongue curled back.

Is it close?

ma dhow YA-hay · dh is a single sound, a d made with the tongue curled back.

Meaning

Ma dhow yahay? means is it close?. Ma is the question marker, dhow means near and yahay means it is, so the question is is it close? Ask it after getting directions, or name the place first: Dukaanku ma dhow yahay? (is the shop close?). The answers are Haa, wuu dhow yahay (yes, it is close) and Maya, wuu fog yahay (no, it is far). Wuu is he or it plus the focus marker, the third-person partner of waan (I) and waad (you).

In conversation

Ma dhow yahay? — Haa, wuu dhow yahay.Is it close? — Yes, it is close.

Dukaanku ma dhow yahay? — Maya, wuu fog yahay.Is the shop close? — No, it is far.

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Using Ma dhow yahay? at home

Use "Ma dhow yahay?" in the moment it belongs to, not as a drill: say it, wait, and accept any answer in Somali or English. Children learn phrases from hearing them at the right time, and the native recording on this page gives you the model to copy.

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