Somali Family (Kinship Terms)
Somali
Naag(ta)
English Meaning
Woman (the)
Notes
Naago(ha)
Women (the)
Nin(ka)
Man (the)
Niman(ka)
Men (the)
Xaas(ka)
Wife (the) / wife Also includes the woman’s children &
livestock (goats & sheep), in that sense it
& children
means “family” or “dependants”
Xaasas(ka)
Wives (the)
Xaaskayga
My wife
Ninkayga
My husband /
man
Naagtayda
My wife / woman
Hooyo (da)
Mother (the)
Aabbo (ha)
Aabbe (ha)
Father (the)
Hooyaday
My mother
Aabbahay
My father
Wiil (ka)
Boy / son (the)
I’nan (ka)
Boy / son (the)
Ina’n (ta)
Girl / daughter
Gabar (ta)
Gabadh (dha)
Wiilkayga
Girl / daughter
Gabadhayda
My daughter
Also reflexive = a mother says “hooyo” to
her child in response to her child calling
her “hooyo”
Also reflexive = a father says “aabbo” to
his child in response to his child calling
him “aabbo”
Without the article the gender is known
by the high falling tone & stress on first
syllable.
Without the article the gender is known
by the rising tone & stress on second
syllable.
My son
In some areas also “my wife”
Somali
Nin Soomaali
ah
English Meaning
A Somali man
Naag Soomaali
ah
A Somali woman
Wiil Soomaali
ah
A Somali boy
Gabar
Soomaali ah
A Somali girl
Walaal(ka/sha) Sibling (male or
female)
Walaalka
the Brother
Notes
Also by extension all fellow Somalis
Walaasha
the Sister
Walaalo (ha)
siblings
Walaalkay
My brother
Walaashay
My sister
Abboowe (ha)
Elder brother
Also polite way to address another male
Abbaaye (da)
Abbaayo (da)
Adeer (ka)
Elder sister
Also polite way to address slightly older
female person
paternal Uncle
Paternal = “Father’s side”; also polite for
of address to any older Somali man
Abti (ga)
maternal Uncle
Maternal = “Mother’s side”
Eeddo (da)
paternal Aunt;
step-mother
maternal Aunt
Paternal = “Father’s side”; also polite for
of address to any older Somali woman
Habaryar (ta)
Adeerkay
Abtigay
Eeddaday
My uncle; my
father’s brother
My uncle; my
mother’s brother
My aunt; my
father’s sister
Also by extension all fellow Somalis
Maternal = “Mother’s side”
Somali
Habaryartay
Ayeeyo (da)
(Ayeey (da)
English Meaning
My aunt; my
mother’s sister
Grandmother
(the)
Awoowe (ha)
Awoow (ga)
Grandfather
(the)
Ayeeyday
My grandmother
Awoowgay
My grandfather
Soddog (ga)
Father-in-law
Soddoh (da)
Mother-in-law
Seeddi (ga)
Brother-in-law
Dumaashi (ga)
Brother-in-law
Dumaashi (da)
Sister-in-law
Ayeeyo
hooyo
Abti
Awoowe
hooyo
Notes
(of a man) wife’s brother or sister’s
husband
(of a woman) husband’s brother
Awoowe
Aabbo
Ayeeyo
Aabbo
Adeer
Hooyo
Adeer
Aabbo
Carruurtooda
Habaryar
Cali
walaalahiis
Ilma-abti
(Ina-abti)
Cali abti buu u yahay.
Cali adeer buu u yahay.
Ilma-adeer
(Ina-adeer)
Eeddo