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TRANSCRIPT
PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
OP TEI
S OMA L I L A N GUA GE
WITH A
OF SENTENCES.
REV . FE. EVANGELISTE DE LARAJASSE,
VEN. FE. CYPRIEN DE SAMPONT,88. l
'BANCIlCI CAP. PROVINCIE LUGDUNENBIB IN GALLIK, ADUHNI.
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH ,TRUBNER co ., In n ,
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, Cmme Gnose Rom.
P R E F A C E .
IN presenting to the public this work, we have no other
intention than to give the first elements of a PracticalGrammarof the Somali Language. Therefore we have omitted all
philological questions referring to the origin of the Somalilanguage itself or to the formation of the words, as being
derived either fromthe Arabic,Abyssinian , Galla, Suwahili or
Indian languages .
Allwe would say now is that,although a great number of
Arabic words are used,by the Somali, the construction of the
language is quite different fromthe Arabic,in the inflections
of nouns and adjectives, the conjugation of verbs,and the
formation of sentences.
On the other hand,the dissimilarity existing between it and
the Galla is quite as great ; and if in these two languages there
is any affinity (which cannot be denied) , there is neverthelessmuch of a very opposite character.
Our complete ignorance of the Abyssinian and Suwahili
languages prevents us frommaking any comparison with them;but
,according to the statement of competent persons, no aflinity
exists between themand the Somali language, although severalwords are common to allthree tongues .
vi PREFACE.
We nevertheless believe that the daily intercourse of the
Arabs with the Somalis has given to their language that strongguttural pronunciation which surprises allEuropean s when
they hear it spoken for the first time,and gives themthe
impression that such a strange language is difficult, not to say
impossible, tomaster.
If God favour us with life,health and time
,in a subsequent
study we hope to be able to satisfy the curiosity of philologistsand other learned men by presenting to themsome historicaland philologicalsketches on the origin and formation of this so
characteristic a language, differing as it does so much fromothers spoken in East Africa.
SeveralManuals,either on the Somali people or of their
language, have been published already ; but the only one we
kn ow,having perused it when commencing our study of Somali,
is 9. Grammar published in 1882 by Major Hunter, first Assistant Resident at Aden , and Consulof the Somali Coast. This
author, in his Preface, gives the causes of the insufficiency of
his work,which was not complete when he was appointed else
where. I prefer,
!says he, to present this work
,incomplete
as it is in the above respects,rather than risk the possibility of
anything interfering to prevent its ultimate publication .
! We
sincerely congratulate himon having done so,for with his data,
we have been able to succeedmore quickly than we expected inour own researches . Themistake of this author
,if wemay call
it amistake, has been to generalize toomuch certain principles,instead of simply showing how to speak Somali. It is preciselythe insufficiency ofMajor Hunter
’
s Grammar which has inducedus to publish ours .
PREFACE. vii
More recently another work on the Somalilanguage has beenpublished in Berlin by Dr. Schleicher. This
,however
,ismore
a study on the Somali language in respect of its afi nity with
the other languages spoken in East Africa, than a grammar of
practicaluse to anyone wishing to learn the language.
If we kn ow how to forma sentence to express our thoughtsin an intelligible manner, we may say that we know the
language we speak,that we understan d its character. There
fore,in order to facilitate the study of the Somali language
to the large number of persons who have been and would
be disheartened by its peculiarities, irregularities and evenmysteries, we publish without delay this firstfruit of long,constant and persevering labour. Although not as yet perfect,it willbe a great help to anyone wishing to learn the Somalilanguage, and the difi culties which at first sight seemedinsuperable, willbe found not so great as they were thoughtto be.
In this PracticalGrammar,as wellas in our Somali Voca
bulary, we give the words as they are pronounced and used in
Berberah,the chief place of business in Somaliland, at which
the different tribes call several times during the year . We
treat firstly of the forms and inflections of the words,and
afterwards present as clearly as possible the construction of the
language as it is spoken allaround us.
Forus, this work has been themore arduous in that the onlyliterature this language possesses is some prayers translatedfromthe Arabic
,besides traditions and stories, and poems
orally transmitted in each tribe. Indeed,without the help of
some young Somalis brought up and educated in our Mission
PREFACE.
at Aden,we should have been unable to publish so soon our
researches.
The great desire, not to say the will, of the Propaganda of
Rome being that Roman characters should be used for all
classicalworks which Missionaries publish on the languages of
the peoples they are sent to,we therefore
,for writing Somali
phonetically, employ (1) the Roman characters with their Latin
pronunciation, (2) some signs used in the Syrian alphabet
(S . J. Beyrouth) for the transliteration of Arabic into Romancharacters
,and (3) the letter a, as explained in the Alpha
beticalTable.
Now,we hope that our essay, in spite of the inherent im
perfections of a first work, willbe favourably accepted, and thatit willcontribute to and encourage amore thorough study of
this language, a knowledge of which would be so usefulto thosetravellers and sportsmen who yearly visit the Somali country,either for science or for sport.
C O N T E N T S .
PREFACEINTRODUCTIONa
—Alphabet and Pronun ciationTHE ARTICLE (CRAP. I ) .
Singular.—With Masculine Nouns .
With Feminine NounsPlural. -With Masculine Noun s
With Feminine NounsDistinctions of—a,
—i, —uUse of a. and i without SupportArticle employed alon e
THE NOUN (CRAP.
Of GenderOf NumberOf the CasesList of Nouns of RelationshipList of Utensils, Tools, &c . .
Illustrative SentencesTHE NUMERALS (CRAP. III.)
CardinalNumbersDistributive NumbersPeriodicalNumbersFraction sNAMES or MONEY
OrdinalNumbersIndefinite Numerals
CONTENTS.
TRE ADJECTrvE (CRAP. IV.)Adjectives of QualityInfiection and AgreementDegrees of Comparison
ON EUPHONY (CRAP. V .)
THE PRONOUN (CRAP. VI.)PersonalPronouns
Cases ofThe Particles wa, ba, ya
Relative PronounsReflexive PronounsIntmogatz
‘
ve Pronouns
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNs (CRAP. VI. a)Simple Possessives
Interrogative Possessives
Indefinite Adjective Pronouns
VERB (CRAP. VII.)On the Different Kinds of V erbsMoods and TensesRegular and Irregular.
—Rules
Conjugation .—Classes
TABLE OF CONJUGATION OF REGULAR VERRsIn terrogative FormNegative Form.
Interrogative Negative FormIRREGULAR VERBs
Lists of . .
Conjugation of hai,‘
ha
ve !
CONTENTS.
Irregular Verbs (continued)Conjugation of 050, say, tell
oll,‘lie
,abide
obon,DEFECTIvE VERDs :mayo, wah
The Verb of Existence, To BE
ATrRrBOTrVE VERRs
Conjugation of ahaw , be’
Attributive V erbsExamples of Attributive V erbs
On the Root leh, be possessed of, haveConjugation of lahaw , have
PASSIVE VERBsAuxmrARr VERBs
ADVERBS (CRAP. VIII .)Of TimeOf PlaceOf Quantity and othersOf Quality and Manner
PREPOSITIONS (CRAP. IX .)List of V erbsmodified by PrepositionalParticles “
CONJUNCTIONS (CRAP. X .)
INTEBJECTIONS (CRAP. X I.)
MANUAL OF SENTENCES .
1 . ORDERS2 . QUEsTIONs AND ANsWERs
3. ComnsATIONAL SENTENoEs
Master and Servant
xi
CONTENTS.
ConversationalSen tences (continued)Eating and DrinkingWalking
—V isiting .
WeatherTime .
Age.—Relstion s
Writing LettersClothingFurniturePlace, Position—QualitiesFire and SmokingGarden and Plants
NumberAnimalsHorses and RidingMon ey, Buying and SellingTravellingSportSalutations
4. MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCEs
EXPLANATION OF THE ABBREVIATIONS.
PronounAdverb
num.0.
Particleinterrogativenegative
Preposition
literallyvidelicet, namely
demonstrativepossessivepersonalinterrogativereflexiverelative
intransitiveauxiliaryattributiveimpersonaldefectivecausativereflexivepassive
chapteraffix
paragraphexampleperson
Page 128, 5th line fromfoot,middle column ,
ER R A TA .
4th line, read fnlai, instead of falai.
On the word nephew, read inanki walalkai, instead of walakai.niece, read inanti, instead of inanki.
9elations , read higal, instead of higal.
little, read hoga, instead of hOg'
a.
No . 102,in the example
,read several boys beat, instead of
severalbeat.
7th line fromfoot, read ‘uslaid, instead ofuslaid.
8th hoton , hotomi, instead ofhoton , hotomi.5th mawaidinan , instead ofmawanaidinan .
6 th and 8th lines fromtop, read hurdaya, instead ofurdaya.
lst and 5th lines fromfoot, read dintai, instead of dintai.
2nd line fromfoot, read auliyadaha, instead of auliyaddaha.
15th line fromtop, read degaleh, instead of degaleh.
iss humai, instead of in humai.11th line fromfoot, read ins ka daur, instead of iss ka. danr.
12th abbihls dimai, instead of din ai.
3td wah, instead of wah.
8: hohta , instead of hebtu.
5th hidigtu, instead of hedigtu.
5th jogsanen , instead of jogsane.
5th top, wa imanayai, instead of imanaya.
11th foot, wall, instead of wah.
loth top (2nd read yidahden , instead of yidaden .
Under PotentialMood, Past, 9th and l0th lines fromfoot, add
oflan ,reading wahan odan kari laha, instead of wahan
kari laha and wahed o '
dan kari lahaid, instead of
wahad kari lahaid.
l5th line fromtop (2nd read holo, instead of holo.
2 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
The letters a, e, i, o, u, w are vowels ai, ei, an, aw , ow are
diphthongs w , however, is a vowelonly when following the lettersa and o, forming with themthe diphthongs aw and ow .
Allthe other letters are consonants.
PRONUNCIATION.
Of the Simple Vowels.
is either long or shortwhen long it is pronounced as in English father.
’
short cat,mat.
’
has the sound of a in such words as face, Space but when this
vowelstands before a consonant ending a syllable,it has n early the
sound of a in the word care.’ Ex . ader, paternaluncle,’ pronounced alt-dare.
is either long or short.When long it is pronounced as i in ravine.’
short spin .
’
When i is either preceded or followed by h, or when marked withthe Sign (thus,
‘1 and it has nearly the sound of e.
is sounded like 0 in the word tone,’ when it is long.as 9, come) , Short.
Ex. food,’ pronounced sore ; kol, time
,
’
pronounced Icoll.
TRE ALPHABET. 3
has the sound of 00 in the word pool’ when long,and that of u
in the word pull when short. Ex . gfir, marriage, ’ pronouncedgoors ; gur, pick up,
’ pronounced goor . When uis either preceded or followed by hard consonants , as h, b, it is sometimes pronounced nearly as uin tusk.
’
8 (‘em)
The Arabic gutturalsound ofC (
the pronunciation of which can
be learn t only froma native) being of frequent occurrence in the
Somali language, the vowels a, e, i, o, 11 when having that sound are
marked with a reversed comma either on their right or their left,as shown in the table (p.
Of the Diphthongs.
ai
is pronounced by some tribes as i in the word Bible, ’ and as ai in
the word paint by others. In the past tense of the Indicative theendings in ai are nearly always pronounced like ai in paint.’
In a few words these two letters must be sounded separately ; inthat case the letter i willbemarked with two dots
has the sound of ei in the English ‘ feign .
’
is sounded as aw in the word cow .
’
4 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
has the same sound as an, but is used to represent that sound inwords where other vowels follow, and also in attributive verbs .
This diphthong has a kind of hollow sound like that of Oh-ao
pronounced in an empty cask.
b
is sounded as in English‘ baby,’ but more forcibly and with a sort
ofp sound .
(1
has a clear and distinct sound as in the English did .
’
6
is the cerebrald of the Sanscrit. Some Somalis pronounce this consonant nearly as rd in English hard
,
’card its proper pronunciation
can be attained only by practice. There is, however, not verymuchdifference between the pronunciation of d and d at the commencementand at the end of words. In pronouncing d the tongue is allowedto appear between the teeth, whereas to pronounce d the tonguemust be somewhat curved against the front of the palate .
as in English ‘ for,
’ ‘ if.’
TRE ALPHABET. 5
8
is invariably hard,as in English gamble
, get, give.’
as in English hare .’
h
is an aspirate strongly breathed out fromthe chest, like the Arabic
7. ha .
1!
represents the sounds of the three Arabic lettersC (5 6
. MostSomalis pronounce any one of these sounds like the German ch as
pronounced in Switzerland in the words chirurg,’ hochzeit,’ ‘loch,’
the gutturalpronunciation not being the same everywhere. In orderto avoid confusion andmultiplication of sounds we have adopted thissign , although we know that n early two-thirds of these words commence with the Arabic [5
k
as in English kite it is in terchangeable with g.
as in English ‘
jump,’ lily.
’
as in English mammon ,
This consonant is generally strongly sounded, like rr in parrot.
’
There are a few exception s where it is sounded nearly as cerebrald.
6 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
is a strong sibilant resembling as in English hiss .
’
English shore.’
is sounded as in English tattoo,’
and is interchangeable with d.
as in English walk.
’
Y
as in English yes,’ York .
’In some words this letter is pronounced
like th in the English ‘ loathe.’ Ex .maya, no,’ pronounced as if
(English)matha .
The consonants p, v, and 2 do not exist in the Somali alphabet asseparate letters, but their sounds have a reciprocal correspondence tothose of the letters b, fl) , and s : p to b, v to f and b, 2 to s.
The accent falls as a rule on the penultimate syllable. If a wordcontain severalsyllables, it generally has a secondary accent.The rules of Euphony, which naturally should follow the explana
tion of voweland consonant sounds , will be given after the chapterson the Article
,Noun , and Adjective . These rules will be better
understood when the student has learn t a number of words, and en
countered the instances of euphony, contraction and elision , &c. ,
which occurunder the Noun,Article, and Adjective.
TRE ARTICLE. 7
CHAPTER I .
PARTS OF SPEECH.
1. In the Somali language the Parts of Speech are, as in European
Ianguages, Article, Noun, Adjective, Pronoun , Verb, Adverb, Con
junction , Preposition , and Interjection . Although some modernEnglish grammarians treat the Article as a Demon strative Adjective,we devote to it a whole chapter, on account of (1) its formation ,whichwillseemvery strange to European students ; (2) its importance indistinguishing the gender of noun s and (3) theusefulness of a knowledge of it in the study of Demonstrative and Possessive Adjectives .
PARA I .
THE ARTICLE.
2. There is no Indefinite Article in Somali. Nouns not inflectedby any particle have of themselves an indefinite sense, as wellin the
pluralas in the singular .
Ex. Callaman ormen , nin or niman uyed (lit. aman ormencall) .
3. The particle ha is often either added to a noun , or immediatelyfollows it
, when the noun is to be taken in an indefinite sense.Ex. ninba, aman ; libah ha, a lion dibi ba, an ox.
But this particle is not an indefin ite article.
(i.) ha points out that the indefin ite noun with which it is usedis the subject of the sentence.
Ex . There was a camelyesterday, shalai aurba Jlrai (lit. yesterday camelhe was) .
8 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex. There is a camelin the jungle, am‘bamiyi joga (lit. camelhe the jungle lives in) .
A certainman was at Bulshar, hebelba Bulahar jogi Jlrai(lit. a certain he Bulshar living in was) .
N.B.—In the last example, the word hebel, ‘
a certain ,
’themeaning
of which is quite indefinite, should be used without another indefiniteparticle ; Somalis nevertheless use be. with it, for hebelis the subjectof the verb jogi jirai.
(ii.) be is not used when the subject can be known , as for exampleby an incidentalsentence .
Ex. An ox which I saw in the jungle is a bad one, dibi an or
banmiyiga kuarkai, wamid (dibi) hun (tit. an ox Ithe jungle in I saw , is one (ox) bad) .
(iii.) ha is not used when the indefinite noun is the object of thbverb .
Ex . There was in Berberah aman who killed a lion , beri horcBerberah nin ba jirai, libah dilai.
N.B.— In this sentence there are two indefinite nouns
,nin and
libah ; nin , the subject, has ha, and libah, the object, is without it.
(iv.) ha is even used with nouns when quite definite.
Ex . Long ago, David marched against Goliath and vanquishedhim
, we. horai, han d he. Goliath ubahai 0 ka ad
kadai (lit. Long ago, David he Goliathmarched againstand vanquished him) .
God said, Be earnest in your prayers, Ilakha yidi, bariadinaadkaya or In sakada (lit. God he said , In your prayersbe earnest) .
Theman is going, ninki ba tagaya, or ninki wa tagaya
(lit. theman he is going).
10 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
9. When the noun it is proposed to define is masculine, the con
sonants k, g, h are employed according to the following euphonicrules. !
10. k is used when the noun terminates in a consonant ; in this
case the Article willbe ka, ki, ku.
Ex . af,mouth afka, —ki, —ku, themouth.
baris, rice bariska, — ki, -kn , the rice.wil, boy wilka, —ki, —kn , the boy .
walal, brother walalka, — ki, — ku, the brother.
11. g is employed
(i.) when the noun ends with the letter g or k. In this case k is
changed into g before the Article.
Ex . arag , sight aragga,—g'i, — gn, the Sight.
dugag , beast dugagga, — gi, -gu, the beast.
ilig , tooth iligga,—g
’i, — gu, the tooth.
shabak, net shabagga,—gi,—gu, the net.
(11 ) When the noun ends with the voweli, g is preferred .
Ex. adi, sheep and adiga,—g
’i, — gn, the sheep andgoats (herd) goats (herd) .
bari, east bariga,-g'i, — g
'
n, the east.burl, tobacco buriga, — g
'i, — gu, the tobacco .
miyi, jungle, desert miyiga, — gi, — g'u, the jungle, desert.N.B.
—The noun miyi is of very frequen t use,and is often em
ployed without the article,although definite.
In the Examples, nouns to which the definite article, the ending of the in
definite plural, or any other particle is added willbe represented by a short line
when there is no possib ility of confusion.
THE ARTICLE. 11
(iii.) when the noun ends with ow , aw, an , or ai that is pronouncedas English i.
Ex . gabow, old age gabowga,—gi,—gn, the Old age.
hallan, loss hallauga, — gi, -gn, the loss .
kollai, basket kollaiga,—gi,
—gu, the basket.
12 . h is employed
(i.) when the noun ends with h or h (strong aspirate) preceded bya 01
' 0.
Ex . hangaraleh, scorpion hangaralaha, hangaralihi, han
garaluhu, the scorpion .
dagah, stone dagahha, dagihhi , dagnhhu,the stone .
dayah,moonthemoon .
Except ardah, place or verandah before a tent,’ which makesardahga,
—gi,—g'u, the
N.B.—The changing of the finalvowels of these nouns into the
same vowel as that of the Article must be well observed by thestudent, for it is of frequent occurrence and a knowledge of it is of
very great importance for the understanding of spoken Somali.
(ii.) when the noun ends with h preceded by the vowel o, or with
h preceded by any vowel.
Ex. halloh, curve, bend hallohha, — hi ,—hn , the curve,bend .
fnrnh, small-pox fumhha, — hi, —hu, the smallpox .
hih, smoke hihha, —hi, —hu, the smoke.fab, consultation fahha, — hi, —hu, the consul
tation .
12 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
(iii.) when the noun ends with a or a‘, or the diphthong ai whenpronounced as ei in feign . These nouns also change the finalvowelor diphthong before a, i, u, like those of 12
N .B.—In many words ending in ai or ei Somalis make no difl
‘
e
rence in sound . Some tribes pronounce themlike i in Bible, otherslike si in feign .
Ex . abba, father
busta, blanket
— a, coward
kabadal, —ei or —a, traveller
PARA. IV .
Rules for the Use of the Definite Article.—F '
eminineNouns.
13. When the noun it is proposed to define is feminine the consonants t, (1, sh are employed.
14. t is used with nouns terminating in a con sonant.
Ex .
‘adab, hell
‘adabta, — ti, — tu, the hell.
bein , lie bointa, — ti, —tu, the lie.
naf, soul naf'ta, -ti, — tu, the soul.
15. d is used
(i.) with nouns terminating in d or d (cerebral) .Ex . bad, sea badda, — di, —du, the sea.
abbaba, abbihi, abbuhu,the father.
bustaha, bustihi , burtu
hu, the blanket.
hnfa‘ha, hnfl
‘hi, hufu‘hu,the cough.
fulaha, fulihi, fululm,the coward .
kabadaha, kabadihi , ka
badnhu, the traveller.
TRE ARTICLE. 13
Ex . mnrwad, esteem, respect murwadda, — di, — da , theesteem.
gahad, girl gabadda,— di , —da , the
girl.
(ii ) with nouns ending in h, h and 11.
Ex . sodoh,mother-in-law sodohda, — dl, — du, themother-in-law .
deh,middle dohda, — di, — du, the
middle .
deh, generosity dehda, — di, — da , thegenerosity .
mindh, broom minfihda, — di, — da , thebroom.
aah,midnight sabda, -di , — du, themidn ight .
(iii.) with nouns terminating in a vowel. N .B.— In this in stance
the finalvowelo is changed in to a when the Article is affixed .
Ex . hoyo,mother hoyada, -di, — du, the
mother.
hedo, wooden platter (dish) hedada, — di , —du, the
wooden platter.
‘asho, day (24 hours) ‘
ashada, — di , —du, the
mindi , knife mindida, du, thekn ife .
bu, pupil(of the eye) buda, —di ,— du, the pupil(of the eye) .
16 . sh is employed with nouns terminating in l. In this instance1 is changed into 811.
Ex . bil,month bisha, bishi , bishu, themonth.
duhul, coal duhusha , dubashi, duhushu, the coal.il, eye isha, ishi , ishu, the eye .
hal, she-camel hasha, hashi, hashu, the she-camel.
14 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PARA. V .
TRE DEFINITE ARTICLE— FLORAL .
17. The consonants used to support the vowels a, i, 11 when aflixed
as Articles to definite nouns in the pluralare (1 and sh formasculin enouns, and h and k for feminine nouns .
N.B.—Observe well this peculiarity of the Somali language, viz.
the use of the feminine supports (1 and sh for defining masculin epluralnouns, and of the masculin e supports h and k for definingfeminin e pluralnouns .
Masculinemonosyllables only are excepted.
WithMasculineNouns.
18. Masculinemonosyllables that formthe pluralby repeating thefinalconsonant preceded by the vowela take the same article in the
pluralas in the singular.
Indef. Plural. Def. Plural.
Ex . der, he-gazelle derar, he-gazelles derarka, —ki, —ku.
‘an , cheek ‘
aman, cheeks ‘amanha,—ki, — ku.
af,mouth afaf,mouths afafka, —ki, — kn.
N.B.— In this instance nouns ending in 11 change it in tomin the
19. Nouns forming their indef. pluralin -o or -yo take da, (11, (111when defin ed
,and (as already seen 15, iii! ) the letter 0 is changed
into a before (1.Indef. Plural. Def. Plural.
ditsiro, dibsiyada.— di, —da .
These references are to the numbered paragraphs and the sub-sections under.
TRE ARTICLE. 15
20. Nouns forming their indefinite pluralin -yalchange 1 into shin the definite plural.
Def. Plural
Ex . abba, father abbayasha,— shi, — shu.
tuka, crow
PARA . VI .
Definite Article Plural, with Feminine Nouns.
21. Feminin e nouns forming their indefinite pluralin -o or-yo are
made definite by the mas. sing. art., ha, hi, hu. In this in stancefinal0 undergoes the same changes as for the singular. See 12
Indef. Plural. Def. Plural.
Ex .
‘alol, belly ‘
alolo , ‘alolaha,
‘alolihi,‘aloluhu.
fori, hiss, whistle foriyo, foriyaha, foriyihi , foriyuhu.
shini , bee shiniyo, shiniyaha, shiniyihi, shiniyuhu.
22. Femin ine nouns forming their indefinite plural in -in or -oin
are defin ed by ka, ki, ku.
Indef. Plural. Def. Plural.
Ex . hoyo,mother hoyoinka, —ki, -ku.
malal'koin , malal'koinka, — ki, — ku.
PARA . VII .
DISTINCTIONS IN MEANING OF
23. As already said in Para . 11. of this Chapter «5 each of the
vowels a, i, n has a different significance. It is very difficult toestablish InvarIable rules for the use of these sounds, for Somalisthemselves are neither regular nor precise in their employment.Nevertheless, out of the usualmanner of speaking in Berberah, we
16 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
have been able to frame the following direction s, which we thinkwillbe usefulto the student
,although in a great number of cases
practice alone can show how these syllables are to be employed .
The Articles,as already seen , are
For Masculine Nouns .
n eit her; n sLhi ; 1:11. t
For Feminine Nouns.
ta, da, sha ; ti, di , shi ; tn, du, shu.
a is employed :(a) when the person or thing spoken of is actually present.
(b) when the person or thing spoken of, being known to the
speaker and hearer, is at hand, if not actually in view.
(c) a is ordinarily used when stability, a habitual state, and
the idea of possession are to be expressed .
(d) a is also frequently preferred to the other sounds with theImperative Mood , and for the objective case .
(e) a is ordinarily not used with nouns when the subject of
the sentence, except when a present habitual state, or
an idea of permanence (as when speaking of God) is to
be expressed.
N.B.—It is of great importance to remark here that a is also used
for Demonstrative and Possessive Adjective Pronouns in the 2nd
pers. sing. But in this case the accent is laid on the 6.
25. (ii.) i is employed(f ) when the person or thing spoken of is not in view of the
speaker.
(y) when the person or thing spoken of is known both to thespeaker and hearer, but is not at hand, or is supposednot to be near.
18 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Examples (continued) .kitabki (11.j ) inanka (i. c) n isku
(for miska yu) saranyahai ,ar
kitabka inanku(iii.j )miskusa
inanka (i. e) kitabkisumiskusa
suldanka (i. c) gartisa (i. d) an
kuka la bahno,magalada (i. e) suldan ba laha,markabka (i. c) todobad jogi,
07‘
markabku(iii.j) todobad bujogi,Ilah keliah ya jira,Ilahha wein , or Ilahhi weina,Sahebka (i. c) jannada iyo dulka,
or
Ilahha wein e jannada iyo dul
ka ba leh,
Isaga wahwalba aburai,Ilahhasa (i. 0) me] walba jll‘a,
07‘
Ilahhasu (iii. t) mel walba wajira,
Isaga (i. c) wah walba yahan ,
07‘
Isagu(iii. l) wah walba wa or
W rattan.Wahha ad madalihaga iyo alo
shada kuhaisata wa garta,
The boy’s book is on the table.
Let us be submitted to the judgment of the Sultan .
The town belonged to the Sultan .
The ship will remain (stay) oneweek.
There is one God .
The great God.
The Lord of Heaven and earth,
or
The great God to whomHeavenand earth belong.
He has created allthings.
That God is everywhere.
He knows everything.
He knows everything youhave inyour head and in your heart.
TRE ARTICLE. 19
Examples (continued ) .ma kitabki (ii. i) ninka (i. c), Is it theman ’
s book ?anig
'u(iii. j) shalai bahalki (ii. h) Yesterday I saw Mr. Schmidt’shawaja (i. c) Schmidt ban wild animals.
abhaddi (11. g) i ken , Bringme the smallbox .
faraski (ii. 9) ninka (i. c)me ? Where is theman ’s horse ?
dibigasu(iii. l) wa kisi, That ox is his .
maha ninku(iii.j) samainaya ? What is theman doing ?v ilku(iii. l) wa gabanyahai, la The boy is small, but not bad .
tasu(iii. l) we walasha, That is your sister.
That is your son .
PARA. VIII .
The Use Of a and 1 w ithout Support.
28. The sound a. This sound is very often employed at the end
of nouns in an indefinite or partitive sense . At first hearing thisseems to be an indefin ite article ; but after inquiry we found that
(i.) This sound may optionally be added to a noun taken in an
indefinite sense, e.g. in the sentence
An elephan t and a sand antelope met one day, marodi iyosakaromalina kulmai ;
in stead of employingmalin with a, we can say
marodi iyo sakaromalin kulmai, ormarodi iyo sakaro yamalin kulmai, ormarodi iyo sakaromalin wada kulmai.
For roba yimi, ‘ it rain ed,
’Somalis also say rob ba yimi and rob
20 SOMALI GRAMMAR
(ii.) When added to nouns taken in a partitive sense, this sound is
not simply that of a, but is for all,meaning being,’root of the verb
t hat ,
‘ be’
(see 111,
Ex . Bringme a dish ofmeat, hedo hilibah i ken (lit. a dish
beingmos t tome bring) .Giveme some rice, in barin h i si (lit. a part or some being
rice tome give) .
(iii.) This sound is very often a change from0 into a according tothe rules of Euphony (see and also a kind of contraction in
the pronunciation of pluraldefinite nouns.
Ex. There was a day,‘asha (for ‘
asho) walla JIrai.Water ! biyaha ! wood ! horiyaha !
These cries of water and wood-sellers seemto be biya and bot iya,but they really are biyaha ! and horlynka ! pluralof biyo and hori.
29. The sound 1. This sound is generally employed with certaincollective noun s, as rag , men (in general) , ragi, men or the men ;gel, camels, geli, camels or the camels ; hi d, fowls, hadi, fowls or thefowls, or birds in gen eral and some other nouns when they are usedin a generalor indefin ite sense .
Ex . In the Somali countrymen are not strong, but women are
If the camels carry rice in to the jungle, they will be cap
tured, anri hadaimiyiga baris uhado, wa la da‘a.
A crow and the other birds assembled, tuka or tukai iyo
The wind is bad , dabaili wa huntahai.
Here dabaili is taken in a general sense, otherwise we should say
dabaishi.
THE ARTICLE. 21
The vowel i is sometimes added to adjectives of quality ; inthi s case the noun qualified, although defin ite, is used without thearticle.
Ex . The good fathers are few,the bad ones are numerous, abbai
wanaksani wa yaryahai, or abbayalwanaksani wa
yaryihin, abbayalhunhumi wa badanyihin .
PARA. IX .
TRE DEFINITE ARTICLE, WREN EMPLOYED ALONE.
30. It frequently happens, especially in speaking, that the articleska, ki, kn and ta, ti, tn , instead of being added to nouns as affixes,are employed alone. ka, ki, kn are used formasculine and ta, ti, tnfor feminine nouns . The other forms of the article are always usedas affixes.
Ex. ka, ki, kn kaleh, the otherta, ti, tn kaleh, the otherka, ki, kn hore, the first
labad, the secondta, ti, tn dambe, the last
afrad, the fourth
31. The forms ki and ti are very often used as Demonstrative Pronouns (see
Ex. ki shalai, that of yesterdayti shalai,
But in such instances the forms ka, kn , ta, tn are generallyreplaced by ken , dem. pm. for themasculin e, and tas, dem. pm. for
the feminine.Ex . kanmanta, that or the one of to-day
tasmanta,
22 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CHAPTER II .
THE NOUN.
PARA. I .
32. Nouns are of two kinds, Proper and Common .
33. We shallnot treat here grammatically of ProperNouns. Manyare derived fromthe Arabic, and others are traceable to a root givingtheir signification.
34. Common nouns may be divided into the following varieties,viz. Collective
,Materialand Abstract Nouns .
35. Collective Nouns denote a number of things thought of to
gether as a whole as,
children , the children .
dad, dadki people, the people .
dumar, dumarki women , womankind , the women , &c .
‘011,‘ollki army, enemy, the amiss, the enemies .
adi, adigi (sing) , adiyo, adiyihi goats and sheep
(herd) , the goats and sheep .
N.B.—When collective nouns are used in the singular form, they
have no plural; and when used as collective nouns in the pluralform,they have no Singular. Exception adi, goats and sheepwhich has the two forms, with the samemeaning in each.
38. MaterialNouns denote substances as,
birr, birrti iron,the iron .
dagah, dagihhi stone, the stone .
37. AbstractNouns denote qualities,state or condition , and actions.
There are notmany abstract nouns in the Somali language ; especiallyfew for qualities
,virtues and vices.
TRE NOUN. 23
Ex. nolan , nolanti life, the life.‘ado,
‘alladi anger, the anger.
naharis, naharisti pity, the pity.
38. Many other abstract nouns formed by adding -nimo to a
root ; as,‘ajis, idle ‘
apsnimo, idleness.
gcsi, warrior, bold gesinimo, courage.39. Nouns of action or V erbalNouns may often be formed by
adding -nin to the verb.
N.B.— In speaking, Somalis rarely use abstract nouns ; they nearly
always express their ideas bymeans of the verb. Their manner of
forming verbal nouns is very puzzlin g, and can be learnt only bypractice, or fromthe Dictionary.
PARA. II.
40. Common Nouns are also divided into three classes : Primitive,Derivative and Compound.
41. Primitive Nouns are those which do not originate in any otherword ; but fromthemmay spring a family or set of other words.
They in clude the names of persons, animals, plants, natural objects,themembers of the body, &c . Many of themare of one syllable .Some are also used as verbs .
Ex . af,mouth , language, edge.jir, rat.
gabai, poem gabai, sing (verb) .hadal, Speech hadal, speak (verb) .
42 . Derivative Nouns comprise allthose derived fromother partsof speech, as nouns, adjectives, verbs, &c. They are formed fromthe primitive noun bymeans of inflections, affixes, &c.
24 SOMALI GBAMMAR.
Ex .
‘ad, white ‘
adan , —ki, the whiteness .
adag, strong adkan , — ti, the strength.
barki, Somali wooden barkin o, —adi, the pillow.
pillowdnl, attack (verb) dnlan , —k.i, the attack of another
tribe .
der, tall, deep, high, deter, —k.i, the depth, length,long height.
43. Compound Nouns are formed by joining two primitives, eithernoun to noun , or noun to verb.
Fromshimbir, bird,’and libah, lion ,’ is formed shimbir
libah, ‘an owl.
’
FromEdi , sheep and goats and the verb Jlr, be
with,
’is formed adiiir, ‘
shepherd,’—ki, the shepherd ,’
and —ti, ‘ the shepherdess.
’
Fromabba,‘ father,’ and the verb tirso, count for your
self, ’ is formed abtirso, make the genealogy,’ and ah
tirsiniyo, genealogy.
’
Fromaf, language,’and the verb ‘
eli, turn ,’ is formed
af‘elis ,‘ interpreter.
’
PARA. III .
OF GENDER.
44. In Somali, as in French, the gender of most nouns is quitearbitrary, and can be known only by the definite article singular.
45. Gender corresponds to sex . Living beings, viz. persons and
animals, are divided into two sexes,male and female ; or two genders,
masculine and feminine.
26 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Gender of Inanimate Things.
48. We cannot give any fixed rules for distinguishing the genderof inanimate things. The following directions , although imperfect,willnevertheless be found usefulinmaking this distinction .
49. Monosyllables forming their pluralby repeating the final con
sonant preceded by the vowela are ofmasculin e gender ; as,Plur. Gender.
afaf,mouths afki, themouthniman,men ninki, theman
50. Monosyllables not forming their pluralby the above rule are
of feminin e gender.
Plur. Gender.
‘ag, foot ‘
ago, feet ‘agti, the foot
dab, lap dabo, laps dabti, the lap
51. Nouns ending in o are generally of feminine gender ; as,arurnimo, childhood ammimadi, the childhood .
awo, in terest awadi, the interest.
52. Nouns derived fromthe Arabic, in which they terminate inare also generally of feminine gender ; as,
hekmad, Providence —di
helad, cheating
harnrad, bottle
Of Common Gender.
53. Certain nouns can be said to be of common gender, as follows(i.) Some nouns denoting a whole class of persons or animals have
the same article for both genders ; as ,
TRE NOUN. 27
Ex . dad, people , —k.i, the people (in general,men and women ) .arnr, children , —ti, the children (in general, boys and girls) .
gel, gcli, camels, the camels (male and female) .hi d, hi di, fowls, the fowlsOthers are only of common gender when indefinite . When
they are definite,themas. article points outmales and the fem. art.
females ; as ,inan, child (In . and —ki, the child or son ,
—ti, the child or
daughter.
adon , slave (m. and —ki, the slave —ti, the slaveagon , orphan (m. and —ki, the orphan —ti, the
orphanN.B.
— The word ina, son or daughter,
’ often used in Somali instead of ilmo or inan , is never inflected, and is employed indifferentlyfor both genders.
IPARA. ]WV.
OF NUMBER.
54. Nouns have two numbers, Singular and Plural.55. The singular denotes one Object. The plural denotes more
objects than one, and is formed according to the following rules
Rule I. Monosyllables are eithermas culine or feminine. Mascu
line monosyllables formthe pluralby repeating the final consonan tpreceded by the vowela ; as,
Singul
gnr, marriageder, he-gazellenin ,man‘an , cheek
Plural.
gi rar,marriages.
derar, he-gazelles .
niman ,men .
‘aman , cheeks.
28 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
N.B.-Monosyllables ending in 11 change it into min the plural.
The nouns under the above rule take in the pluralthe same definitearticle ( see 18) as in the singular, except nouns Ending in the
pluralin l, which change that letter into sh ; as ‘elal,
‘wells ’
;‘clashi,
the wells .
’
Rule IL Feminine monosyllables formtheir pluralby adding-0.
Singular. Plural.
bad, sea bado, seas.din , religion dimo, religions.
di r, oath daro, oaths .
Exception The noun il, eye,’has for its pluralindo, eyes.
’
Rule III . Most dissyllabic nouns (mas . or fem.) formtheir pluralby adding -0 or -yo. Generally dissyllabic nouns ending in i, and
many ending in f and 11, formthe pluralby adding -yo. Allothersformtheir pluralin 0 (see Dictionary) .
Singul Plural.
abban, guide, protector abbano, guides, protectors.
ahti,maternaluncle abtiyo,maternaluncles.sa
‘ad, clock, hour sa
‘ado, clocks, hours.
dullah, abcess, boil dullayo, abcesses, boils.
Rule IV. Dissyllables, mas. or fem., having the accent on the
penultimate, formthe plural by dropping the vowel of the last
syllable and adding-0.
Singul Plural.
gabad , girl gabdo, girls .
safar, caravan , travel safro, caravans, travels .
ilig, tooth ilko, teeth.
TBE NOUN. 29
Rule V. Nouns ending in a, ai, eh formthe pluralby adding -yal.
Singular. Plural.
abba, father abbayal, fathers .
falai or fnla, coward fulayal, cowards .
odai, oldman odaiyal, oldmen .
hangaraleh, scorpion hangaralayal, scorpions .
Rule VI . Femin ine dissyllables or polysyllables ending in 0 formthe pluralby adding -in.
‘asho, day ‘
ashoin , days .
‘ant
‘
ngo,mouthful ‘antngoin,mouthfuls .
dawo,medicine dawoin ,medicines.
dermo,mat dermoin ,mats .
dimaSho, death dimashoin , deaths .
N.B. Abstract nouns ending in imo have but one number.
Rule VII. A pluralwhich we will call Intensive is sometimesformed bymeans of -yaladded to the indefinite plural, and changing0 in to a ; as,
Singular . Indefinite plural.
bohol, a hundred boholo, hundredsnag , a woman nago, womengahad, a girl gabdo, girlswaran , a spear warmo, spearsdibi, an ox dibiyo, oxen
PARA. V .
OF THE CASES .
56 . The difierent cases of the noun , as Nominative, Genitive, Ao.cusative
,Dative
,V ocative and Ablative, existing in Latin and other
Intensive plural.
boholayal,many hundreds .
nagayal,many women .
gabdayal,many girls.
warmayal,many Spears.
dibiyal,many oxen .
30 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
European languages, are shown in Somali, either by the endings of
the article (see Chap. I. , Para. VIL, p . or by particles, pronouns,prepositions, &c.
57. Nominative. The nominative expresses the name of the personor thing which acts, or which is the subject of discourse . Itmay beknown
(i.) By its being expressed first in a sentence,as in
The cat ran to the dog, dinaddi si‘
gi yai kn orodai.
In this sentence the fem. subject dinaddi is known (1) by its beingexpressed first in a sentence, and (2) by the fem. pronoun yai. In
sayingThe dog ran to the cat, sigi dinaddi yukn orodai,
themas. subject, ei‘
g' i, dog,
’is known by its position and by the
mas . pronoun yn.
By the ending 11 of the article (see
(iii.) By the particles ba, wa, ya and wah.
The particle ba immediately follows the noun which is subject (seeThe particles wa, ya and wah, which last is combined ,with the
personalpronoun , may be separated fromthe subject and immediatelyprecede the verb .
Ex . Ripe figs are purple, beirdaha bisli wa gndudanyahai.Whomade the world ? duniyada ya aburai ‘iGod
,Ilahba aburai.
Blacksmiths work in iron with a furnace and bellows and
heavy hammers, tumaladn wahai ka shahaiyan birr
o mufo iyo buffimo iyo dubayal ‘ulus yai kn sha
haiyan.
58. Genitive. The genitive or possessive case shows that some
THE NOUN. 31
thing belongs to the person or thing denoted by the noun . It maybe formed
(i By placing the thing possessed before the possessor, distin
guished by the article ending in a (see 24,
Ex. Theman ’
s house, ahalki ninka.
Theman’s house is large, ahalki ninka wa weinyahai (lit.
the house theman it is large) .By adding the possessive pronoun to the thing possessed . In
this case the name of the possessor is placed first ; as,Theman’
s house is large, ninka ahalkisuwa weinyahai
(lit. theman his house it is large) .
59. Dative. The dative denotes the person to whoma thing is
given , or for whoma thing is done . It may be known fromthe
meaning of the verb,or by a particle preceding the verb if required .
This particle is often 11 alone or combined with the particles ha and
kn.
Ex. Give (to)me, i si.Give to him, 81 or udib.
Take to theman , ninki ugei (lit. theman to take) .Write the letter for the boys, inamada warhadda ngn dig .
60. Accusative. The accusative expresses the name of the personor thing which is the object of an action implied in a transitive verb .
In Somali the accusative nearly always follows the subject or nominative . Nevertheless, sometimes, ouaccount of euphony or emphasis ,it follows the verb or precedes the subject.
Ex. Theman has bought an ox,ninki (subject) dibi (object) bn
ibsadai (lit. theman an ox he has bought).God has created man for felicity, nin (object) Ebbahai
32 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
(subject) raho uabnrai (lit.man God felicity for hascreated) .
Here the object precedes the subject on account of euphony.
How do youcallGod the Son made man ? side bad ngn
Jesus Christ, wahan ugn yeda Issa Kristos.
61. Vocative. The vocative or nominative of address is used incalling, or when addressing a supplication ,
a prayer, &c. to someone .
It is distinguished by interjections or particles, as ow, yow or yohow,
which are added to the noun .
Ex. Ilahow , O God Ebbaiyow, Omy God !ninyohow, thouman ragyohow, youmen .
Ilahyohow, thouGod.
62. Ablative. The ablative, denoting taking away or going away,is expressed by the particle or preposition ka,meaning from,’ whichis very often combined with the uof the dative, or the simple pers .
pronouns. In this instance k is changed into g.
Ex. Take fromme, iga habo.Go away fromus, naga tag.
63. Another case,which we may call Instrumental, is formed by
means of the particles la, often combined with ka forming laga, andkn , often combined with 11 forming ngn.
Ex . The world ismade out of nothing, dnnidn wahba lagama
Godmade the world out of nothing and by his word only,Ilah dnnida wnhn ka abnrai babah iyo hadalkisa.
Eat with the hands, sa‘abka kn ‘nn.
Thy willbe done on earth as it is (done) in Heaven , haulkagn dnlka ha kn damado sidn (for sida yu) jannadaugusamaisan yahai.
34 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Masculine.
father-in-law and step-father, so mother-in-law and step-mother,dog,
—gi ; ader,
—ki, sodoh, — di ; ayo, — adi.
husband , nin, —ki, islan, — ki, wife, nag, — ti, afo, —adi, nri,— di, islan, — ti.
son , inan ,-ki, ina, wil, —ki, daughter, inan, — ti, ina, gahad,
brother, walal, —ki,brother-in-law ,
sedi, — gi,
nephew (my) , inanki walakai,ina walalkai, ina walashai,
walalkai ta dalai, walashai
ba dashai,
youngman , dalinyar, —ki, barbar, —ki,
young men , youths , dalinyaro,—adi, barbar, — ki,
bridegroom,or a newly married
man , arOB,—ki,
Generalnames.
relations, kindred, higal, —ki, hadid, — ki.parents and other relations, walid, —ki.family, has, —ki.tribe, toll, — ki.paternalcousin (mas. and ina ader, ilma ader
nounced in-ader, ilm-ader) .maternalcousin (mas . and ina ahti, ilma ahti.marriage, gur, — ki, gnrsad, —ki.
bachelor, dob, —ki.widow,
‘armali, —di.
sister, walal, — shi.
sister-in-law , dnmashi, — di.niece (my) , inanki, inawalalkai,ina walashai, walalkai ba
dalai, walashai ba dashai.
girl, gahad , — di, inan , — ti,
ugnb , — ki.
girls (in general) , hablo, — ihi,ugubod, — ki.
bride, or a newlymarried woman ,arosad, —di.
TRE NOUN. 35
Names some articles of furn iture, dresses, utensils and tools.
a smallbox, generallymade of the bark
of trees .
a bark vessel, shaped like a double coneand protected by a light frame called
buflmo, -adi,
busta, —ihi,dahol, — ki,a": ' ! kir
dawn, — ihi,
dereb , —ti,
demo,— adi,
deri, digsi or disti, gi,
an: — 5hi9
dnbba or dnbbai, — ihi,
bracelets for women , glass-ware .
stool(with three legs) .wooden pillow ( in the formof a crescent) .pillow (European ) .pin cers .
wedge .
woman’s belt, any band or bandage .
bellows .
blanket.
lid, cover ; daholderi, cover of a kettle.
cloth, clothes (generalname) .filter.
jug, pot, empty tin pot.pan .
two skins sewn together, used for carryingchildren .
mat.kettle, boiler.
jar made of the fibres of a certain woodfirst passed through the fire.
rope and pailused for drawing water.
hammer.
bracelet (generalname) .vesselwith a handle , used for taking up
soup or water.
hello, — adi,
hcdo sibidi, —di,hilbad. —di
had gudah, — ti,habal,
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
water-jug.
needle, pin.
pitcher.
grindstone, Whetstone .
spoon .
fork (lit. spoon having fingers) .comb for the heard : it is the same as
sahaf, —k.i, woman ’s comb.
glass .
three-legged stool.coifl
'
ure of Somali women (black lin en) .wooden tube used for blowing the fire.
large jar for ghee,made of camel’s skin .
bed (complete) , bed ormat and blanket.skin pailused in digging a well.wooden bracelet.skin bag,used to put allkinds of things in .
wooden platter, dish .
funnel-shaped wooden bowl.earring.
half of the Somali dress.
large oval wooden pan or bas in ,
manger.
wooden sandal.
large coloured Somali linen dress (sheet) .skin garment formen .
bottle.large wooden spoon , ladle, skimmer.
sandal, shoe, boot, slipper.
wooden water-cup,mug.
TRE NOUN. 37
big needle, used for sewingmats and bags .
mindi, — di, kn ife.the large Somali linen dress or sheet (for
both sexes) .
mis, — ki,moya or n oyai, — ihi,
m 01‘ ‘adai, —gi,
69. Sentences on Religion .
English. Somali (with literalEnglish translation) .
Whomade the world ? Dnniyada ya abnrai ?
world the who made (created) ?Ilah ba ahurai.God he (created) made.
fan .
broom.
table.woodenmortar.
pestle,stamper.
fork,the Somali fork which has only oneprong .
a leathern bucket used for watering cattle.tooth-brush, tooth-stick.
file.
gridiron (Somalis use a stick in the placeof iron) .
vesselmade of camel leather (used forghee) .
ladle used for soup and ghee.wooden pestle.vesselfor ghee .skins sewn together and forming amat.vessel(generalname forutensils or sets of
pots and jars) .
38 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Whomade you
Godmademe (us) .
To whose image and
likeness did God makeyou?
God made me to hisown image and likeness .
Is this likeness to Godin your body or in yoursoul
This likeness to Godis chiefly inmy souL
How is your soulliketo God ?
My soulis like to Godbecause it is a Spirit andimmortal.
dies (not) .
N.B.—Somalis always use the pronoun thou instead of you,
’when speak
ing to one person only .
Ya kn abnrai ?
Who thee"made ?Ilah ba i (na) abnrai.God be me (us) made .
Midab ma iyo ekanImage what ? and likeness
kn abnrai ?
theemade ?
God image his and likeness his hei ahurai.memade .
Ekantas Ebbahaima d kaga kn jirtaLikeness this God body thy in is
mase naftada ?or soulthy ?
Ekantas Ebbahai naftaidai urontahai.Likeness this God soulmy chiefly is .
Side naftadn Ebbahai ugn ektahai ?How soulthy God to himlike is ?
Naftaidn wahai Ilah ngn ektahai
Soulmy thing it God to him like ishaddch wa rnh o weliged wasuaibecause it is a spIrIt and never it not
TRE NOUN. 39
Of which must you Iyumad ad 11 jirta jidkagatake most care
, of your What you takemost care of body thybody, or of your soul? mase naftada ?
or soulthy ?
Imust takemost care Naftaida inan ilaliyo ban lehahai
of my soul, for Christ Soulmy that I take care I have (must)has said What doth it haddeh ‘Issa Kristos ba yidi Mahai nin
profit aman , if he gain because Jesus Christ he said What amanthe world and sufier the
loss of his own soul. !
(Matt. xiv .
Whatmust youdo tosave your soul?
To save my soul Imust worship God by
Faith,Hope andCharity ;
that is, I must believein Him, Imust hop e inHim, and I must loveHimwith my wholeheart .
to him(is enough) profit is if he world theo dun halo 0 naftisa lumiyo (or hallaiyo) .allgumand soulhis lose (lose) .
Inad naftada la bahsatid,mahadThat thousoulthy save what thou
yeli
must do ?Inan naftaida 1a bahsado, Ilahhai
That I soulmy save God
inan amin iyo sugnin iyo ja‘alan
that I Faith and Hope and Charity
kn ‘abudo ban lehahai, wahha waiyai,
himworship I have (Imust) that is
inan Isaga rumaisto ban lehahai, c
that I Him believe I have (must) andinan Isaga sngo ban lehahai 0
that I Himhope I have (must) andinan Isaga halbigaiga o dan ka ja‘aladothat I Him heartmy all fromloveban lehahai.
I have (must)
40 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
70. Manner of building the Somali tent.
English .
When the Somali arrives at any place whatever, the women sweepit,thrust into the ground
the forked stakes, and
over themthey place theboughs ; they fix in the
ground the props (of thedoor-frame) , tie the firststicks and boughs to
gether, and to themtheprops of the door-frame .
Then , one by one, theyplace over these the bentsticks and the smallboughs, and tie themall together. Over thisframework they putmatsto hide the interior of
the hut .
Somali (w ith literalEnglish tran slation ) .
Gorta Somalidn ms] nu degto,
When Somali the place whatever arrives,mesha naguhn hadan hensararkai
place this women the sweep, forked stakes
(for hensararka yai) daban or asan
the they fix or thrust into thedabadedna yu
‘ai
‘
ga yai
ground afterwards also boughs the theydnsha kaman 0 udnbkaabove place and props the (for the
yai daban o digdahadai (fordoor-frame) they setup and first sticks thedigdahada yai) kn hidan o udnbkathey to tie and props the
yai kn hidan o digaha kalehna
they to tie and bent sticks the others also
yai midmid n saran, o digabathey one by one themplace on and the
lolkaahna dnsha ka saran
smallboughs or sticks also above place0 kn hidhidan. Dabaded tunaand to them tie. After this
hararadai dnsha ka saran o akalka
mats the they above place and house
[the (or the interior of the hut)
by them is hidden.
42 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
A Somali family n everlives alone in the jungle .
Several assemble and
forma rer or village, andallat the same time takedown their huts .
Now, the first work of
these families consists inmaking two enclosures ,a smallone on the leftfor the sheep and goats ,and a large one for the
camels and cows . In
order that wild beastsmay not enter these en
closures they surroundthemwith felled trees .
When they cannot fin dtrees tomake these en
closures, they surroundthe whole rer or villagewith a ditch .
Iminka hasaskasi wahai kaga
Now families these what they w ith
bahtan shuhulkoda o labada herobegin work their and two the enclosures
yai samaiyan ,mid wa yartahai 0 WE
they make one it smallis and is
dohda 0 lab tan
left the and sheep and goats belongs to,the
kalch wa balladantahai o bahal
other it large is and wild beastso geli karimayo 0 lo‘da iyo gela
enter cannot and cows the and the
ya fallista. Gedad la gogoiyai
camels they remain in . Trees cut
ya hero lagu Oda wahaithey enclosure with themsurround thing
yidahdan cd amass Odo.
they call fence or enclosure .
Gortanai 6d
When they trees for the fence find not
boran bai rerkn kn ware) Ian.
aditch they village the with surround .
Has Somalicd keligi miyi kn
A family Somali alon e the jungle inmaaha, lakin iss n yimadan c
not is, but themselves assemble and
rer bai nobdan, o gariga
a village they form, and tent the at the
yai ka wada gnran.
same time they all take off or down .
When there is no lionn ear the village each huthas its own entrance .But if there is a lionn ear, the whole rer hasonly one entrance
,and
outside of it they sur
round the place of the
horses with a fence and
give themgrass to eat.
Sometimes they takethemto graze tillmidnight ; but if a wild
beast is near, the horsesare tied up in the cn
closure .
All the people sleepinside the en closure
,
sometimes in the hut
and sometimes outsideof it.
Themen take the cattle to graze, and have
THE NOUN. 43
Gortanai lit ka bahain ahalWhen not they a lion of afraid are housewaliba ilin bulehyahai. Hadai
each an entrance it has. If theylibahha ka babayan se
lion the of afraid sin but an en trancekeliah ya rerko ( for rerkuo) dami lehyasingle it village the all has ;
hai ; duledka hero fardaha
outside the an enclosure horses theOdan o gedo yai
themwith a fence surround and grass they
to them give.
Marmar bai
Sometimes they to graze take till
habein badka. Hadi rerka ‘agtisa
n ight half the . If village the side his
bahal jogo, fardaha heradoda
a wild beast is , horses the enclosure their
ya laguhidan .
they in to are tied .
Dadka o dami heradn ( for herada yn)People the all enclosure the they
sehedan , marmarna shalka gudi
sleep, sometimes also house the in side
hisa, marmarna ahalka hortisa.
his , sometimes also house the fron t his .
Baggu holohoda yai dajian
Men the cattle their they to graze take
44 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
nothing else to do ; the haul kaleh ma laha, hansha o dunwomen do allthe work.
a work other not have, work the all
women the do .
CHAPTER III .
THE NUMERALS.
71. TheNumerals are here treated in a separate chapter, and placedbetween theNoun and the Adjective, becausemany of them, althoughused to express the meaning of our NumeralAdjectives, are nevertheless nouns in Somali, and can be used alone.
72. To give rules would be useless, for by rules alone it would beimpossible to find out the truemanner of expressing numerals. We
simmy give a list of themwith their inflections, and explain the wayIn which Somalis use them and fromthis are deduced the necessarydirection s for their right use.
PARA. I .
CARDINAL NUMBERS .
73. All cardinalnumbers '
are nouns . They are femin ine up to
‘ eight inclusive,after which they aremasculine.
They are as follows1 kow,
— da, -di , — du. da, —di , —du.
2 laba,
3 sadeh,
4 afarr, —ka, — ki, —kn.
THE NUMERALS. 45
11 kowb iyo toban , — ka, &c .
12 lab iyo toban.
13 sadeh iyo toban .
14 afarr iyo toban .
15 shan iyo toban .
16 leh iyo toban.
17
18 sided iyo toban .
19 saga! iyo toban orlabatan
mid la.
20
21
22
23
30
40
50
60 lehdan
knn jer 0min kumah.
Observations .
74. kow, one,’is also expressed bymid and keli.
kow is used
(i.) In counting, as kow , laba, sadeh, &c .
( ii. ) In speaking of the time.
Ex . What o’clock is it ? war ! wa sa‘adma or wa gorma ? or
war ! wa imisaddi ?It is one O
’
clock, wa kowdi.It is half past one, wa kowdi iyo bad.
It is a quarter to two, wa kowdi iyo balliyo wah, or wa
labadi wah la, or wa labadi wah diman.
70 todobatan .
80 sidehtan .
90 sagashan.
100 bohol.l01 boholiyomid.
199 bohol iyo sagal iyo saga
shan , or labs boholmid la.
200 laba bohol; the 200, labadibohol, or labs boholki.
201 laba boholiyomid.
999 sagalbohol iyo sagal iyosagashan, or kunmid la.
1000 kun.
2000 laba kun .
2001 laba kun iyo mid. The
samemann er of counting as
for hundreds .
46 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . It is a quarter past one, wa kowdi iyo wah.
Come back at half past one, kowda iyo badka so noho ( sing ) ,so r10t
(iii.) To express that but one is left ; as,This is the only one I have, wa kowdan (for kowda ban)
lehahai.
This one remain s,kowda na ka hadai.
75.mid, — ka, — ki, — kn mid, — da, — di, -dn
is employed
( i.) To express one in cases where kow is not used ; as,
Giveme one,mid 1 Si, give himone,mid si.Give us one,mid 11a si, giveme the one,midha i si.Bringme one,mid la kalai, bringme the one,midki la kalai.One came mid ba yimi, the one came, midhi yimi or ba
One came mid ba timi , the one came, middi timi or be.
mid is always used in place of a noun , and never employed incounting, except with 100, 200, &c . and 1000 ; as, 101 bohol iyomid or kow ; 1001 knn iyomid.
76 . keli, — ga, gi,—gn keli, — da, — di, — dn
means ‘single one, alone .
’
Ex . A singleman , nin keliah ; a single woman , nag keliah.
Oneman alon e carried your box , nin keliah sandnhhagi
The boy alone is in the house,inanka keligi ba ahalka
kn jira.
The single woman ,nagta kelida, or nagti or nagtukeli
ahaid.
TRE NUMERALS. 47
Ex . A single woman remain ed silent, nag keliah ba amnsnaid.
The woman alone remained silent, nagti keliahaid ba
Inflections of keli with P ronouns .
I alon e work, aniga keligai or kelidai ba ka shahniya.
Thoualone workest,
adiga keliga or kelida ba ka shahaiya, or
adign keliga wa ka shabaisa.
He alone went to Aden , isaga keligi ba Adan habtai, or
isagukeligi Adan bubabtai.
She alon e went to Aden , iyada keligcd or kelided ba Adan baba
tai, or
iyadn keligcd Adan bai habatai.
We alone remained in innagukeligen yamagalada ka hadnai.the town ,
You alone were coura edinkukeligin gesi ya ahaiden, or
geons,They alone robbed that lyaga keligod holada da
‘ai, or
tribe, iyagukcligod holadasai da‘en.
77. In counting goats and sheep, in the place of bohol( 100) theword tiro is used.
Ex. I have 100 sheep, tira adiyahan (for aliiyaha an) lehahai.I have 200 goats, laba tiro o riyaah (for t iyo ah) yan
The ordinary word bohol is used in counting camels, horses,
78. The conjunction iyo joins the un its to the tens, the formerpreceding the latter. With the hundreds, theunits or the units and
tensmay either precede or follow the hundreds.
knn= 1000 always precedes the hundreds, units and ten s.
48 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
79. When a noun immediately follows the numbers 200, 300, 400,&c . , 2000, 3000, &c . , taken in an indefinite sense
,the conjunction o
is used between the numeraland the noun ; as, 200men , laba boholonin or ninah ; 500 women , shan bohol o nagod ; 200 rupees, lababoholo tubod ; 2000 sheep, laba knn o adi or alliah.
When the sense is definite , the particle e is used instead of o, ifthe article is affixed to the first numeral; as
, the 200men , labadi
boholc nin ; the 300 rupees, sadehda bohole rnbiadod or tubod.
When the article is affixed to the second numeral, neither 0 nor c
are used ; as, the 200men ,laba boholki nin ; the 300 rupees
, sadeh
boholki rnbiadod or tubod.
80. Notice also this peculiarity of kow, laba, todoba, that theybecome kowb, lab, todob when preced ing the conjun ction iyo ; andobserve the irregular formation of 30, 50, 60, 80and 90, which, according to the ordinarymanner of forming the tens, ought to be sadehtan,shantan , lehtan , sidedtan and sagaltan , but in fact are codon ,konton , lehdan, sidehtan, sagashan .
81. The order of numbers is as follows1896 knn iyo sided bohol iyo leh iyo sagashan, or sided iyo
toban boholiyo 10h iyo sagashan z eighteen hundred and ninety-six .
DISTRIBUTIVE NUMBERS .
82. Distributive numbers are expressed by repeating the Cardinalsand by walba, every ,
’mid walba and waliba,‘ every,’ ‘ each one,
’
and kasta, every one,’
allwithout exception .
’
Ex . One by one,midmid ; two by two, laba laba, &c .
Put the sheep one by one on board the ship, adigamidmid
Every day , ‘asho walba.
Put each aside or apart,mid walba goni ubehi.
50 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
113 ( sing. ) rima‘,
s’
r
The other fractionsmay be formed and expressed as followsEx. Giveme 3, todobaddamelodmol1 si.
Giveme 3, labamelod omeli ba todoba tahai i si.Giveme T1? lab iyo tobnadkamelod 11101 i si.Giveme T’, labamelod omeli ba lab iyo toban tahai
si (lit. two parts and each which twelve is tome give) .
86 . NAMES OF MONEY .
1 rupee, rnbiad, — di ; rupees, rnbiadod or tubod, — da, — di, —dn.
1 anna, gumbo, —di, or sub (Turkish name) ; 2 annas,laba gambo.
lpice or i of 1 anna, hoisad, —di ; 2 piees, laba beisadod orbeistein.
lpie or T1, of lanna, ardi ; (plural) ardiyo.
1 taleri, harshi ; harshiyo.
Cash of silver, sholaboli, —da, — di, — dn.
Cash of brass, hadadi ,
PARA. II .
87. DIRECTIONS deduced fromthe preceding statements
( i. ) Cardinalnumbers always precede the noun they limit.When limited by cardinal numbers, allmasculine nouns, and
feminine nouns ending in o, are used in the singular indefinite ; as ,tenmen , toban h ill; the tenmen, tobanki nin .
eightmothers, sided hoyo ; the eightmothers, sidcddi hoyo.
( iii.) Feminine nouns ending in a consonant,or in any other vowel
than 0, take od when they are limited by a cardinalnumber. Somefew also take either od or ad ; as,
Three women , sadeh nagod ; the three women,sadehda
nagod.
TRE NUMEBALS. 51
Ex . 100 she-camels , boholhalod or halad ; the 100 she-camels,boholki halod or halad.
Five bees, shan shiniyod ; the five bees, shanti shiniyod.
(iv .) When the persons or things spoken of are already known , thecardinalnumbers referring to themare employed alone as nouns.
Ex. Howmanymen are there ? halko nimankuimisai kn yihin ?or niman in isa halka joga ?
There are 35 shan iyo codon bainn ka heli.
(v .) V erbs having for subjects indefinite plural nouns limited byindefinite numerals are ordinarily used in the singular. The verbahaw, be,
’is generally used in the plural.
Ex. Five camels died in the jungle, shan rati bamiyi kn bahtiyai (sing ) .
Howmany are there ? in isa halka joga ? (sing )Fourteen boys live with the Padris, afarr iyo toban wilba
badriga la joga ( sing) .
There are 150, wahai yibin boholiyo konton (plural) .
(vi.) The verb of which a noun limited by a definite numeral issubject is often used in the singular, and agrees in gender either withthe numeralor with the noun limited by the numeral.
Ex . The five camels died in the jungle , shanti rati bamiyi knbahtiyai or kn bahtidai.
Here bahtiyai agrees in gender with rati,‘ camels ’ (mas. gender) , and
bahtidai with shanti, the five (fem. gender) .
Yesterday the 200men ate the ten camels at one sitting,shalai labadi bohole nin ba tobanki aur lihai ( sing .)mar keliah, or shalai laba boholki nin tobanki aur
mar kelich lihen (plural) .
As shown in the preceding example, Somalis have two ways of
R 2.
52 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
forming their sentences with numerals,either using the verb in the
singular with the particles ba or ya following the subject, or in the
pluralwith the pronouns bai or yai preceding the verb .
PARA. III .
ORDINAL NUMBERS.
88. Ordinalnumbers are formed by adding ad to the cardinalones .
They are as followslst
,first, kowad, horai or hore ; ki kownd, ki horai, the first ; or
ki sarraiyai, ka sarraiya.
Ex. He is the first of all, wa kan ugn sarraiya.
She is the first of all, wa ta ngn sarraisa.
That is the first, ka so sarraiya.
Joseph is beforeme, iga sarraiya or wa iga
raiya.
2nd, labad. 20th
,labatanad.
3rd,sadehad. 3oth, sodomad
4th, afrad. 4oth, afarrtanad.
5th,shanad. 5oth, kontomad.
6th, lehad. 60th, lehdanad.
7th , todobad. 7oth, todobatanad.
8th, sidcdad. 8oth,sidehtanad.
9th, sagalad. 9oth, sagashanad.
l0th, tobnad. 100th, boholad or boblad.
11th,kowb iyo tobnad. 1000th
, knmad or knnad.
The last, kanudambaiya, oruhosaiya, or ki 11 dambaiyai.The last of all
,kan ugudambaiya, oruhosaiya, or kan ka
wada dambaiya or hosaiya.
He is the last of all, kan nguhosaiya waiyai, or wa kan
ugn hosaiya.
TRE NUMERALS. 53
Use of the Ordinals .
89. The ordinalnumbersmay be used either as adjectives followingthe noun defin ite or indefinite, or as nouns, taking either the masculin e or the feminine article according to the gender of the noun theylimit. In this latter case the nouns they limit are employed withoutan article
, i .e.,they remain indefin ite .
Ex. The second time,mar labadka, ormarka labad.
Call the fifth man , the fifth woman , nin shanadka, nag
shanaddauyefl ; or ninka shanad, nagta shanaduycd.
90. When the ordinalnumbers are employed alone,the articlemay
either precede or follow them.
Ex . The fourth was drowned in the sea , but the third was saved,afradki baddn kn hattai, sadehadkise bahsai, or ki
afrad baddn kn haftai, lakin ki sadehad bahsai.
PARA . IV .
INDEFINITE NUMERALS.
91. The English Indefinite NumeralAdjectives some,many ,much,toomuch, more, more than , most, few, little, less, whole, all, a certa in
number, several, certa in , a certain , none, nothing, not one, such, how
much,howmany, somuch, &c .
,are expressed in Somali bymeans of
nouns, adjectives and verbs, as the following examples show .
92 . Some wah,m.n .,a thing, wahha, wihhi ; in yar, a smallpart.
Ex. Giveme some, wah or in yar 1 Si.
Giveme what remains ( i.s. the some) , wahha hadai i si.N.B.
— The English some is often not translated as,
Giveme some water, somemoney , biyo, la‘ag i si (lit. water,money tome give) .
54 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
93. Many , much, too much badan, verbal adjective frombadi ,‘ increase
Ex. Themany horses youhave seen belong to a Tumal, fardihibadan e ad aragtai Tumalba leh.
It ismuch, toomuch, wa wah badan.
It is toomuch, I cannot carry, wa badantahai o hadi kari
Youhave givenmuch to that boy, inankas wa kn badisai.
94. More kordi, augmentEx. Givememore
,i kordi.
Give usmoremeat, hilibka no (for na 11) kordi.
95. More than : ks. badan.
Ex . We havemore rice than we can eat,baris bannn haisana
‘unadaiyada ka badan.
I havemore than he, isaga ka wa badni.
96 . Most : ka wada badan , orugn badan .
Ex . That tribe is themost numerous, holadasa ngn badan.
Somalis nearly always say holadasa nogn badan , themost numerousof our tribes .
97. Few (little) yar and dif may be used for things which can be
counted and for things which cannot be counted .
Ex . Are theremanymen ? rag badnima jogan lN0
, there are few , maya, wah yar ba joga, ormaya, ragbadnima jogen orma jogo.
Fewmen came here,rag yar ba halkan yimi, or niman an
badnain ya halkan yimi.Giveme a few
,war ! wah yar i 81 or iga si.
Strong camels are few , anr hog wein wa dif or wa yar.
TRE NUMERALS. 55
98. Little hoga,m.n .,—gi. Hoga is generally used with wah,
and by laws of euphony becomes wahhoga, wohoga, ohoga.
Ex . Bringme a little water, hoga biyo i ken, or hoga biyaah iken, or wahhoga or wohoga or ohoga biyo i ken , or
wahhoga biyaah 1 ken , or biya yar la kalai.
They took fromme the little yougave me, hogagi bad isisai yai iga haden.
99. Less : diman , fromthe verb din , ‘ decrease.’
Ex . I have too much, give me less, wah badan ban haista 0
Give himlessmoney, la‘agta ka din .
Giveme lessmoney, la‘ag diman i si.It is 5minutes to 6 wa lehdi iyo shan minit ka
It is too little, givememore, wa wah diman , i kordi .I have less than he, isaga ka wah yan .
There are less sheep here than camels, adign gelo halka
It is a quarter to 4 wa afarrti o wah diman or
Web la.
100. All, whole dan , all(without exception ) daman ; gidi ; knlli.The last three adjectives are inflected in the following manner ac
cording to the person speaking or spoken of.
lst pers . sing . damantai,2nd damanta, gidiga,
3rd damantis or -ti, gidigis or-gi, knlligis or-gi.
3rd damanted, gidiged,
lst damantan ,2nd llamantin ,3rd damantod,
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . Bring to us allthe horses,fardihi o dan no so kahai.
Callallthemen (without exception ) , nimanki 0 den 11 yell.
Pick (ye) up all( the whole) , damanti or damantod so gura.
Callall, gidiged n yell.
Wemust allgo, gidigen an wada bahno.Say (ye) all, gidi or gidigod daha.
Repeat (ye) all, gidigodmar kaleh daha.
Giveme allyouhave, v ahad haisata, knlligi i si.N.B.
— In sentences like the following, Somalis very often add the
word wada.
Repeat (ye) all, gidigodmar kaleh wada daha.
Bring to us allthe books, kitabyada gidigod no wada ken.
101. A certain number danr.
Ex . Yesterday at Dubar I saw a certain number of gazelles,shalai danr dero yan Dubar kn arkai.
Where is the certain number of men ? danrki nin hagge
jira or jiran ormayai ?N.B.
— In trading, Somalis very often use the word danr, —ki.Ex . Howmany skins have youto sell? in isa samod bad ih n
Twen ty and a certain number, or twenty and some, labataniyo danr, or danr iyo labatan .
102. Several hat ,m.n . ,— ki. This word is inflected for the diffe
ren t persons, like daman, gidi and knlli.Ex . Severalbeat another, wilashi harkodmid kaleh bai dilen.
103. Certa in hebel, hebel,m.a . ,— ki, a certain . Hebelis
ordinarily used without inflection ; but another adjective may beformed by adding the aflix -ah. Thus,
Ex . A certainman, nin hebel; the certainman , ninki hebel.
58 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CHAPTER IV .
THE ADJECTIVE.
108. In Somali, Adjectives may be divided into Adjectives of
Quality, of Quantity, Demonstrative and Possessive Adjectives .
109. Adjectives of Quantity are explained in the previous chapter.
Demonstrative and Possessive Adjectives being, in the Somali language, so closely conn ected with the Pronouns of the same kind, inorder to avoid repetition
,we shall treat of themin the Chapter
on Adjective Pronouns (p. In this place, then , we dealonlywith Adjectives of Quality .
PARA. I .
ADJECTIvEs OF QUALITY.
110. Adjectives of qualitymay be expressed by words which are
roots or radicals ; as, ‘ad, white ; adag, strong ; ‘
as, red ; bisil, ripe,cooked ; der, long, tall; fndnd, contemptible hun, bad ; bun , straight ;1101, living ; sal, true ; wein , great, large ; yar, small.N.B.
—There are about forty adjectives of this kind (see Dictionary) .
111. Other adjectivesmay be formed
( i.) By adding the particle an to a transitive verb . Generally pastparticiples or verbaladjectives are formed in this way ; as
, gndan,
circumcised,
’fromgud, circumcise ‘
adaisan, whitened, madecleaD
,
’from‘
adai,‘whiten
,make clean .
’ N.B.— In ‘
adaisan the
letter s is used for the sake of euphony.
(ii. ) By aflixing the particle ah, mean ing bei ng ( root of the verbahaw , be to a noun or to an adjective ; as, hasidah, jealous ( Zitabeing jealous) ; faridah, clever (lit. being clever) .
TRE ADJECTIVE. 59
Nouns ofmaterial, whenmodifying another noun , become adjectivesbymeans of this particle affixed to them; as, sandnhhoriah, a woodenbox (lit. a box being of wood ) ; silsilad dahabah, a gold chain (lit. achain being of gold) .
(iii.) By adding the particle leh (meaning possessed of ’
) to a noun ;as, ayanleh,
‘lucky,’ fromayan,‘luck
,fortun e ’
;‘afimadleh, sane,
healthy,
’ from‘afimad, health.
’
( iv .) By the particle la added to a noun (forming adjectives of
deficiency) ; as, wadnala, heartless,’ fromwadna, heart gadla ,‘ beardless,’ fromgall, ‘ beard .
’
(v .) By aflixing the termination -cd to a noun ; as, nin hauled, anactive, diligent, or energetic man ; nin Somalied, a Somali ; libahbaded, a shark (lit. sea-lion ) .
112. Some nounsmay also be used as adjectives ; as,run , truth ;
wa run, it is true (lit. it is truth) ; wa runta, wa tunti, it is true
(lit. it is the truth) ; wa rnntis, wa rnntisi, it is true (lit. it is histruth) .
The word bein ,
‘a lie,
’and some others
,may be used in the same
way as the noun run .
113. Many other adjectivesmay be expressed
( i. ) By a n oun and an adjective as,halbi adag, rigid ; abnr fi ‘
an,
good-tempered . Or by severalwords as,lama hadli karo, inefiable ;
an laga adkan karin , invin cible.
( ii.) By the 3rd pers. sing. present habitualIndicative of the verb
bah, have, take,’ used with a noun ; as, yab haba, wonderful; inher haba, cursed.
(iii.) By a transitive verb with the particle la prefixed to it ; as, laarbiyai, tame ; 1a yahan, known .
60 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
114. The 3rd pers. sing. of the present habitual and progressive,and of the past indefin ite and progressive , Indicative, may n earlyalways be used as adjectives of quality, in the same way as the
English present participle in -ing. Ex . a workingman , nin shahaiya.
PARA. II .
Inflections of Adjectives and their Agreemen t with Nouns.
115. Adjectives always follow nouns. We cannot as yet give any
fixed rules con cern ing the inflections of mon osyllabic and dissyllabicadjectives which are radical
,nor of the others when qualifying a
masculine or femin ine noun , used either in the singular or in the
plural, with the differen t sounds of the article. Nevertheless, the
following Table of inflected adjectives which are radical,and examples
of other inflected adjectives, willsufficiently show how adjectives are
to be inflected when qualifying nouns .
116 . See Table of Inflections on opposite page.
117. Examples showing how are to be inflected the other adjectivesformed either bymeans of particles affixed to nouns, &c .
,or by join ing
two ormore words‘adaisan ,
angrynin ‘
adaisan , an angry man niman , ninka, nimanka‘adaisan ; ninki, nimanki ‘
adaisna.
nag‘adaisan , an angry woman nago, nagta, nagaha
‘adaisan ; nagti
‘adaisnaid ; nagihi
‘adaisna.
‘absileh, dangerous
nin , nag , niman , nago‘absileh ; ninka, nimanka, nagta,
nagaha‘absidaleh ; ninki, nimanki ‘
absidalaha ; nagti‘absidalahaid ; nagihi absidalaha.
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
‘adowah, cruel
nin , nag‘adowah ; niman, nago ‘
adowyaah ; ninka nagta
‘adowgaaha ; nagti
‘adowgaahaid ; nimanki, nagibi
‘absila, fearless
nin , niman , nag , nago ‘absila ; ninka, nimanka, nagta,
nagaha‘absidala ; ninki, nimanki ‘
absidalaa ; nagti
af badan, sharp
mindi af badan, a sharp knife ; mindiyo afaf badbadan ,
sharp kn ives ;mindida afka badanleh, the sharp knife ;mindiyaha afafka badbadan, the sharp knives ;mindidi afka badnaid, the sharp knife ;mindiyihi afafkabadbadna, the sharp knives .
af darran, blunt
mindi af darran, a blunt kn ife ; mindiyo afaf dardarran ,
blunt knives ;mindida afka darranleh ; mindidi afka
the Idlemen ; ninki ‘ajiskaaha, the Idleman ; nimanki
‘ajisiadaaha, the idlemen.
fem. nag‘ajisadah, an idle woman ; nago ‘
ajlsadaah, idlewomen ; nagta
‘ajisadaah, the idle woman ; nagaha
‘ajisintaah, the idle women ; nagti
‘ajisadahaid, the
idle woman ; nagihi ‘ajisintaaha, the idle women .
af yahan, eloquentnin afyahan, or nin afyahanah, an eloquentman niman
THE ADJECTIVE. 63
nadaah ; ninki afyahankaaha ; nimanki afyahana
N.B—This word is also used for a tame beast ; as,fem. a tame cat, dinad aftaban ; dinaddi afka tibin, the
tame cat.tur leh, hump-backed
nin , nag turleh ; niman , nago turoleh ; ninka, nagta turtaleh ; ninki turta1aha ; nagti tnrtalahaid ; nimanki,
N .B.— In adjectives formed of a noun and a particle
,generally not
only the ending, but also the n oun is inflected .
118. Whenmodifying a noun with the article soun d 11, adjectivesof quality inflected as for nouns with the article sounds a and i, or
even in their simplest form, cannot be joined to it. For example,we
can say ninka wanaksan , ‘ the goodman ,’ but not ninkn wanaksan ;
wemust forma sen tence and say, ninkuwa ki wanaksana, whichmeans literally, theman is the good one.
’
Other ExamplesThe Sharp knife,mindidn wa ti afka badnaid, ormindidn wa
afbadantahai (lit. the kn ife is the sharp one,the kn ife is
the one which is Sharp, or the knife is sharp) .
The heavy bag of rice, joniyaddn wa ti barisha nslaid (lit. the
bag is the one of the heavy rice, or the bag is the one of the
rice which is heavy) .
PARA. III .
DEGREES OF COMPARISON.
119. Adjectives of quality have three degrees of comparison , thePositive, the Comparative, and the Superlative.
64 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
120. The Positive expresses the simple quality ; as, wanaksan,
good .
121. The Comparative expresses comparison . There are three kindsof Comparatives, of likeness, of inferiority, and of superiority .
122. The Superlative expresses the quality in its highest degree .
Comparative of Likeness.
123. The comparative of likeness is formed bymeans of the wordssida, thus, so, as ; 188 leh eg, alike, the same ; 0 kaleh, the same
,
like ; in knmid, alike, equal; ‘ainka, as, in the same way.
Ex . Jama is as good as Abdi, Jama sida Abdi yn n wanaksan
yahaI.
Is the brother as bad as his sister ? walalkn sida walashisi
min 11 hunyahai ?
Is not the brother as bad as his sister ? walalkn sida wala
shisimiann n hnmain ?He reads as wellas you, sidada o kaleh n ahriya.
As sweet as honey, nma ‘an sidamalabka.
He is as good as she, wa wanaksanyahai sideda o kaleh.
Thisman ’s horse is as bad as yours, ninhas faraskisn sida
kaga o kaleh ayun hunyahai.
These two sticks are the same, labadatan nicd wa iss kn
mid or wa iss leh cg yibin .
Do as I have done, ‘ai
'
nkan ( for‘ai
’
nka an ) n samaiyai nsamai, or ‘
a’
fnkan samaiyai, samai.
Compara tive of Inferiority .
124. The comparative of in feriority is mostly formed bymean s of
the same words as the comparative of likeness, but the verb of the
sentence is in the negative form.
66 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Our neighbour is the worstman in the town , nimanka beladka o dun , deriskenn wa kan nguwada hnn ( tit. of
themen of the town whole our n eighbour Is the one
among allbad) .Thatman is the smallest of all
,ninhas ba ka wada yar, or
ninkas ba nimanki nguwada yar.
Ismailis the best of allthe boys, wilashi o dun , Ismael banguwanaksan .
CHAPTER V .
ON EUPHONY.
127. The consonan ts p, v , and 2 do not exist in the Somali languageas separate letters . Their sounds have a reciprocalcorresponden ce tothose of other letters
,v iz. p to b , v to f and h, z to s.
128. d and r by some tribes are pronounced alike,t.e. as ordinary r.
129. When the letter 11 has to be followed by a vowel,it is fre
quen tly changed intom, in the inflections of nouns and adjectives,and in the conjugation of verbs .
Ex . an, cheek, aman , cheeks ; nin hnn , ninki huma, the badman ; hoton , be placed, wan hotomi, I amor shallbe
placed .
130. In words of two syllables, when in the inflection the secondvowel, which is generally short
,has to be dropped
, g is chan gedinto k.
Ex . ilig , tooth, ilko, teeth ; arag , see, wan arki, I Shallsee.
131. When the letters 8, r, and h occur between two vowels,in
verbs of two syllables, the last vowel, if short, is dropped in inflecting.
ON EUPHONY. 67
Ex . hosol, laugh, wan 130l I laugh or shalllaugh orod, run,
wan ordi, I run or shall run ; mahal, hear ( thou) ,mahla, hear (ye) .
N.B.— These vowels, however, reappear in the 2nd pers . sing . and
plur. ,in the 3rd pers . sing . fem. , and in the lst pers. plur. of the
inflected tenses .
132 . V erbs ending in lor 10 change these in to sh in the 2nd pers.
sing. and in the 3rd pers. fem. of the inflected tenses . For femin in enouns ending in 1, see 16 .
133. The meeting of two vowels in two successive words or
syllables occasions a hiatus, which in Somali is avoided
( i.) By inserting a consonan t between the two vowels, as is especiallythe case with noun s when defin ed
,or when either a demonstrative or
possessive adjective pronoun is affixed to them.
By eliding one of the two successive vowels . Thus, insteadof hadi an ,
‘ if I,
’
and got ti ad, ‘when thou, ’ we say hadan , and
gortad.
(iii. ) By eliding the two successive vowels ; as, kolkai (for kolka
yai) , when they.
’
( iv .) By the coalescence of the in itial and finalvowels of the two
successive words . This is frequently the case with pronouns ; as,mean ? maad ? forma an ? I ?ma ad ? thou?
N.B.
— In order to avoid confusion with regard to ma, which isused both as the Negative and In terrogative particle, the vowela of
ma when used as the Interrogative particle is byjsome tribes changedinto 1 ; thus we have mian ? miad i min ? &c .,
instead of maan ?maad ? man ? &c .
134. When the particle la , used in the passive of verbs, and the
F 2
68 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
pronouns no. and inn, occur with 11 before averb , the successive vowelscoalesce ; thus we have 10 for la u, no for no. n, and ino for ina n.
135. V erbs ending in o, ow, aw generally change these into a in
the 2nd pers . plur. Imperative, and in the Aorist . For the vowelchange in feminin e nouns ending in 0, see 15, iii.
136 . V erbs ending in a generally change it into i or e in the Aorist;as
, tag, go , wan tegi, I go or shallgo. For the vowel-changes inmasculine nouns ending in h, h, a, ‘
a,‘ai, and in femin ine nouns
forming their indefin ite pluralin 0 or yo, see 12 and 21.
137. The consonants d and t are interchangeable.
138. It would be useless here to enter further into explanation of
euphon ic changes, as they willbe indicated in the course of future
chapters (see e.g .
CHAPTER VI.
TRE PRONOUN.
139. Pronouns are of seven classes, viz. Personal, Relative, Re
flexive, In terrogative, Possessive, Demonstrative and Indefinite .
N.B.
— The last three classes, Possessive, Demonstrative and Indefinite,may be called Adjective Pronouns
,because they are sometimes
used as adjectives and sometimes as pronouns .
PARA. 1.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
140. The difl‘
eren t forms of the personal pronouns ordinarily usedas subjects, or in the nominative case, are given on opposite page.
70 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
141 . When the personalpronouns (generally those of the lst formor simple ones) are used with verbs in the Interrogative form, the
in terrogative particlema is prefixed to themas follows
lst pers. sing. mean ormian .
2nd
3rd
3rd maai ormini.1st
2nd
3rd maai ormiai.N.B.
—The forms withmi are generallyused in order to distinguishthe interrogative particlema fromthe negativema when joined to thepersonalpronouns.
142. The simple personalpronouns combined with the interrogativeparticle ma joined to the negative particle an are inflected in the
followingmanner
lst pers . sing.2nd adign maanad ormaadan, mawanad or
1yadu!maana1 ormawanai,mianai ?innagumaainu, aunagumaannuorma
wanaidinan,mianaidin ?3rd iyagnmaanai ormawanai,mianai ?
N.B.—The forms mianan, mianad, &c .,
are mostly employed in
THE PRONOUN. 71
Use of the diferent Forms of PersonalPronouns (subj ect) .
143. The simple nominative forms an , ad, 11, &c. , are generallyused as aflixes, join ed either to a noun
,a conjunction , or to any other
particle. It is also sometimes used alon e .
144. The forms ayan , ayad, &c ., are chiefly employed to d istinguishthe personalpronouns fromthe interrogative .
Ex . I give habitually some bread, in kibisah ayan siya.
To whommust I give some bread ? in kibisah yan siya ?
145. When the simple nominative forms an , ad , 11, &c. , are usedindependently, they are assisted by the letters w , b , y , thus becomingwan , ban , yan, &c .
,as shown in the Table
,Formno . III. Wan is
generally used at the commencement of a sentence,ban and yan in
in the course of a sentence,and generally before the verb .
Ex . I shallgo to Aden to-morrow ,berrito, aniguAdan ban tegi
dona (lit. to-morrow I (to) Aden I go wish) .Perhaps rain willfall to-n ight, the clouds are very black
,
but the wind has driven rain away ,malaha t ohku‘awu
(for‘awo yu) ina kn dihi dona, darnrtn ad yai u
madowdahai, lakin dabaishi ya robki kahaisai (lit .
Perhaps rain the n ight it us to will fall, clouds thevery they black are
,but wind the it rain the has
driven away).
146 . In sen tences where the nominative and Objective are defin ite,but of different genders
,these pronoun s are used in alltenses to poin t
out the subject, and agree with it in number and gender ; as,Ex . The cat ran to the dog, dinnaddi el
'
gi yai kn orodai (lit.
cat the dog the she to ran ) .
Theman beat the woman , ninki nagti budilai (lit.manthe woman the he beat) .
72 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
In the first example yai, she,’is used , because the feminin e n oun
dinnaddi , cat,
’ is the subject ; and in the second,bu, ‘ he
,
’because
themasculin e noun Din , man , ’ is subject. We could also say din
naddi e'
fgi orodai, and ninki nagti dilai, because dinnaddi and ninki
are recogn ized as subjects by their being expressed first in the sen ten ce
(see 57, i.)
147. When the word preceding the pronouns wan , ban , yan, &c .,
ends in a consonan t, they are affixed to it ; thus,
I went to that place ,mechasen (formeshas yan ) tagai.
148. When the preceding word (and generally either the noun or
the conjunction nearest to the verb) ends in a vowel,the pronouns
wan, ban , &c are affixed to them.
Ex . When they (the Somalis) have plenty of milk, they neitherboilit, nor put water in it but when they bring it toBerberah theymix much water w ith it, (and) in this
way they getmuchmoney for it, gottai (for gorta yai)‘ano damayan ,ma karian o biyo knma daran ; 1akinkolkai (for kolka yai) Berbera kenayan , biyo badanbai kn daran , sidai (for sida yai) la
‘ag badan uhclan
(lit. When they milk have plenty of,not boil and
water in it not put ; but when they Berberah it bring,watermuch they with itmix. so theymoneymuch of
it get)
149. The use of the personalpron ouns with the in terrogative and
n egative particlema willbemore fully explained in the Chapters on
these pronoun s and on the verbs nevertheless, care must betaken not to confound the con traction of the in terrogative pronoun
ya with the pronoun s bu, wn, yu, and bai, wai, yai.
74 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
152. The pronouns of the 6 th form, ana, ani, ada, adi, are especially used by traders acquainted with Arabs ; very seldomby Somalisof the jungle.
153. The 7th form, anign, adign, &c.,may be called the definite
personalpronoun . These pronouns are especially used with the par
ticle we in the conjugation of verbs . In speaking, they are gen erallyused as emphatic or expletive pronouns with the personals wan, ban,yan, &c .
PARA. II .
PERSONAL PRONOUNS (cont ) .
Objective Case.
aniga
adiga
isaga
iyada
innaga (me and you)annaga (me and him
you
them iyuga
He lovesme,isagn wa i ja
‘alyahai .
Omy God, I love thee, Ilahyow adan (for adiga an) kn
ja‘alahai.
Look at that badman,who lost us
,ninkas hnn eg e us
He beat you(plur. isaguwn idin dilai.
I willgo to him, aniga isaga wan utegi dona.
She willgo to you, iyaduidinka wa tegi donta.
THE PRONOUN. 75
155. With verbs in the past tense, the pronouns aniga, adiga, &c. ,
are frequently used for the nominative case .
156 . The dative denotes to whomor to which, and the ablativefrom, &c. (see 59 and They are generally expressed as
follows :
Dative. Ablative.
i, tome iga, fromme .
kn , kugu, to thee ka, kaga, fromthee .
mas . uor kn , to him(it) ka or nga, fromhim(it) .fem. to her (it) fromher (it) .
no (for no. u) , to us naga, fromus .
idin , to you idinka (ka) , fromyou.
n , to them iyaga (ka) , fromthem.
Ex . Giveme some soap,sabnn 1 s1.
Go home, ahalki tag (the sense of the dative is expressed
by the verb) .Go down (away) fromhere, ka so degmeshas.
Get out fromthe house, ahalka ka bah.
Take away the dinner things , alabada sorta gur (the senseof the ablative is expressed by the verb) .
N.B. The simple personalpronouns of the 3rd pers. sing. andplur. nominative case, n, ‘ he, it,
’ai or iyo, she, it,
’
ai,‘ they
,
’have
no corresponding forms in the simple Objective (Accusative) but
these are generally expressed by 11 combin ed with prepositions, for theDative, Ablative and In strumental(see
(ii.) The pronouns n , kn are also used as prepositions.
157. For the Gen itive,V ocative and Instrumen tal cases, see
pp. 31, 32.
76 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
158. When the personalpronouns are used in the place of n oun s
( i.s. when they are either subjects or objects ) , they follow the samerules as nouns .
Ex . I killed (beat) theman , aniga or ana ninki dilai.
I come fromAden , Adan ban ka imi.It is not I, anign or animaaha.
It 18 not thou, adiga or adigamiihid.
I go to the jungle for three mon ths, miyi ban habanayasadeh bilod, or sadeh bilod banmiyi jiraya.
PARA . III .
ON THE PARTICLES wa, ba, ya.
159. These particles are very often used in the Somali languageeither as personalpronouns or in place of the verb of existence. Theyare invariable, and used for allpersons, numbers and genders .
The Particle wa.
160. The particle wa must n ot be confounded with the noun wa,mas. , time, — gi ; as, wagi hore, formerly (lit. the time before) .
161. Wa is generally used to assist the subject or the verb in
senten ces containing only a subject and predicate, or a subject, predicate and object.
Ex . The horse neighs , faraskn wa (he ) danana.
The ass brays, dameirkuwa (he)madara.
The camelgrowls , geluwa (he) olola.
God knows and sees all things , even our most secretthoughts, Ilah wahwalba wa ohoda, 0 we arka, wohha tashiga urkena kn jira wa ogyahai (lit. God
thing every he knows and he sees, even thought thebelly our in are he knows) .
THE PRONOUN. 77
Ex . Men can build a house,can theymake ston es ? dadkn ahal
wa disi kara, dagahsema aburi karan ?Men can make a box , can theymake a tree ? dadkh abhad
wa wabain kara, gcdsema wabain karan ?162. In simple affirmative and negative sentences, wa is very often
used for he is,she is, it is, there is, there are,
’&c.
Ex . Who is that woman ? nagtasi wa ayo ? or nagtani wa
tnma ? (lit. that woman she is who
She ismy sister, wa (She is) walashai.Are yougoing to Berberah ? adign Berberahma tagaisa ?Yes
,I amgoing
,ha, wa tagaya.
Is he at home ? akalkamin joga ?Yes, he is, ha, wa joga.What kind of camels are these ? war ! anrtani wa ‘
al’
nma ?(lit. 0man these camels they are what kind
There are Somali and Arab camels, aur Somalied iyo aur
Arbcd wa jogta or wa jogan.
Is that an imala cow or a horse ? bahalkasima sa‘bamasse
wa fares ?
What is your name ?maga ‘ha wamahai ?My name is Abdi,maga ‘haiguwa Abdi.
Halloman is there peace ? (ordinary salutation ) , war ya !ma nabad ba ?
Yes,there is peace, ha, wa (there is) nabad.
Lo ! it is he, cg ! wa (it is) isagi.
It is I , we ani. It is that boy, wa wilkas.
163. Wa is us ed for the verb of existence.Ex. This is a badman , kan wa nin hnn.
Thatman is the captain of the steamer, ninkasi wa merkabka nahudihisa.
78 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
164. Before attributive verbs, wa is always used in the 3rd pers.sing .
Ex . Rain-water is fresh, hated wa (it) habowdahai.That boy is bad , wilkas wa (he) hnnyahai .God is good to all, Ilah dad o dan we (be) uwanaksan
165. With the pronouns isna, ‘ he,
’iyana,
‘she,
’annaga or an
nuna, ‘we,
’ idina,‘
you,’
iyana,‘ they,
’
wa can be used in place of
the pronouns wn, bu, yn ; wai, bai, yai, &c.,for allpersons and with
allten ses,except the Pas t and Past Imperfect Indicative, and all the
tenses of the Subjunctive .
Ex . Wu‘aba, or isna wa
‘aba, he (also) usually drinks.
Waidin ‘abi jirten , or idina wa
‘abi jirten, you also wereusually drinking .
Wainn ‘abi kama, or anuna wa ‘abi karna, we also can
drink.
N.B.—The pronouns ana, ada, are very seldomused with we ;
n evertheless, wa is sometimes found with the Present (simple) as ,
If yc go, I go, hadi edinkn tagtamwan tcgi, or n e w
166 . Wa can generally be employed with the pronouns anigu,adign, &c . , in allthe ten ses of a verb except in the Subjun ctive.N.B.
— Instead of we, the pronoun s wan , ban , yan , &c. , are usedby some.
Ex . Aniguwa gubi or wan gnbi, I burn or shallburn .
Adiguwa gnbaisa or wad gnbaisa, thou burnest or art
burn ing .
Isaguwa gnba or wugnba, he usually burns .
Iyadn wa gnbta or wai gnbta, she burn s (usually) .Innaguwa guhuai, or innaguor walun guhuai, we burn ed.
TRE PRONOUN. 79
Edinkn wa gnbaisen, or waidin gnbaisen, you werebur ning .
Iyagn wa gnbi j ITcn or wai gnbi j ITcn , they were usuallyburning.
Anign wa samaiudona or wan samaiudona, I willmake.
If youdo that, I willbeat you, hadad sidas fasho, anign
wa kn dili, or hadad sidas fasho wan kn dili.
The Particles ha and ya.
167. The particle be is either added to a noun ,or immediately
follows it as a pronoun , to show that the noun is to be taken in an
indefinite sense, or is the subject of the sentence (see The
particle ya is sometimes used for the same purpose .Ex. Stone is employed in building fine houses, ahalo fl ‘fl ‘an ya
dagahanta laga samaiyai (lit. houses fine they stonesthe fromaremade) .
The Queen of England has given her authority to the
Governor of Bombay,RaniyadduIngriskn ya huknm
kedis sisai hakinka Bombay (lit. the Queen of the
English she her authority has given to the Governorof Bombay).
168. Ba is sometimes added to a negative verb in order to
strengthen it.
Ex . Do not cry (I forbid), ha hallin be.
Do not go (youare not to go) , ha tegin ha.
I willnot go at all, anign tegi bamayo.
Do not work,ha ha shubain .
N .B In such sentences ba seems to be used for not at all.’
169. Ba is also used for the verb ‘to be.
’
80 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . It is nearly seven o’clock , todobaddi sa‘adod ba flow (lit.
the seventh hour is near).Nine boys are good
,sagalwilba (are) wanaksan .
Some beasts are useful, bahalaha hat ba (are) wah tarah.
N.B.-The particle wa could also be used, but in such case the
attributive v erb ought to be employed ; thus , It IS nearly seven O’clock,
todobaddi sa‘adod wa dowdahai.
170. With passive verbs expressing making,fabricating, &c., be
and ya are indifl'
erently used as pronouns.
Ex . Paper is made fromrags, warandusnfaf be or ya laga
Glasses aremade fromsand and flin t, galasyada amnd iyo
dn‘un ya or ba laga samaiyai.Bricks are made of clay and water, lebenyada nurad iyo
biyo ya or be. laga samaiyai.171. In some sentences
,whichmight be called indefinite , because
the verb does not express a quite definite idea, ba immediately followsthe verb .
Ex . Wherever youare be honest and truthful,mel kasta ad
jogtid ba aminahaw 0 run cheg.
Youmay have whichever pen youlike, halinki wale ad
donaisid ba, yad heli karta.
172. When the subject is a noun , ha is generally used at the end
of interrogative senten ces. Ya is also sometimes us ed .
Ex . Is it a hat ?ma knfiad be (lit. ? a hat is it) .Is this theman ?ma ninkana ? (for ninkan ba) .Is it the thief ?ma tnggi ba ?Is that one a thief ? kasma tug ba ?Is this your horse ? kanma faraskagi ha ?
82 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
176. When theRelative in English is the nominative of a sen tencethe relative sense is expressed in Somali
(i.) By the 3rd pers. sing. (mas . and fem.) of the present and pasttenses of the Indicative (see and also by adjectives.
Ex . He is aman who eats , drinks and sleeps, ninkani wa nin‘unaya, iyo ‘abaya iyo nrdaya (3rd pers. sing. presen t) ,(lit. Thisman is aman eating, and drinking and sleeping) ; or niakani wa
‘unaya iyo ‘abaya iyo nrdaya,
Thisman is eating, &c.
Theman who is coming, ninki imcuaya (lit. The comingman) .
How did God reward the angels that remained faithful?
side hemalalk oinki uadkadai (3rd pers . past) Ilahhainguabalgudai ?
The man who was in our house yesterday is my friend ,ninki shalaito ahalkeni bujogai (3rd pers. past) we
I have a book which is good , kitab wanaksauban haisata
(lit. A book good I have) .Bringme the knife that is on my table, mindidamiskaigi
saran i ken (lit. The knife my table placed on to mebring) .
Bymeans of the Relative Pronoun e, and also the conjunctiono, which in some instances seems to be a relative pronoun .
Ex . The souls of the sain ts who died before Christ, nafihi dudkiauliyaddah c
‘Issa Kristos ka horai dintai (lit. Thesouls the people saint who Jesus Christ before died) .
When did the souls of the saints who died before Christ goto Heaven ? gorma nafihi anliyaddaha 0 (who)
‘Issa
Kristos ka horai dintai jannada tagen ?
THE PRONOUN. 83
Ex . Yes, and every idle word thatmen shall speak, &c. , ha, 0
crai kasta c an wah tarain o dad kn hadla (lit. Yes,and word every and not a thing usefulthatmen speak) .
(iii.) The relative clause is also very often expressed by the articleand demonstrative pronoun . In both cases the relative agrees withits antecedent in gender, person and number.
Ex . He that contemneth smallthings Shall falllittle by little ,kan or ki wah yar fudndaista adyar iyo adyar yn
di‘i dona (lit. The one thing small contemneth littleand little he willfall) .
I know a woman who is small, anign nag, ti yaraid yan
shan (lit. I a woman , the one smallI know).He who Speaks lies is a badman , ki bein shega, wa nin
hnn (lit. The one lie telling is aman bad) .He that has ears to hear, let himhear, kan degaleh, inn knmahlo, ha kn mahlo (lit. That one possessed of cars,
that he hear, let himhear) .When in the relative clause there are severalverbs, one of
which is in the Infinitive, no pronoun is required , but the verbs are
put in the Subjunctive.Ex . The boy who wishes to become clever,must be studious,
wilkuhadn donayo inn farid nohdo ha barto (lit. Theboy if he wish that he clever become, let himlearn
Who are they who do not endeavour to know what Godhas taught ? aayo kua, an nguhaushon, inai gartan
wahha Ilahhai inai barai ? (lit. Are who those not
endeavouring, that they know the thing God to themhas taught
177. When in the English sen tence the Relative is the object of
a‘2.
84 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
the verb, and immediately follows its antecedent, no relative pronounis required in Somali. If the English verb is in the present or futureIn dicative, the Somali verb governing the relative is generally usedin the Subjunctive .
Ex . The boy whomyoulike ismy cousin , wilki ad ja‘ashai wa
inaderkai (lit. The boy thoulikest ismy cousin ) .Is that the man fromwhomyou got your dog ? kasima ninka ad ‘
el‘
gaga ka hcshai ba ? (lit. That one is
it (I) theman thouthy dog fromhast gotI give you all the money which I have, la‘agtan haisto
(Subjunctive) o dan yan kn sin (lit. Themoney I haveallI to thee give) .
The man whomI see is my friend , ninkan anign arko
(Subjunctive) wa sahibkai.
Where are the children whose paren ts are dead ? erut tawalikod dintaimeyai ? (lit. The children their parentsd ied where (are
Theman whomI saw , ninkan (for ninki an) arkai (lit. Theman I saw).
The Compound Relative Pronouns are expressedwhat (that which), by wah, a thing.who , whomsoever, by nin nu, anyman .
whatever, by wah nu, anything.
179. The word wah,meaning that which,’ is frequentlyused withthe simple personalpronouns an , ad, 11, &c.
Ex . What I want, wahan donaya.
Why do youalways give to thatman what he asks ?mahadgor iyo galab ninkasusinaisa, wuhuIsagukn weidi
naya
86 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
In is indeclinable, and always refers to the Nominative. Employed with ka it generally gives to the Imperative of some verbs a
more or less contemptuous meaning or idea. When we say, for
example, he tagmeshas, we simplymean Go away fromhere but
when we say in ha tag, and especially in he bah, wemean ‘Get
away with you (contempt) .In is generally employed (1) to translate the English reciprocal
pronouns each other,’ one another,’ one with the other,’ together,’
&c . ; and (2) when a sense of gathering, assembling, meeting, &c. , is
to be expressed .
Ex . Thesemen love each other, nimankani we in ja‘alanayan.
We hate each other, we in na‘bnahai.
They hate one another, we iss ne‘byihin.
Hamed and Abdi are fighting (they best one another) ,fl amed iyo Abdi iss layan.
I saw two women quarrelling, laba nagod iss diriraya banarkai.
Themen are going away together, nimanki wa iura‘ayan.
I willjoin , add, assemble , wan iss n gein.
N .B.—The sense of reciprocity is very often expressed by the verb
itself, so that no other word is required ; as, Assemble those menthere, nimankas halka kn sournri.
The words bud, f n and a . ,— di,
‘sole, ’ ‘
single ’; naf, f n ,
—ti, ‘soul,’ ‘ life ’
; and rub, m.n .,—hi,
‘spirit,’ ‘
sole, ’ ‘single,’
inflected with the possessive pronoun , are also sometimes used to
express the Reflexive.
Ex . He has seen theman himself, isaguhuddisa ninki arkai
(lit. he single his theman saw ) .
We have seen the town ourselves, unnagn rnhhayaga
galada yannuso aragnai.
TRE PRONOUN. 87
Ex . I work formyself,naftaldan ushahaista.
Work for yourself, naftadd n shahaiso.
(iii.) The particle so affixed to a verb gives to it a kind of reflexivemean ing. V erbs having this particle affixed to themimply that theagen t is doing something for himself ; as,
bnhi, fill bnhso, fillfor yourself.dafi , change, exchange, give for ; dafso, change for yourself.damai, accomplish, finish ; llamaiso, finish for yourself.
PARA. VI .
INTERROGATIvE PRONOUNS.
181. Interrogative pronouns, like others, are used in place of nouns,and employed exactly like substantives. They are
182. Aya ? who ?’ This pronoun is indecliuable ; no change is
made either for gender or for number.
Ex . Whomade that ? aya sidas samaiyai ?Who are you? aya tahai ?
183. Ayo ?‘who ?
’ When used, as wemight say, as an interjec
tion , ayo takes the place of aya, especially after the particle wa.
Ex . Who is thatman ? war ! ninkasi wa ayo ?Who is ? we ayo ?
184. Ya ? ‘who ?’ what ? ’ This pronoun ismerely a contraction
of eye, and is used for both genders and numbers .
Ex . Who told youthis ? ya kan kn shegai ?Aly toldme, Ali ba i shegai.What ! Aly told you? well, when I see him, I will beat
him, ya !ma Ali ba kn shegai ? haurarsan ! kolkanarko ban udili dona.
88 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
185. In interrogative sentences the particles ma and e are principally used .
186 . Mal ‘ which ? ’ ‘ what ? ’ ‘ how ?’
N.B.— This particle is very often changed intomi andmu, especially
when combined with the negative particle an. For the pronounsformed by the particlema, the negative particle an , and the personalpronoun , see 232, p . 133.
Ex . Which or whatman came ? ninn a yimi ?Which or what woman came ? nagma timid ? or timi ?What girldid that ? gabadma kan fashai ?What time ? we. gorma ?What time is it ? sa
‘adma ? or gormai (for gorma yai)
tahai
N .B.
—This last example is used for weather as wellas for time .
Other in terrogative pronounsmay be formed by affixing the particlema to the simple personalpronoun ; thus,
Iunama ? or annama ? which of us ?
Ex . Which of usmust go to the jungle ? innama tagamiyiormiyi taga ?
Which of us w illhe take to the jungle ? annamaukahain ?
Idinma ? which of you?
Knma ? (mas ) who ? which of you?
Tumal fem.) who ? which of you?
N.B.
— Idinma is employed when there are only twoperson s . For
severalperson s knma and tnma are used .
Ex . Who is ? we knma ? wa tnmal or wa ayo ?
(both genders) .Which of you (only two persons) did so ? idinma sidas
samaiyai ?
90 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . Why did I not do so ? 1nahanan (formaha an yan) sidu n
falin ?
Why did they not do so ?mahanai (formaha an yai) sidesufalin ?
189. Wayo is also used for why ?’butmore as an interjection .
190. In terrogative particle 0,meaning what ? ’
When the particle or sound e is join ed to a noun iii the same wayas the article a, i, or n, it has the interrogativemeaning of what ?
’
Ex . Hagge ? what place ? ninka ? whatman ? nagtc ? whatwoman ? gabadde ? what girl?
With the particle e and the consonants k, t andm, are formed(i.) The interrogative pronouns kel ‘
who ?’ which ? ’ keba?
which ofyou?’
(for several) ; to? ‘who ?’ ‘which ?’
and teba ? which of you?’
(for several) ; and kne ?which ? ’ (pluralof both genders) .
The interrogative adverbme ? (mas . sing ) ,medai ? (femsing ),meyai ? ormayo ? (pluralof both genders) , where ? ’
N .B.—The pronouns keba and teba are employed in the same way
as kuma and tuma.
Ex . Which of youor whatman did that ? keba or knma kassamaiyai ?
Which of youor what woman did that ? teba or tnma kassamaisai ?
Where is theman ? ninkime ?Where is the woman ? nagtimedai ?Where are your father’s horses ? fardihi abbahé meyai ? or
maye
TRE PRONOUN. 91
191 . The interrogative adverb side ? ‘how ? ’ combined with thesimple personalpronoun isused for the interrogative pronoun what ? ’
The interrogation is nearly always conveyed in the intonation , for
with the noun si, manner,’ and the personalpronouns, we can formsimilar affirmative sentences.
Ex . Interrogative .b -What did theman do ? ninki sidu(for side
bu) falai ? (lit. The man how he (or whatmanner he)did
Ex . Afi rma tive —What theman did was good , ninkn sidu(for
sida yn) falai wa wanaksana (lit. Theman themannerhe did it was good).
Nata (i.) The adverb side,‘how ?
’or whatmann er ? ’ is formed
by the noun si,‘manner,’ -di, and the interrogative particle e,
what ? ’
(ii.) The particle ha is very often added to the interrogative adverb
(iii.) Sometimes the interrogative particlema is affixed to the nounsi, manner, ’
Ex . What did the man do ? ninki simu(for si ma(lit. Themanmann er what he did
(iv .) When the adverb sida, so,’is employed, the in terrogative
particlema belongs to the verb.
Ex . Did he do so ? sidamiyn (forma yn) falai ?
192 . The declension of the interrogative pronouns for who ?’and
which is in Somali as followsWho ? which ? aya ? ayo ? ya ? kc ? to ? keba ? teba ?
92 SOMALI GRAMMAR
Whom kuama ?Ex . Whomhave youled to the house ? knamad ahalka keutai ?Whose ? aya leh ?
Ex . Whose knife is this ?mindidatan aya leh ?
193. The ways of asking questions in Somali being manifold and
difi cnlt, in addition to the examples already given , we subjoin othersin illustration of the above rules .
Ex . Where is your brother ? walalkame? or walalkfi haggejira
Where is this man’s mother ? ninkan hoyadis medai or
hassai (for hasse yai) jirta !
Whose son are you? ina ayad tahai ?
Where were youyesterday ? haggad shalai jirtai? or shalaihaggad habatai ?
When willyoube at home ? hadn a abalki ka heli dona ?or germed ahalkaga jogi ?
Who are these boys ? wilashataiii yai yibin ? or wilasha
tani wa knama ? or wilashatani wa ayo ?
Where ismy father ? abbahaime ? or abbahai hagge jlra ?
I8 this your house ? kanima ahalkagi ba ?Can youspeak English ? Ingrisima kn hadasha ?What are yousaying ?mahad kn hadlaisa ?What are youasking ?mahad weidi ?What or how do youcallthis thing ? wahhasmaha tidahda ?Who are you? knmad tahai ?Why are you-come ?mahad n timid ?What is your occupation ? shnhulkaga wamahai ?
94 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
lst pers. plur.mas .,kena, —i, —u; gone, —i, —u; hens ,
fem., tens , —i, —u; dona, — i, —u; shena,—i,—n, our, ours (yours andmine, ormine
,yours and theirs) .
N.B.—If the word, mas . or fem.
,to which hena is to be affixed
ends in a consonant, on only is used, instead of hena.
2nd pers. sing.mas. , kaga,—i, —n ; gaga,
—i, —u;
tada, — i, —u; dada, — i, —u;— i, —n, thy, thine.
plur.mas., kins , —i, —u; gins , -i, —n ;
fem., tins , —i, —u; dina, — i, —u;— i, —n, your, yours .
3rd pers. sing.mas. , kisa, — i, —u; gisa, — i, —n ;
tin .— i. —n ; din .
—i. —a s
— i, —u, his, its.
tada —L—n ; doda. — i.—n ; sheda.
keda. —i.—a s soda. —i. — n ; heda.—i, — n, her, hers, its.
plur. (both genders) , koda,—i,—u; gods ,—i, -u;hoda, — i, —n, their, theirs.
195a . The possessives as here given are supposed to be used withnouns in the singular. But when employed with nouns in the plural,the consonants prefixed to themare the same as those of the definitearticle when affixed either tomasculine or feminine nouns plural.
ADJEOTIVE PRONOUNS. 95
Ex. nshaidi,my stick.
Singular : ul, f .n ., a stick ; usha nshada, thy stick.
or nshi, the stick nshisi, his stick.
ushayaga orusheni, our stick.
nshini, your stick .
ulahaigi,my sticks.
Plural: nlo, sticks ; nlaha or nli nlahaga, thy sticks.
hi, the sticks nlihisi, his sticks .
nlahayaga or nlaheni, our sticks .
nlihini, your sticks .
196. The possessive adjective pronouns are either affixed to nounsas adjectives, orused ‘
alone as pronouns, for min e, thine, his, hers , its,ours, yours, theirs.
’
Ex . Oh ! oh ! I have cut my finger, oh ! oh ! fartaidi ban iss
How did you(thou) cut your finger ? sidud fartada iss n
It ismy ox, wa dibigaigi.
His father is dead, abbihi or abbihis dimai orma nola.
It ismine, wa kaigi wa taidi
It is his, or here, we kisi wa kedi
It is ours, wa kayagi, kayo, hayagi, keni (mas. and
It is theirs, wa kodi (mas . and
N.B.—The possessive, when a pronoun , is always used with the
article sound i, as shown in the last four examples.
197. The principaluse of the possessive adjective pronouns is to
point out the Genitive or Possessive in a sentence . When they areused as adjectives
,they agree in gender and number with the pos
sessor ; when used as pronouns,they agree in gender and number
with the thing possessed.
96 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . That girl’smother, gabaddas hoyaded (the possessor is of
fem. gender, lit. That girlmother her) .The man ’
s house, ninki ahalkisi (the possessor is of mas.
gender, lit. Theman house his).
This house ismin e, ahalkann wa kaigi (the thing possessedis ofmas . gender) .
Is that knife his ? mindidatannma tisi be ? (the thing possessed is of fem. gender) .
This place ismine,meshatani wa taidi (the thing possessed
is of fem. gender) .
198. Nouns used as prepositions referring to place or time are usedwith the possessive adjective, according to the same rules as an
ordinary possessive.
Ex . He is on the bed, isagusarrirta dusheda yujoga (lit. Hethe bed, upper side her he is) .
My brother is before the house, walalkai ahalka hortisa
yujoga (lit. My brother the house front his he is) .Before the winter I willgo to the jungle, gnga hortisimiyi
yan tegi dona (lit. The winter his time before, thejungle I go wish
Inside the box , sandnhhi gndihisi (lit. The box inside his) .
199. The simple possessive adjective pronouns, ai, my,’ 6, thy ,’
&c . , without any article sound, are generally affixed to allnouns of
relationship when used with a possessive.Note wellthat nouns so used have the accent on the last syllable,
in the 2nd and 3rd pers. Sing. especially, in order to distinguish theseaffixes fromthe article.
Ex . My father, abbahai ; thy mother, hoyadé ; his brother,walalki or walalkis ; her sister
, walashed ; your
98 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
204. The interrogative possessive pronoun concerning things possessed is expressed in Somali by the words aya leh,meaning literallywho is possessed of ? ’ For grown up persons the verb leh is not
employed .
Ex . Whose house is this ? ahalkan ya leh ? or ahalkani wa
ahalmaWhose sheep are these ? adiyahakan ya leh ?Whose children are these ? arurtan or inamadan ya leh ? or
arurtani wa arnrma ?Whose boys are these ? wilashataniwa ayo? orwa knama ?Whose daughter is she ? tani yai gabadis tahai ? or gahad
dani yiai dalai ?
PARA. II .
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
The demonstrative adjective pronouns are a, i, o. Theyrequire consonan ts to support them. These consonants are the sameas for the article : k, g, h for themasculine, and t, (1, sh for the
feminine .“ F t ‘3 A h i s K
206 . The demonstrative renders a noun definite, and agrees with itin gender, but not always in number.
These pronouns are as follows
Masculine.
ka. sa. ha. ta. da, aha.
ko, go, ho, to, do,
N.B.
— The endings n of the definite article, and o demon
strative adjective pronoun ,must not be confounded .
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS. 99
207. In English this’denotes an object n ear to the speaker, ‘ that
’
on emore distant. In Somali, in like manner, an, meaning this,
’
and 6 or as, that,’
are employed . Er, this or that,’ is also used ,
but for objects not far away . These invariably require consonants,
Masculine Singular.
kan, gan , ban, this .
ks, gs, ha, that.
kas, gas, has, that.
her, get , her, this or that.
Plural of both genders .
kuan, knakan , kner, these .
kna, knas, kni, kno, kner, those .
N.B.—In the plural, when the person s or things are shown in
opposition , kner, these, ’ and knas, those are employed .
Ex . These are not so good as those,kner sida knasma n wa
naksana.
208. The demonstrative adjective pronouns may be either affixed
to nouns as adjectives or used alone as pronouns, and in both cases
the articlemay be affixed to them. The euphon ic consonants,k for
the masculine and t for the femin in e, are generally used with the
demonstrative pronoun , even when other consonan ts are used withthe adjective pronoun affixed to the noun .
Ex . This is bad, kan or kann wa hnnyahai.
This ismy brother, kan or kann wa walalkai.
These are their houses, knakan or kuakani wa ahaladodi.These houses are theirs, ahaladan or ahaladani wa kodi .Theman is that boy’s father, ninkn wa wilkas abbihi.That is my brother’s horse, kasuwa faraski walalkai.
R‘2.
Feminine Singular.
tan, den, shan, this .
at, aha, that.
tas, das, shas, that.
ter, der, sher, this or that.
100 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . It is this, that, we kan, hi or has tan, ti or ta:
It is those, they, wa kni, iyagi.This is a badman , kan or kann wa nin hnn.
This is a woman , tan or tanuwa nag.
Thatman came , ker ha yimi, or ninker ha yimi, or has bayimi, or ninhas ha yimi.
That woman came, ter ha timi, or nagtet ba timi.209. Wall, m.a .,
‘a thing,’ is used demonstratively ; 88. wahhan,
this ; wahhas, that ; wahho or wahhoi, that yonder (meaning lit. thisthing, that thing, that thing yonder) .
Ex . Aman brought that, wahhas nin ba kenai.Tellhimthis, wahha n shag.
210. Demonstrative adjective pronouns are also used to expresshere,’ ‘
there,
’there yonder.’
Ex . Where are the boys ? wilashime ?They are there yonder, wa knas, or we kna.
They are here, wa kner.
Where is the dog ? n ame ?It is there yonder, halko, or wa
It is here, halka, or wa kfi.
PARA. III .
INDEFINITE ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
211 . The indefinite adjective pronouns are as follows
any,‘id, wah.
anybody, anyone, ‘id, hof kasta, nin nn , nin walba.
any thing, wah kasta, or wah walba.
102 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
215. V erbs are inflected for V oice, Mood , Tense, and Number.
V orom.
216 . There are two voices , the Active and Passive.
Moons Ann TENBES .
217. There are fourmoods, Imperative, Indicative, Potential, and
Subjunctive.
Nata i.— There is no Infinitive Mood in Somali. To translate itthe Subjunctive present is generally used, sometimes also a noun .
Ex . Theman wishes to go to Aden , ninki Adan inn tago, yndouaya (lit. Theman Adan that he go he is wishing) .
To do is better than to talk, falnin hadalha ha dams. (lit.Action speech is better).
Nota 11 .— The Past Participle is ordinarily expressed by the verbal
adjective in -an or-san ; as, wa raran , it is laden ; wa ‘adaisan, it is
made white.Nota iii.— The Present Participle is sometimes expressed ( 1) by a
noun formed fromthe root of a verb and the affix-nin, as falnin,
doing , disin , building ; (2) by the 3rd pers . sing.mas. or fem. of the
presen t imperfect or progressive , and the past imperfect or progressiveof the Indicative (see
Ex . He is runn ing on the shore, hebtn (for hebta yn) ordeya.
The boy is sitting near the door, wilki albabka agtisu(for
w in i t!) fadiya.
The star is shining afar ofi'
, hedigtn melfog bai ka dela
Yesterday I saw the cat runn ing after the rat, shalaito wa
han arkai dinaddi o jirki (laba ordaisai.
218. The IMPRRA'rlvn Mood commands, exhorts, entreats or re
THE VERB. 108
quests. It is formed bymeans of the inflections of the Subjunctive
First Present an d the prefixes an for the lst pers. sing. and plural,and ha for the 3rd pers . sing.mas . and fem. and the 3rd pers. plural.The 2nd pers. sing. is the root or simplest formof the Somali verb.
The 2nd pers. plural(as will be seen hereafter) is formed fromthe
2nd pers. sing. by means of inflections. This mood has only one
Nata i. —The Imperative Mood is also used to render the Englishmust as,
Imust buy a good horse,faras tolmon an ibsado (lit. A
horse good letme buy) .If he willeat
,he must work
,hadn ‘uni donayo, ha sha
haiyo (lit. If he eat wish, let himwork) .Nata n.
—The English Imperative in the lst and 3rd pers. sing.
and plural(letme, him, her, it, us, them) does not at all express thetruemeaning of the Somali Imperative ; for example, in
lst pers . sing. , an tago, ‘letme go,’ the truemeaning is that
I go (I amha tago, ha tagto, ‘let him, her go,’ the truemean ing is that he, she go (he, she isan tagno,
‘ let us go ,’ the truemean ing is ‘ that
we go (we areha tagan,
‘ let themgo ,’ the true meaning isthat they go (they are
219. The INDICATIVEMood simply declares a thing or asks a question . The tenses of the Indicative are :
(i.) The Aarz’
st or dubious tense , expressing presen t and future as ,
‘ I tellor I willtellyounow ,
’aminkan kn shegi.
N.B.—The Aorist is also used in the conjugation of all the com
104 sOMAnr GRAMMAR.
pound tenses, in the same way as the English Infinitive without thepreposition to in the Future , Conditional, Potential, &c.
Ex . I shallgo , wan tegi dona ; I should go, wan tegi laha ; Ican go , wan tegi kara ; I could go, wan tegi karilaha, &c.
The formof the Aorist always remains unchanged . When there areseveral verbs, as is shown in the last example , the last verb only isinflected and the others are used in the Aorist.
The Present Habitual. This tense expresses a customor habit .
Ex . I habitually look, see, wan arka.
(iii.) The Present Imperfect or Progressive is employed to expressan action going on at the time of speaking.
Ex . I amlooking, wan arkaya.
(iv .) The Past Indefinite expresses an action begun and completedin past time, and an action that has just been completed . It is used
to render the English Past, Present Perfect, and Pluperfect.Ex . I saw, I have seen , I had seen , wan arkai.
(v .) The Past Imperfect or Progressive expresses an action begunand continuing in past time.
Ex . I was drinking, wan ‘abayai.
N.B.—These five ten ses of the Indicative Mood are formed and
inflected as explained and shown in the Table of the Conjugation of
Regular V erbs (p. 111,
(vi.) The Past Imperfect Habitualexpresses an action habituallydone in past time.
Ex. Formerly lwas usually drinkingmilk, wagi hare ‘ano yan
‘abi jirai.
This ten se is formed by the Aorist, which remain s invariable inall the persons , and the Past Indefin ite of the auxiliary verb jir,be,
’ live.
’
106 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
221. The SUBJUNOTIVR Mood states a thing conditionally ; as ,If he come, I willgo, hadn imanayo, aniga ban tegi dons.
The Subjun ctive Mood is always preceded by a conjunction either
expressed or understood , and is generally followed by the principalverb of the sentence. Uncertain ty is ordinarily supposed .
Thismood comprises a Present and a Future formed bymeans of
inflections, and a Present and a Future formed by the Aorist of the
prin cipalverb and the auxiliary verbs kar, ‘be able , ’ and don, ‘wish.
’
Thus
First Present : If or that I drink, badan, inan ‘abo.
Second P resen t If or that Imay or can drink , badan, inan‘abi
here
First Future When I shallor willdrink , gorten ‘abayo.
Second Future Do youthink that I wi sh to drink , ma 1! malainaisa inan ‘
abi dona.
Nata i. —If after got ten, when ,
’
no uncertainty is expressed , theIndicative Mood is used .
Ex . When or at the time I was going along the road , I saw theman , gortan dauga so
‘onayai, aniga ninki yan arkai.
Nata ii.—With the expression bal in,‘ if,
’the verb, although
expressing some doubt, is used in the Indicative.Ex . Ask if it is far ? weidi balinai fogtahai
‘
t
Nata iii. —In a senten ce where the relative pronoun is the Object,the verb being in the present or future Indicative in English, theFirst Presen t Subjun ctive is used in Somali.
Ex . Theman whomI see ismy friend , ninkan aniga arkom
The women whomwe spoke to are coming, nagahannn (fornagaha amin) la hadallai, wa imanayan.
Here the Subjunctive is notused , because the verb spoke is in the past.
TRR VERB. 107
Nata iv .—The Subjunctive is generallyused in place of an English
Infinitive. See examples in 217, Nata i.
NUMBER.
V erbs have two numbers , Singular and Plural.
PRRSON AND GENDER.
222. There are three persons , the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The 3rd pers.
sing. alone has two genders, Masculine and Feminine. The other
persons are the same for both genders .
N.B.—In allthe tenses , the lst pers. sing. and the 3rd pers . sing .
mas . are alike. Alike also in allthe tenses, except sometimes in the
Subjunctive Mood , are the 2nd pers . sing. (both genders) and ' the 3rd
pers. sing. fem.
PRIMITIVR FORMS.
223. The root, or simplest formof the Somali verb , is the 2nd pers .
sing. of the Imperative . Fromthis come the other primitive forms,viz. the 2nd pers . plur. Imperative, and the Aorist.
RULES.
I . Monosyllabic and dissyllabic verbs ending with a consonantformthe 2nd pers. plur. Imperative by adding a to the root, and the
Aorist by adding i ; as , glib , burn (thou) , gnba, wan gnbi. Theyare almost allregular.
11 . V erbs ending in so, sho, ho, aw and ow generally formthe 2ndpers . plur. Imperative by changing o, aw and ow into ada, and the
Aorist by changing a, aw , ow in to an ; as, hubao,meditate, hubsada,wan hnbsan .
108 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
III. Verbs ending in i, ai, ei formthe 2nd pers . plur. Imperativeby adding ya to the root, and the Aorist by adding 11 ; as, balli,
increase, badiya, wan badin.
N .B.—Verbs ending in any other vowel than a and those given
above generally formthe 2nd pers . plur. Imperative and the Aoristlike verbs ending with a consonan t (Rule I.) thus, bfi , boast, bfia,wan biii ; go, be cut, die, goa, wan goi.
GeneralRules
on the elisions, contractions , vowel and consonant-changes whichverbs undergo in their conjugations and inflections
I. V erbs ending in n, preceded by a vowel, change it intomwhen ,in infiecting, a vowel immediately follows . The vowel preceding 11
is generally dropped ; as, hatalan , err, blunder, hatalma, wan ha
II. Monosyllabic verbs ending in a consonant change a in to 0 or i
in the Aorist, and monosyllabic and d issyllabic verbs ending in a‘
,
change it into e‘ or i‘.
Ex . Tag, go , wan tegi, I go or willgo ; da‘
,fall
,rob
, wan di‘i,
I rob or willrob ; ka‘, awake, get up, wan ke‘i, I getup or willget up ; hnfa‘, cough, wan hnfi ‘i.
III. V erbs ending in l or 10 change 1 into sh in the 2nd pers.
sing. and plur. of the inflected tenses, except in the present and pastimperfect or progressive of the Indicative Mood .
IV . When for the sake of euphony the second vowel, which isShort, is dropped in the inflection s of d issyllabic verbs ending in g,this consonant is changed into k ; as , arag , see, arka, see ye or you,wan arki, I see or willsee.
1 10 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
228. According to their different endings, the Somali regular verbsmay be divided in to three classes :First Class . To the first class belong allmonosyllabic and poly
syllabic verbs ending in a consonant ; as, jid, pull; abnr, produce,create .N.B.
—For the verbs arag, see,
’mahal, hear,’and verbs Similar
to themhaving the accent on the first syllable, and verbs ending in nimmediately preceded by a vowel, see 224 (Rules I.
,
Second Class . This class comprises ( 1) verbs ending in o, ow ; as,jogso, remain , wait ; idlow, abut, finish . (2) Some transitive and
intransitive verbs ending in aw.
Nata i.— The few regular verbs in aw which are transitive have aparticle prefixed to them; as, ka adkaw, overcome him.
Nata ii.—The verb ahaw, be,
’
and attributive verbs ending inaw ,
‘
forma separate conjugation . See 253, &c.
T hird Class . To the third class belong allverbs ending in i or ai ;as,
‘absi, frighten ; ‘
adai, clean .
CONJUGATION or REGULAR VERRS.
Preliminary Notes .
227. The definite formof the personalpronouns, aniga , I,’adiga,
thou,’ isagu, he,’ iyada, she,
’innagu, we,
’
edinkn, you,’
iyagn,
they,’ to which the particle wa is joined (see not being Of
very frequent use, in the Conjugation of V erbs we employ the formswan, ban , yan, wad, bad, yad, &c . , which are mostly used inspeaking . See 145 and foll.
228. In the Subjunctive Mood, the simple personalpronouns an,
ad, 11, &c. are joined as affixes to the conjunctions (see Conjugation ,
p.
TRE VERR. 111
TABLE OF CONJUGATION OF REGULAR VERRS.
F irst Class. Second Class . Third Class.
Root, dub , roast, Root, jogso, halt, Root, samai,make,toast
,broil. remain
,wait
,&c . do, construct, &c.
Impera tive.
PRESENT.
an dubo, let me an jogsado, letmeroast wait
dub, roast (thou) jogso, wait (thou)ha dubo, let him ha jogsado, let
roas t himwaitha dnbto, let her ha jogsato, let her
roast waitan dubno, let us an jogsano, let us
roas t waitduba roast (ye) jogsada, wait (ye)ha dnban, let them ha jogsadan , let
roast themwait
Indicative Mood .
AORIST .
I roast or willroast I wait or willwaitaniga wa dnbi or aniga wa jogsan
wan dnbi or wan jogsan
adiga wa dnbi or adiga wa jogsan
wad dnbi or wad jogsanisaguwa dnbi or isaguwa jogsanwn dnbi or wn jogsan or wusamaiu
iyaduwa dnbi or iyada wa jogsan iyada wa samaiuwai dnbi or wai jogsan or wai samaiu
an samaiyo, letmemake
samai,make (thou)ha samaiyo, let
himmakeha samaiso, lethermake
an samaino, letusmake
samaiya,make(ye)ha samaiyan, letthemmake
Imakeorwillmakeaniga wa samaiu
Ol‘ W811 881113111
adign wa samaiuor wad samain
112 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
lplur. innaguwa dnbi innaguwa jogsan innaguwa samanor wainn dnbi orwainn joglan orwaina samaiu
or waidin dnbi orwaidin jogsan orwaidin samaiuiyaguwa dnbi or iyaguwa jogsan iyaguwa samaiu
or wai jogsan or waiman
N.B.—The Aorist is not inflected for the persons. The pronouns
show what person is spoken of or employed .
PRESENT HABITUAL .
This tense is formed fromthe 2nd pers. plur. of the Imperative,which remains unaltered in the lst and 3rd pers .mas . sing. of all
classes. The other persons are formed by changing the endings a
and da of the First and Second Classes into ta, ta, na, tan, an, andthe ending ya of the Third Class into la, sa, na, san, yan.
I usually roast I habitually wait I habituallymakeIsing . wan dnba wan jogsada
2 wad dabta wad jogsata
3m. wn duba wn jogsada3 f. wai dnbta wai jogsata wai samaiulplur. waina jagnana2
3 wai duban wai jogsadan
PRESENT IMPERFECT OR PROGRESSIVE.
This tense is formed fromthe Aorist by changing the ending i of
the First Class into aya, aisa, aya, aisa, aina, aisan, ayan, and by
adding to the Aorist the same endings for verbs of the Second and
Third Classes.
114 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
I was roasting I wasmakingwan dubayai
wad dubaisai wad jogsanaisai
wudubayai wujogsanayai
wai jogsanaisai
waidin dubaisen waidin jogsanai waidin samainaisen sen
wai dubayen
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
This tense is formed by the Aorist of the principalverb (whichremains the same in all the persons) and the Past Indefinite of theauxiliary verb jir, be,
’ live.
’
I was habitually I was habitually I was habituallyroasting waiting making
lsing. wan dnbi jirai2 wad
3m.
3 f.
lplur. wainn n
or jirrai
waidin dubijirten
wai jiren
This tense is formed by the Aorist of the principalverb and the
Present Habitualof the auxiliary verb don, wish .
’
£4 2 )
TRE VERB. 1 15
Ishallroast, I shall I Shallwait,I shall I sbellmake, Iehall
have roasted have waited havemadeIsing. wan dnbi dona wan jogsan dona2 wad donta3m. dona
dontadonnadontandonan
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
This tense is formed by the Aorist of the principalverb and the
Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb leh, be possessed of. ’
I would or should I would or Should I would or Shouldroast, or I would wait, or I would make, or I wouldor should have or should have or Should have
roasted waited madewan dnbi laha wan jogsan laha
P otentialMood .
FIRST PRESENT.
This tense is formed by the Aorist of the principalverb and the
auxiliary verb kar, be able,’ in the Present Habitual.
116 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
I ean roast I can wait I canmakewan dubi kara wan jogsan kara
wainn karnaor harm
waidin dnbi kar
wai dnbi kan n
SECOND PRESENT OR PRESENT DUBIOUS.
This tense is formed fromthe Present Habitualof the Indicative,by changing the finalvowela of the inflections into 0, and prefixingthe particle sow or show, perhaps.
’
N.B.—Allthe tenses of the Indicativemay be rendered dubious
by prefixing sow or show to the verb .
Perhaps I may Perhaps I mayroast wait
aniga sow or showgubc jogsade
adiga saw or Show adign saw or Showgubte jogsate
isagusaw or Show isagusaw or Showgubc jogsade
iyada saw or Show iyada sow or showgub te jogsate
Perhaps I maymake
anigusaw or show
samaiyeadiga saw or show
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
by changing the endings a, ta, a, ta, no into 0, tid or to, o, to, no.
The 2nd and 3rd pers . plur. do not change .
N.B.—The conjunctions generally used with the Subjunctive are
in , that ; hadi, if ; gorta, kolka,marka, when . They are contractedwith the simple personalpronoun an , ad, 11, ai, ainu, aidin, ai.
If I roast,roasted , If I wait, waited , If I make, made,
have orhad roasted have or had waited have or hadmadelsing . badan dubo hadan jogsado hadan samaiyo2 hadad dubtid or hadad jogsatid or hadad samaisid or
dubte jogsato3m. hadn dubo hadn jogsado
3 f. hadai dubte hadai jogsato
lplur. hadainudubno hadainujogsano
2 hadaidin dubtan hadaidin jogsatan
badai duban hadai jogsadan hadai samaiyan
SECOND PRESENT.
This tense is formed by the Aorist of the principalverb and the
First Present Subjunctive Of the verb kar, be able .
’
That Imay,might That Imay,might That Imay,mightroast
, might have wait, might have make, might haveroasted waited made
lsing . inan dnbi karo inan jogsan karo inan samamkaro2 inad dnbi kartid
or kartoinn dnbi karoinai dnbi karto
THE VERR. 119
inainudnbi kamo inainn jogsankar inainu samaiuor harm no or harm kamo or karro
inaidin dnbi kar
inai dnbi karan
FIRST FUTURE.
This tense is formed fromthe Present Imperfect of the Indicativeby changing the endings aya, aisa, aya, aisa, aina into ayo, aisid or
aiso, ayo, aiso, aino. The 2nd and 3rd pers. plur. do not change.
When I shallroast When I shallwait When I shallmakeor have roasted or have waited or havemade
Ising . gartan dubayo gartan jogsanayo gotten samainayo2 gortad dubaisid or gortad jogsanai gortad samainai
dubaiso Sid or-nalao aid or -naiso
gortudubaya gortujogsanayo gortusamainayogortai dubaiso gottai jogsanaiso
gortainu jogsa
namo nain0
gortaidin dubai gortaidin jogsap gortadin 33mg .
san naisan naisan
gortai daheyan gottai jogsana samaina
SECOND FUTURE.
This tense is formed by the Aorist Of the principalverb and the
First Present Subjunctive of the verb don, wish .
’
Ex . Maumalainaisa inan dono, DO youthink that I wishor w ill, would or Should, would or Should have (roast,roasted ; wait, waited ; make,made) .
120 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
inan jogsan dono inan samain dono
or dontoinudnbi donainai dnbi donte
inainudnbi donnoinaidin dnbi don
inai dnbi donan
N .B.—In all the compound tenses we have conjugated only the
verbs of the First Class. The verbs of the other classes are conjugatedin the same way.
INTERROGATIVE FORM.
230. The Interrogative Formconsists in using the particle mabefore the verb in allits tenses and persons . The inflections of the
tenses and persons are the same as in the Affirmative Form.
In this conjugation two different forms of pronouns may be emplayed : ( 1) the forms aniga , adign , isagu, iyada , innagu, edinku,iyagu, and the interrogative particle ma before the verb , (2) the
forms an , ad, 11, ai, ainu, aidin , ai, combined with the interrogativeparticle ma and forming mian , miad, min,miai,miainu,miaidin,miai, which are generallyused In conversation . (SeePronouns,There is nothing specialin the construction of the verb used inter
rogatively . Therefore the example of the conjugation of a verb inone tense willsufficiently Show how the other tenses are to be con
jugated .
122 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
Should wemake ? Should we havemade ?lst pers . plur. innaguma samaiulaha ? ormiainusamaiulaha ?
POTENTIAL PRESENT.
Can youmake ?2nd pers . plur. idinkama samain kartan ? ormiaidin samaiukartan?
POTENTIAL PAST.
Could ormight theymake or havemade ?3rd pers. plur. iyaguma samaiukari lahaiyen ? ormiai samain
kari lahaiyen ?
N.B.—When , in English, the verb in the interrogative formis
followed by a verb in the infinitive, there are in Somali ordinarilythree different ways of translating the English ; thus,
lst pers . Sing. DO I w ish to drink inan ‘abomian donaya ? orme.
inan ‘aban donaya ?
Dost thouwish to drink inad ‘abtidmind donaisa ?
orma inad ‘abtad doni ? orma inad ‘
abto yad
doni3rd p. s.mas. Does he wish to drink ? inn ‘
abomin douaya ? ormainn ‘
aban doni ? orma inn ‘abo yn doni ?
3rd p. S. fem. Does She wish to drink ? inai ‘abtomiai donaisa ? or
ma inai ‘abtai doni? orma inai ‘abto yai doni ?
lst pers. plur. DO we wish to drink ? inainn ‘abnomiainn donaina ?
orma inainu‘abnainudoni or douains ? orma
inainn ‘abno yainudoni ?
Do youwish to drink ? inaidin ‘abtan miaidin do
naisan ? orma inaidin ‘abtaidin doni ? orma
inaidin ‘abtan yaidin doni ?
DO they wish to drink ? inai ‘aban miai donayan ?
orma inai ‘aban yai doni ?
THE VERB. 123
NEGATIVE FORM.
231. V erbs are rendered negative by prefixing the negative particlesma, an , and ha, by help of the two defective verbsmayo, (I) amnot,
’
and wah, do not find,’and the affixes in , ahain , ainin .
Ma is used in the Indicative Mood (except in the Aorist and PastImperfect) , in the PotentialMood, and in the Present Dubious of theSubjunctive.An is employed for the Subjunctive, and for the lst pers. sing . and
plur. and the 3rd pers . Sing. and plur. of the Imperative .Ha is used for the 2nd pers . Sing. and plur. of the Imperative.
The verb mayo is used in the Aorist and Past Imperfect of the
Indicative.When the Past tense of the verb wah, ‘ do not find
,
’is join ed to
another verb, it gives to it a pas t signification , and points out a wanteither of will, power, ability or opportunity.
Ex . I would not go (I refused) , tegi wahyai.I could not go (I was sick) , tegi kari wahyai.I would not go ( I did not find it Opportune) to that place ,
and I came back, ana meshi tegi wahyai 0 ka so
nohdai.
Wah alone is also sometimes used for he did not find ,’he has
not found .
’
Ex . Ali did not find the place he was sent to, Ali meshi lodirai, wah.
La wah,‘ it is not found ,
’ ‘ it could not be found (see ConjugationOf Defective V erbs, 250, pp. 171,
The affix in is joined to verbs of the First Class in the Imperative,the Past Indefin ite of the Indicative, and the First Present of the
Subjunctive .
124. SOMALI GRAMMAR.
The affix abain (which really is the negative formof the verbahaw, be,
’in the Past Indefinite Indicative
,as anign ma ahain, I
was not’
) or ainin is joined to verbs in the Past Imperfect of the
Indicative and the First and Second Future of the Subjunctive.
Root, dnb , roast.
Letme not roast
ar verbs are thus conjugated negatively
Second Class .
Root, jogso, wait.
Imperative.
Letme not wait
Third Class .
Root, samai,make.
Letme not make1 sing. yanan dubin yanan jogsan yanan samain2 ha dubin ha jogsan ha samain3m. yanuor yudubin yanuor yujogsan yanuoryusamain3 f. yanai or yai du yanai or yai jog yanai or yai sa
bin san
lplur. yannan or yainan yannan or yainan yannan or yainan
jogsan samainha dnbina ha jogsanina
yanai or yai dn
bin
yanai or yai jogsan
yanai or yai la
mainN.B.
— The 2nd pers. Sing. Imp. of verbs of the First Class is formedby the prefix ha and the affix in joined to the root of the verb, asdnb , ha dub-in ; and the 2nd pers. plur. by adding a to the 2nd pers .
Sing. In the Second and Third Classes the 2nd pers. Sing. is formedby prefixing the particle ha to the Aorist of the aflimative form, as hajogsan , ha samain ; and the 2nd pers. plur. by adding ina to the 2ndpers . sing. as ha jogsanina, ha samainina.
126 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST INDEFINITE.
This tense is formed of the 2nd pers . Sing. Imperative and the
negative particlema.
I did not roast, I I did not wait, I I did notmake,I
have or had not have or had not have or had not
roasted waited madema dubin suiguma jogsan aniguma samain99
PAST IMPERFECT OR PROGRESSIVE.
This tense has two forms . The first one is compounded of the
Aorist of the affirmative formand the Past tense of the verb mayo.The second formhas the affix abain or ainin joined to the root of
verbs of the First Class, and to the Aorist of the Second and ThirdClasses, with the negative particlema prefixed .
N.B.—The Past tense of the verbmayo has only one form, conse
quently it remains the same in allthe persons.
lst Form.
I was not roasting I was not waiting I was notmakinganigudnbimal’n anigu jogsan anigu samain
ormel’n main ormain math ormainadign dnbimal’n adign jogsan adign samain
ormain main ormain main ormain
THE VERB. 127
2nd Form.
aniga ma dubs, anigumajogsana anigumasamainahain or-inin hain w -inin hain or-inin
adiga ma dubs, adigun s jogsanap adigumasamainahaID 0r-mm hain or-imn M OT -111111
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
This tense is compounded of the particlema prefixed to the Aoristof the affirmative formand the Past Indefinite negative of the verb jir.
I was not habi I was not habi I was not habi
tually roasting tually waiting tuallymakinglsing. aniguma dnbi su
i
guma jogsan aniguma samain
ma dnbi adign ma jogsan adignma samain
FUTURE.
I shall not roast, I Shall not wait, shallnot make,I Shall not have I shall not have shall not have
roasted waited madesuiguma dnbi aniga ma jogsandona dona
adiga ma dnbi
dontid or dontaisagn ma dnbi
ma dnbi
128 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
mnaguma samain
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
This tense is formed fromthe Present Dubious of the Potential
(affirmative form) by adding n .
I would or Should I would or shouldnot roast, I would notmake, I wouldor Should not have or should not have
roasted madeanigama duben
adign ma dubten
isaguma duben isagn ma samaiyen
iyadama dubten
innaguma dub innaguma samainen nen
idinknma dubten idinknma samaisen
iyaguma duben iyagn ma samai
I would or Shouldnot wait
,I would
or Should not havewaited
suiguma jogsapden
adign ma jogsapten
isagn ma jogsaden
iyaduma jogsaten
innaguma jogsana
idinkn ma jagsaten
iyagn ma jogsapden
180 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
2nd Form.
This formis compounded of the particle saw or Show, the Aorist
(affirmative form) , and the verb wah, which alone is inflected.
I sing. suigusaw or show
adign saw or Showdnbi waidai
isagusaw or Showdnbi wah or
iyada saw or Showdnbi waidai
innaga saw or
show dnbi W315nai
idinkn soworShowdnbi waide
iyagn saw or Showdnbi waiyen
aniga saw or Show anigusaw or Show
jogsan wahyai samam’ wahyai
Subjunctive Mood .
The conjunctions ordinarily used for the conjugation of verbs inthe Subjunctive Mood are hadi,
‘ if’
; gotti,‘when ’
; in,‘ that.
’
Combined with the n egative particle ma and the personalpronoun ,
they are as follows
I Sing.
2
hadanan , gortanan , inanan , If, when , that I not.
hadanan or hadadan , gortanad or gortadan, inanad or ina
dan, If, when , that thounot.
hadann , gortann, inann , If, when , that he not.
badanai, gortanai, inanai, If, when , that She not.
THE VERB. 131
1 plur. hadainan, gortainan, inainan , If, when , that we not.2 hadanaidin or hadaidan , gortanaidin or gortaidan , insusi
din or inaidinan , If, when , that younot.
hadanai or badayan , gortanai or gortayan, inauai or ina
yan , If, when , that they not.
FIRST PRESENT.
This tense is formed of the negative particle and the 2nd pers . Sing .
of the Imperative, negative form.
If I do not roast If I do not wait If I do notmakelsing. hadanan dubin badanan jogsan hadanan samain2 hadanad dubin hadanad jogsan badened samain
SECOND PRESENT.
This tense is formed by the Aorist (affirmative form) and the 2nd
pers . sing. of the Imperative ( negative form) .That Imay ,might That Imay,might That Imay ,mightnot roast, that I not wait, that I not make, that Imight not have might not have might not have
roasted waited madelsing. inanan dnbi ka inanan jogsan kw inanan samain
karin
inanad dnbi ka inanad jogsan ka inanad samainkarin
FIRST FUTURE.
When I shall or When I shell or When I shall or
willnot roast willnot wait willnotmake
gortanan duba gortanan jogsana gortanan samaihain or -inin hain or-inin nabain or -inin
gortanad duba gortanadjoo
gsanaa gortanad samaihain or-inin hain or nahain or-inin
x 2.
132 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
SECOND FUTURE.
That I do not wish That I do not wish That Ido not wish
to roast to wait tomakeIsing. inanan dnbi dona, inammjogsan do inanan samain do
hain or-inin nahain or-inin'
nahain or-inininansd dnbi dona inanad jogsan do inanad samain dohain or-inin nubain or ! inin nahain or-inin
N.B.—The Second Future of the Subjunctive is also very com
monly expressed in the two following ways
hadanan inan da hadanan inan jog hadanan inan se
bo donahain sado donahain meiyo donahainhadanadinaddnb hadanad inad jog hadanad inad sa
to donahain sato donahain maiso donahainhadanuinn dubo hadanu inn jogdonahain sado donahain maiyo donahain
and so on for the other persons.
Secondly.
hadi inan dubo hadi lnan jogsado hadi inan samaiyoanan donahain anan donahain anan donahain
hadi inad dubtid hadi inad jogsatidadan donahain adan donahain adan donahain
hadi'mudubo ann hadi inn jogsado hadi inn samaiyo
donahain ann donahain anudonahain
hadi inai dubto hadi inai jogsato hadi inai samaisoanai donahain anai donahain
and SO on for the other persons .
134
1 Sing.
I sing.
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PRESENT HABITUAL AND PAST INDEFINITE.
Do I notusually or DO I notusually or DO I notusually ordid I not roast did I not wait did I not make ?have I not
,had I have I not, had I have I not
, had Inot roasted ? not waited ? notmade ?mianan dubin ? mianan jogsan ? mianan samain ?
PAST 1MPERFECT HABITUAL.
Was I not usually Was I not usually Was I not usuallyroasting waiting making ?
mianan dnbi j I mianan jogsan mianan samainrin jirin jirin
FUTURE.
Shallor willI not Shallor willI not Shallor willI notroast ? shallI not wait ? Shall I not make ? ShallI nothave roasted ? have waited ? havemade ?mianan dnbi do mianan jogsannin ? donin ? donin ?
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
Should I not roast? Should I not wait ? Should Inotmake ?should I not have Should I not have should I not have
roasted waited made ?mianan duben ? mianan jogsaden ? mianan samaiyen?mianad dubten ? mianad jogsaten ? mianad samaisen?mianuduben mianujogsaden ? mianusamaiyen ?mianai dutten ? mianai jogsaten ? mianai samaisen ?
THE VERB. 135
mianainu dub mianainu jagsanen ? no
mianaidin jegsaten ten ?
h ianai ormiana mianai ormianwyan duben ? yan jogsaden ?
PotentialMood .
PRESENT.
Can I not,may I Can I not, may I Can I not, may I
not roast ? not wait ? notmake ?mianan dnbi kw mianan jogsan mianan samainTin ? karin ? karin ?
Could ormight Inot roast? could ormight I not have
roasted
mianan dnbi kw
ren karen karen
mianad dnbi karten
mianu dnbi kas
ren
mianai dnbi karten
mianainu dnbi
kamen or-ren ?
mianaidin dnbi
karten
mianai dnbi karen ?
mianainu samainen
mianaidin samaisen
mianai ormianwyan samaiyen ?
PAST.
Could or might I Could or might Inot wait? could or notmake ? could ormight I not have might I not have
waited ? made ?
jogsan samain
136‘
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
IRREGULAR VERRS.
233. An irregular verb is one that does not formthe 2nd pers . plur.
of the Imperative, or the Aorist, according to the rules given in
s223.
These verbs willbe irregular only in the tenses formed fromthesetwo principalforms , as shown and explained in the Table of the
Conjugation of Regular V erbs (p. 111 Ill) .
234. V erbs of the First Class have no other irregularities thanthose indicated and explained in the GeneralRules of 224.
235. In the List of Irregular Verbs of the Second Class, besidesthe three principal forms, the lst and 2nd pers . sing . of the PresentHabitualIndicative are shown ; and in that of irregular verbs of the
Third Class, in which the Aorist is mostly irregular, we give the1st perS. Sing. of the Presen t Imperfect Indicative. The formationof these tenses is, so to say , the only difi culty in the conjugation of
Somali Irregular Verbs.
238. Some other verbs are irregular in nearly alltheir tenses. Of
these the conjugation is also given .
IRREGULAR VERRS OF THE FIRST CLASS.
237. V erbs of the First Class have no other irregularities than thosearising fromeuphony, as explained in 224. Nevertheless
,in order
tomake everything clear, we give here the conjugation of the irregulartenses of some of these verbs. The conjugation of the lst perS . sing.,
the 1st pers. plur. ,and the 2nd pers . Sing. willsufliciently Show how
these verbs are to be conjugated in the other persons.
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
POTENTIAL , PRESENT DURIOUS.
lsing. show wan arko show wanmahle2 Show wad aragte Show wad maha
Or arkte She
show wainn arag show wainn mano halne or-10
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST PRESENT.
1 Sing. hadan arko hadanmahlo2 hadad aragtid or hadadmahashid
lplur. hadainuaragno hadainumahalnoor-10
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST FUTURE.
Ising. gartan arkayo gartanmahlayo2 gortad arkaisid gortadmahlaisid
lplur. gortainusrhaino gortainumahlaino
Show wad hatslante
Show wainn hatslanne
badan hatalmohadad hatalantid
hadainuhatalan
no
gortan hatalmayogortad hatalmaiSid
gortainu hatal
maino
For Irregular V erbs of the Second Class see pp. 139 142 ; and
for those of the Third Class, p. 143.
144 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
240. It would be sUperfiuous to givemuch explanation as to the
irregularities of the verbs given in the foregoing lists, for in those ofthe Second Class n early all the Aorists are regular except in someverbs ending in ow, and a few others. The irregularities in the 2ud
pers. plur. Imperative exist only on account of euphony , and , as
explained in 224, Rule V . , the contracted vowel reappears as in
Regular Verbs.
241. Examples Of the tenses formed fromthe 2nd pers. plur. of the
ImperativePRESENTHABITUAL PAST INDEFINITE PRESENT DUBIOUS FIRST PRESENT
(POTENT IAL) SUBJUNCTIVEI learn I learned, have Perhaps I may If I learn
or had learned learn
bartsi suigushow bar badan barto
te
baratai adiga Show ba hadad baratid or
rate baratobartai isaguShow bar hadn barto
to
baratai iyada Show ba hadai baratorate
v ainubarana baranai innaga Show ba hadainn baranorane
waidin bartan barten idinkn Showbar hadaidin bartan
ten
wai baran baron iyagn show ba
ren
If the verb baro, learn ,’ were regular, the 2nd pers. plur. of the
Imperative would be barada, which has been contracted into barta,for the sake of euphony. The contracted vowel, nevertheless, te
146 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
wai haiyen
PRESENT IMPERFECT PAST IMPERFECTI amhaving I was having
the.
The same as Pre The same as Pastsent Habitual. Indefinite
CONJUGATION OF THE IRREGULAR VERR imo, COME, ’ OR kalai.
244. In the conjugation of imo, come,
’Odo, say,
’ ohon, know,
’
and 011, lie,’in the Present Habitualof the Indicative and allthe
tenses formed fromit, the consonants which in regular verbs are usedat the commencement of the terminations to distinguish the persons ,are in these irregular verbs prefixed to the root. Hence we have
Regular V erb , dnb Irregular verb, imo, come.’PRESENT HABITUAL INDICATIVE PRESENT HABITUAL INDICATIVE
wan dub-a
wai dub-ta
wai dub-an wai y-imadan
FUTURE SUBJ.When I Shallhave
gotten haiyo
&c. &c.
The same as Pre
sent Subjunctive.
TEE VEBB. 147
IMPERATIVE.
lsing. an imado, letme come
imo, generally kalai, come
he yimado, let himcome
ha timado, let her come
an nimadno, letus come
imada or kalaiya, come (yeor you)
ha yimadan, let themcome
AORIST.
I come or willcome I do not or willnot comesuiguma iman, or anign
(The same for allthe (The verb mayo only is in .
persons .) flected ; see Regular Verbs.)
PRESENT RARITUAL.
I usually come I do notusually come
timado
yanan iman or in sain, letmenot come
ha iman or ha imanin, do notcome
yann or yn iman, let himnot
comeyanai or yai iman, let her not
comeyainan or yai iman, letus not
comeha imanina, do (ye) not come
yanai or yai iman, let themnot come
148 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PRESENT IMPERFECT OR PROGRESSIVE.
I amnot coming, I do not
come
or Simply imanmayo,
(The verbmayo only is ihwai in auayan flected.)
PAST INDEFINITE.
I came, I have or had come I did not come, I have not
or had not comewan imi or imidwad timi or timidwn yimi or yimidwai timi or timid (The same forallthe person s.)
waidin timaden or timadai(without pronoun)
(without pronoun )N.B.
—The 3rd pers. sing. and plur. are also rendered bymaman,he is not come ;maai iman , they are not come.
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
I would or should come, I I would or should not come,would or should have come I would or Should not have
come
wad iman lahaid adigo Ina tin ndon
wai iman labaid
waidin iman lahaiden idinkn Ina timaden
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
I can come I cannot comeaniga Ina imsn karo, orms
(The verbs h rs and karo only are inflected .)
POTENTIAL, PAST.
I could or might come, I I could ormight not come, Icould ormight have come could ormight not have come
labaid
labaid
wainn man u karren or
TEE “ RR. 151
Subjunctive.
PRESENT.
That I come That I do not come
(The same forallthepersons.)
SECOND PRESENT .
That Imay come That Imay not come
inad iman kartid
(The verb kar only is in (The same for allthepersons.)flected .)
FIRST FUTURE.
When I Shallcome If I shallnot comehadanan imanahain or ima
(The same forallthepersons.)
152 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
SECOND FUTURE.
If I wish to come When I do not wish to comelsing . hadan iman dona gortanan iman donahain or
2 9,
(The verb don only is ln (See Table ofRegular Verbs.)flected .)
AORIST.
Do I, shallI come ?
adigamiad iman ?
PRESENT HABITUAL .
Do I usually come ? or
must I come ?I Sing. anigama imada ?2 H 3 maM ’ PRESENT IIARITUAL AND
PAST INDEFINITE.
Do I notusually come ?AmI coming ? did I not, have or had I
not come ?adiguma imanaisa ? lsing . mim imanin ?
PRESENT IMPERFECT.
Form.
AORIST, PRESENT AND PASTIMPERFECT .
Do I not, shall I not
come ? amI not, was Inot coming ?
mianan imanain ?mianad imanain ?
154 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
POTENTIAL, PRESENT. POTENTIAL , PAST.
Can ormay I come ? Could or might I not
1 Sing. mian iman kara ? come or have come ?2 miad iman karts ? mianan iman karen
mianad iman kartcn
POTENTIAL, PAST. mianai iman karten ?Could ormight I come
or have come ?mian iman kari laha ?miad iman karilahaid ?
or karron ?
CONJUGATION OF THE VERR Odo, SAY, TELL.’
In the 2nd pers. Sing. and plur. of the Imperative doh is usedin place of odo.
The word wah, either employed alone or prefixed to the Simplepersonal pronouns an, ad, 11, &c. (as explained in is very
commonly used in the Present and Past tenses of the Indicative whenthese combined pronouns stand at the beginning of a sentence.
Ex . Wahan idahda, I say ; v ahad tidi , (you) than saidst ; but
we say shalai ban idi,‘ yesterday I said,’ because in
this instance the pronoun is not at the beginning of thesentence .
In compound tenses in which the auxiliary verb only is inflected,or in tenses where the verb remains the same in all the persons, we
indicate only the lst and 2nd pers. Sing.
Tn: YEBB. 155
IMPERATIVE.
an iflahdomr an wah idaho, yanan odan or wah odanin,
letme say letme not say, tell.deh, say, tell wah ha odan or odanin, do
not say , tell.
he yidahdo, let himsay, tell yann or yn odan, let himnot say, tell.
he tidahdo, let her say, tell yanai or yai odan, let her
not say, tell.
an nidahno, letus say, tell yainan odan, let us not say,tell.
deha or daha or tidahda, say, ha odanina, do not say, tell.
tell(ye or you)
ha yidahen, let themsay , yanai oflan, let themnot
tell say , tell.
N.B.—The first formof the 2nd pers. plur. of the Imperative
(Affirmative) is employed after consonants ; as, wahhas deha or daha,say (ye) that ; wahha tidahda, say that (thing) .
AORIST.
I say or willsay I do not or willnot say
lsing. wan orwahan odan
wad or wahad odan
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PRESENT HABITUAL.
I usually say I do not usually say
wan or wahan idahda or aniguma idahdo or idahoIdaho.
isagnma yidahdo or yiflallo
PRESENT IMPERFECT OR PROGRESSIVE.
I do not say, I amnot saying
aniguwah odan mayo, or
PAST INDEFINITE.
I said, I have or had said I did not say , I have not orhad not said
158 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
I should or would say, I I should or would not say or
should or would have said
wad or wahad odan lahaid adiguma tidahden
iyagnma yidadenPOTENTIAL, PRESENT .
I can ormay say I cannot ormay not saylsing. wan or wahan odan karo.2 wad or wahad odan karts adignma odan kartid
POTENTIAL,
I could ormight say, I could I could ormight not
ormight have said have said
wan or wahan kari laha anigama odan karenwad or wahad kari lahaid
Mood .
FIRST PRESENT.
That I say That I do not say
lsing. inan idahdo or idaho, or inan inanan odan or adanin
inanad odan or odanin
TEEms . 159
innainuodan or odanin
SECOND PRESENT.
That Imay not say
FIRST FUTURE.
When I shallsay If I shallnot sayor oda
or oda
SECOND FUTURE.
If I wish to say When I do not wish to ssy
gortanan odan donahain or
hadad odaudontid
160 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
AORIST. AORIST, PRESENT AND PAST
IMPERFECT.
DO I, shallor willI say ? Do I not, shallI not say ? amI not, was I not saying ?
lsing. mian wah odau? anigumawah ban odan ? nahain OT odanainin ?
wah bald odan ? nahain OT odanainin ?
PRESENT HABITUAL.
Do I usually say Do I notusually say ?
leing. mian wah idahda or idaha ? mianan odan or odanin ?
2 miad wah tiflahda ? mianad odan orodanin ?
PRESENT IHPERFECT.
AmI saying ? AmI not saying ?mian wah odanaya ? ormawah ban odanaya ? The same as the Aorist.
miad wah odanaisa ? ormawah bad odanaisa ?
PAST INDEFINITE.
Did I say ? have or had I Did I not say ? havesaid ? I not said
mian idi? ormian idi? mianan odanin ?
or aniguma wah idi ?
miad tidi? ormiad wahtidi? mianad odanin ?or adigumawah bad tidi?
162 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
Can ormay I say ? Can ormay I not say ?lsing. mian odan kara ? mianan odan karin ?
2 mianad odan karin ?
PAST.
Could ormight I say or have Could ormight I not say orsaid have said
mian odan kari laha ?miad odan kari lahaid ? mianad odan karten ?
248. CONJUGATION OF THE IRREGULAR VERR oll,‘lie
,belying, remain
quiescent, stay, live, be living (in the sense Of
Afi rmative Form. Negative Form.
IMPERATIVE.
an 0110 or illo, letme lie, stay yanan ollin, letme not lie,
stay .
011, lie, stay ha ollin , do not lie.
be 0110 or yillo, let himlie yuor yanuollin, let himnot
lie.
ha osho or tillo, let her lie yai or yanai ollin, let her
not lie.
an 0110 or nillo, let us lie yainan ollin, let us not lie.
olla or tilla, lie, stay (ye or ha ollina, do ye not lie.
you)
ha ollen or yillen, let them yai or yanai ollin, let themlie, stay not lie.
Ising.
THE VERR. 163
AORIST.
I lie or willlie I do not or willnotliewan olli or illiwad olli or illi adigama ollin
PRESENT HABITUAL.
I usually lie I do not habitually lie
wan olla or illa or al anignma alwad osha or tilla or
wn olla or yilla or yal isaguma yalwai osha or tilla or tel
wainn nolla, ollna, olla innagama nalilla, nilla or nal
waidin oshauor talin idinknma talinwai ollan or yalin
PRESENT IMPERFECT OR PROGRESSIVE.
I amnot lying
adign ollimaisid
v aldin ollaisan idinkn ollimaisaniyagn ollimayan
M‘2.
164 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST INDEFINITE.
I lay, I have or had lain I did not lie, I have or hadnot lain
lsing. wan ollai or illai or ill
2
3m.
3 f.
I sing.
wad oshai or tishai or til
wn ollai or yillai or yil
wai oshai or tishai or til
nillai, i11nai or ni1
shan or tilen
PAST IMPERFEC 'T OR PROGRESSIVE.
I was lying I was not lyinganign mean 011, or
ollimain OImel'n
ollimain ormain
waidin ollaisen
wai ollayen
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
I was habitually lying I was not habitually lying
wan olli or illi jirai anignma olli or illi jirinwad olli or illi jirtai adiguma olli or illi jirin
166 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Subjunctive Mood .
FIRST
That I lie
inai osho
insinu0110 or ollno
That I do not lie
SECOND PRESENT .
That Imay lie That Imay not lie
inan olli karoinad olli kartid or karts
FIRSTFUTURE.
When I shallor willlie If I shallar willnot lie
hadanan ollahain or olla
gortanad ollaisid
gortainuollaino
TEE vERs . 167
SECOND FUTURE.
If I wish to lie When I do not wish to lie
hadad olli dontid or donto
AORIST. AORIST, PRESENT AND PASTIMPERFECT.
Do I, shallI lie? Do I not, ShallI notlie ? amI not, was I not lying ?
adignma ormiad olli ?
PRESENT RARITUAL.
DO I habitually lie ?
aniguma ormiauolla ?adign ma ormiad oshatilla ?
PRESENT IMPERFECT.
Do'
I lie ? amI lying ?lsing. mean ormian all
2 miad tall
PRESENT HABITUAL AND PAST
INDEFINITE.
DO I notusually lie? did Iorhave I or had I not lain ?
mianan ollin ?
mianad ollin ?
168 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST INDEFINITE.
Did I lie? have or had I lain ?
lsing. mian ollai or illai or ill2 miad oshai or tillai or til?
(Same as Present Habitual.)
PAST IMPERFECT.
Was I lying ?
anignma ormian ollayai ?
adignma ormiad ollaisai ?
PAST IMPERFECT IIARITUAL.
Was I habitually lying ?
adignma olli jirtai ?
FUTURE.
ShallI lie or have lain ? ShallI not lie or have lain ?
aniga Ina ormian olli dona? mianan olli donin ?adiguma ormiad olli donta ?
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND
Should or would I lie or havelain
anignma ormian olli laha ?adignma ormiad ollilahaid?
POTENTIAL, PRESENT. POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
Can ormay I lie ? Can I not lie ?
lsing. mian olli kara ? mianan olli karin ?
miad olli karta ?
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND
Should I not lie or havelain
ma wanan ollen ?
ma wadan oshen ?
170 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
AORIST.
I know, I shallor willknow I do not know, I shallor willnot know
aniga Ina ohon or ohonmayo
PRESENT IIABITUAL.
I habitually know I do not habitually know
wad tahanwuyahanwai tahan
PAST INDEFINITE
I knew, I have or had I did not know ,I have or
known had not knowri
wan ohodai or ihin
wad abotsi or tibinwuabadai or yibin
wai abotsi or tibinwainn ohonnai or nibin
waidin ohoten or tihinen
adigama ohotoisagnma ohodoiyaduma ohoto
idinkn Ina ohotan
Iyaguma ohodan
TEE VEBB. 171
DEFECTIvE VERRS.
248. The defective verbs aremayo, I (am) not,’ and wah, do not
find .
’
249. The verbmayo cannot be used alone. This verb seems to beformed of the negative particle ms. and the endings of the First
Present of the Subjunctive, which are generallyused in the conjugationof negative verbs in the IndicativeMoodThe Present of this verb is generally employed in the negative
conjugation of the Aorist and the Present Imperfect of the IndicativeMood ; as, anign samainmayo, I do notmake, I amnotmaking.
The Past, which has only one person , is used in the negative con
jugation of the Past Imperfect of the Indicative . Ex . anign
main ormin, I was notmaking.
Mayo, I (am) not.PRESENT.
I (am) not
isagumayo
innagumainoidinknmaisan
250. Wall, do not find .
This verb, as already said in 231, is generally employed wheneither a want of will, power, ability or opportunity is to be expressed
(see examples, p.
Wah is very often employed alone as an impersonalverb,meaninghe did not find,
’ ‘ he has not found .
’
Ex. Ilah bariyai o wah, I
172 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
have prayed to God and he has not found (meaning, and thatman hasnot found what he was looking for) . Alimoshi lo dirai, wah, Alydid not find the place he was sent to.
With prepositions and particles wah is used as follows : In With,‘ it is not found,’ ‘ it could not be found.
’
Ex . Dorad ba anrtani bai ‘arartai or ‘araren, o shalaito o leili
yan n radinayai o la wah, The day before yesterdayour camels ran away, I was looking for themallday
yesterday, and they could not be found.
The verb wah is alsomuch used in compound tenses and in interrogative sentences .
Ex. He pursued her, but he could not catch her, isaguiyada yneriyai, lakin haban kari wah.
I could not travel(by sea, lit. I was Sick, I could not) , dofl
Why did younot come ?mahad n iman woidai (means,Had youno Opportunity of coming ?)
Did the boy not come yesterday ? inankn shalaitomianuormawanuiman ? or shalaito inankuma iman wahyai ?
CONJUGATION VERB wah.
PRESENT. PAST.I do not find I did notfind , Ihavenotfound
wan wabya
wad weida wad weidai
wuwahya wuwah or wahyai
wai weida
wainn waina wainn wainai or weinai
waidin weidan
wai weiyai or wahyon
174 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Verbs used with the Reflexive pronoun in really have themeaningof English Reflexive Verbs.
IV . Causative verbs signify causing to become, or causing something to be done to or by another. Theymay be formed fromany
root which, according to iudgnifimfiommsy be united to the verb
‘ do’or
‘cause to he done.
’ They are generally formed by adding,
( 1) the particle si, or simply the voweli, to verbs ; (2) the sufi xes t i
and aisi to the root of verbs and other parts of speech ; and (3) byusing the combined particle kaga before certain verbs, as kaga
garirli or kaga gariri, cause himto tremble.
knf, v.i. , fall, tumble knfl,make to fall, tumble.
knlnl, a . , warm, hotnug, v.tr. , absorb , suck mu],make to absorb, suck.
oggolai, v.i ., assent, oggolaisi, make to assent, con
consent sent.
Chou, v.tr., know ohonsi,make to know .
raha, raho or rahad, rahaisi, cause to be content.
j Zn ., felicity
shahai.v.i . , work shahalsi, cause to work.
amns, v.i . , be silent, amnsi, cause to be silent, quiet.quiet
V . Intensive verbs, which express the sense of the ordinary verb
in a greater degree, may be formed by doubling the root of monosyllabic verbs.
Ex . go or goi, cut gogo, cut into pieces .
fur, open furfur, unfold.
lab, fold (one thing) lablab, fold (many things) .
VI. Verbs indicating movement in the action expressed, with either
TRE VERR. 175
a sense of coming back, ora tendency towards the speaker, arpformedby prefixing to themthe particle so.
Ex . n so dib, give himto bring tome.
so heli, bring back tome.
so durug, come near.
VII. Verbs implying a tendency fromthe speaker, or the continuityof the action expressed, are generally formed by prefixing to themtheparticle si.
Ex . si da, let go ; simar, pass by (fromme tosi durug, go away (fromme to or continue tomove away.
si shahai, continue to work.
ON THE VERS OF EXISTDNOE.
252. Before giving the conjugation of the verb ahaw, be,’and the
Attributive Verbs, we think it necessary to give here the differentways of expressing in Somali the verb of existence, ‘ to be.
’ This isrendered
(i.) By the particles wa, ba, ya (see 159 and following).
(n .) By the verb jir, be,’ ‘live.’ The verb ju' is also employed as
an auxiliary verb , in the Past Imperfect Habitual of the Indicative,and for the division of time into years.
Ex . The ox is in the van , dibign gadiga bn kn pm.
He is in the jungle with an Englishman ,miyigi bn j ira,isagn iyo nin Ingrisah, or Din Ingrisahmiyigi ya lojira or 19. jogs .
Where are his three sons ? sadehdisi wilma ye or hagge
One ismarried, mid ba gnrsadai, ormid nag bn gnrsadai,ormid nag bulehyahai.
176 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex. The second lives in the jungle, ki labadmiyi bn pm.
And the third one is at Bulshar, o ki sadehhad Bulahar bnjira or joga or fadiya.
Are they at home ?ma ahalkai (for ahalka yai) jiran or
jogen ?
That word does not exist, eraigasima jiro.
Are youat your ease ? hanlyarima kn jirta ?Yes, I amatmy ease, ha, hanlyari ban kn jira.
When I was in the jungle, I was drinkingmilk every day ,kolkanmiyigi jogai, ‘ashowulba ‘ano ban dami jirai.
What Is your age ? di .ma tahai ? or imisa jir ba tahai ? or
in isa gfi bad jirtai ? or adiguimisad jirtai ?I amtwenty years old, labatan j ir ban ahai, or labatan gfi
yan jirai, or labatan ban jirai.He does not take care of, or he is not with the sheep to-day ,manta adigima n jiro orlama jiro.
By the verb jog, be, live, remain , stay, stap, wait.’
Are his four daughters at home ? afarrtisi gabdod ahalkama jogan ?
N0, they are now at Aden ,maya, iminka Adan bai j ogan .
I will remain (stay) in Berberah tillnextmonth, Berberahilama bishi dambe yan jogi dona or youjogaya.
Stay withme to-day, manta 1la jog.
What are youhere for ?mahad halka n jogta ?I amhere to sellmy Sheep, inan adigaiga ibsado ban
halkaujoga.
With whomdo youlive (or are you) ? yad la jogta ?I amthe Governor’s servant, mididinkn serkalka sarrai
ban ahai, or serkalka sarrai you19. joga.
A servant, ninka la joga (lit. theman living with) .
178 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . There is only one God , Ilah keliah nn ba jira,Where is God ? Ilahha hagge bujira ?God is everywhere, Ilahhamelkasta wa jira.
God had no beginning he always was, he is, and he alwayswillbe, Ilah horanma lahain ; shidhi wa jirai, 0 wejira, o abidki no. we jiri dona.
'
ota II.—The verb 011 is very commonly used to express the
presence of something in a certain place ; as,Is the book on the table ? kitabkumiska dushisamin yal?
ON THE VERR ahaw AND ATTRIRUTIvE VERRS.
253. The root of the verb ahaw ,
‘ be,’is ah, meaning ‘ being,
’to
which the termination aw is added . This verb is defective, as wellas the attributive verbs formed with it.The letters ordinarilyused in the terminations of Regular V erbs
to distinguish the persons, are prefixed to the verb ahaw in the
Present Indicative, as we have already seen in the conjugation of the
v erbs imo, come,’ ohon, know,
’and oil,
‘lie, remain quiescent.’
254. Attributive verbs are formed by adding the verb show to an
adjective, as‘ad, white, ‘
adaw be white ; fi‘an, clever, d ‘
anaw , be
clever ; gajaisan , hungry , gajalsnaw , be hungry ; hnn, bad, bunaw,
be bad ; amnsan , silent, amnsnaw , be Silent ; deregsan , satiated ,deregsanaw , be satiated ; lissau, sharp, lissanaw , be sharp.N.B.
-For the sake of euphony the verbs ‘adaw , n
‘anaw, &c . ,
end in aw instead of ahaw ; but they are allconjugated in the sameway, viz. the verb ahaw, be
,
’with its inflections, is added to the
adjcctives .
THE VERR. 179
CONJUGATION OF THE VERR ahaw,
‘RE.
’
Afi rma tive Form.
IMPERATIVE. PAST INDEFINITE ANDan ahado, me be. m
ismcs
ahaw, be (thou).was
ha ahado, let himbe.wan aha
ha ahato, let her he ,wad ahaid
an ahanno, let us be.W“ aha
ha ahadan , let thembe.waihuahain
waidin ahaiden
AORIST
(The same in allpersons .)
PRESENT HABITUAL ANDIMPERFECT. jirrai
I am waidin shan jirten
wai ahan jirenanign wa orwan ahai
wai tahai
1 plur. wainn nahai
2 waidin tihin
3
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUALI was habitually
wan ahan jiraiwad shan jirtai
wuahan jirai
FUTURE.
I Shallbe, or Shall
been
wan ahan donawad ahan donta
N 2
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT
I would or should be or
have been
0 Q
i.
l iQ
i.
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
I can ormay beSECOND PRESENT
,SUBJ .
That Imay be
inad ahan kartid or
POTENTIAL, PAST.
1st 2nd FUTURE, SUBJ .
I could ormight be or
h beWhen I shallbe
ave
.
en
I Sing. gortan shan donowan ahan kan laha 2 gortad shan dontid or
wad ahan kari lahaid donto
Negative Farm.
IMPERATIVE.
yanan ahauor ahanin, lplur.
letme not be.
he abanin, be (thou) not
ynahanin, lethimnotbe.
yai ahanimlethernotbe.
FIRST PRESENT, sum.
That, if I be
inad, hadad abatid or
ahato
182 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
FUTURE. POTENTIAL , PAST.
I could ormight not beI Shall07' WIIIn0t be or
01' have been
have been
I sing. anignma shan dono2 adignma shan donta or
CONDITIONAL (PRESENTAND PAST) .
I would or Should not
be or have been SECOND PRESENT, SURI .
That Imay not be
isagnma ahaden
FIRST FUTURE, SUBJ .
When I Shallnot be
iyagnma shadengortanad shanainin
SECOND FUTURE, SUBJ .
do
I cannot ormay n0t beIf, When {0 b
o
e
nOt Wlsh
POTENTIAL , PRESENT.
I Sing. anignma ormaan shan
karto or kartid
FIRST PRESENT , SUBJ .
That, if I be not
inan, hadanan ahan or
ahanin
inad hadanad ahan or
THE VERB.183
Inter ragutive Form.
INDICATIVE, AORIST.FUTURE.
AmN 811811 I be ? ShallI be or have been ?
an' ma ahan ?
I sing. mian ahan dona?miad ahan donta ?
PRESENT HABITUAL ANDIMPERFECT.
AmI ?
N.B.—The inflections
are the same as in the
Affirmative Form.
PAST INDEFINITE ANDIMPERFECT.
Was I ?
amguma aha ?
adignma M d ?POTENTIAL, PAST.
Could ormight I be or
have been ?PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL
1 SIDg.amguma orman ahan
Was I habitually ?
I sing. mian ahan jirai ? adignma ormiad ahan
2 miad ahan jirtai ? kari lahaid ?
CONDITIONAL (PRESENTAND PAST) .
Would or should I be orhave been
aniguma ahan laha ?adiguma ahan lahaid ?
POTENTIAL, PRESENT .
May or can I be ?
aniguma ormian ahan
kara ?adigama ormiad ahan
karta
184 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Negative Form.
AORIST, PRESENT AND PAST CONDITIONAL (PRESENTIMPERFECT.
ShallI not be? amI not? Would or should I notwas I not ?
be or have been ?
nin‘
G
mawanad ahain or abap
nin ?
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
PAST “ ( PERFECT HABITUAL
Was I not habitually ?
ls ing. mianan ahan jirin ?
Can ormay I not be ?
lsing. mianan ahan karin ?
2 Ta i i 11 jirin ? 2 mianad ahan karin ?
FUTURE.
POTENTIAL, PAST.
Shall I not be or have Could 0"might I not hebeen ? or have been ?
mianan ahan donin ? mianan ahan karen
CONJUGATION OF THE ATTRIBUTIVE VERES
humaw , be bad,’and amnsnaw , be silent
,quiet. ’
I! PERATIVE.
Ising. an humado, letme be had . an amnmado, letme be si
lent, quiet.humaw, be bad. amumaw, be Silent, quiet.
186 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST INDEFINITE AND IMPERFECT.
I was bad I was silent, quiet
wan humawad humaidwuhuma
wai amusnaid
waidin amusnaidenwai humayen wai amusnayen
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
I was habitually bad I was habitually silent
I sing. wan human jirai2 wad human jirtai
FUTURE.
I shallbe or have been bad I shallbe or have been silen t
I sing. wan human dona wan amusnan dona2 wad human donta wad amusnan donta
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST).
I should or would be or have I should or would be or havebeen bad been silent
wad human lahaid wad amusnaulahaid
THE VERB. 187
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
Imay or can be bad Imay or can be silent
wad human karts.
POTENTIAL, PAST.
I could ormight be or have I could ormight be or havebeen had been silent
wan amusnan kari lahawad human kari lahaid
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST PRESENT.
That I be bad That I be silent
inan humadoinad kumato or humatid
inai huniadan
SUBJUNCTIVE, SECOND PRESENT.
That Imay be bad That Imay be silent
188 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST PUTURE.
When I shallbe bad When I shallbe silent
gortad humanaisidgortuhumanayo gortuamusayo
SUBJUNCTIVE, SECOND FUTURE.
When I will or wish to be When I willor wish to be
bad silent
gortan human donogortad human donto or don gortad amusnau dontotld
N.B.—The Present Dubious oi the Subjunctive, with sow or Show
prefixed, can be formed fromthe First Present of the Subjunctive bychanging the last vowelof the endings into 0 ; as,
sing . suigusow or show humado anign sow or show amusnade2 adign sow or show humate adiga sow or Show amusnatc
190
I Sing.
2
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST INDEPINITE AND IMPERFECT.
I was not bad I was not silent
suiguhumanmain ormain aniguamumanmain ormeinadign humanmain ormain adiguamulnanmain ormein
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
I was not habitually bad I was not habitually silent
maad amuman Ju'in
FUTURE.
I shallnot be or have been I Shall have b eenbad
maan human donomaad human dontid or maad amusnau dontid or
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST).
I would or should not be or I would or should not be or
have been bad have been silen t
THE VERB.
'
191
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
I cannot be bad I cannot be silent
kartid kartid
POTENTIAL, PAST.
I could or might not be or I could or might not be or
have been bad have been silent
I sing. suiguma human karen suiguma umununukaren2 adiguma amusnan karten
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST PRESENT,
If I be not bad If I be not silent
hadanan humanhadanad human hadanad amusnan
SUBJUNCTIVE, SECOND PRESENT .
That Imay not be bad That Imay not be silent
inanad human kal-ln inanad amuman karin
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
SUBJUNCTIVE, FIRST FUTURE.
When I shallnot be bad When I shallnot be silent
gortauad humauainin gortauad amusnauainin
SUBJUNCTIVE, SECOND FUTURE.
When I do not wish to be When I do not wish to be
bad silent
gortanan human donain or gortanan amusnan donain
donahain or donahain
gortauad human donain or gortauad amusnan donsin
The inflections of this formbeing the same as those of the Affir
mative, we give only the lst pers. sing. of each tense .
INDICATIVE, AORIST.
anigun a mian human ? | aniguma ormiauamusnan ?
PRESENT HABITUAL AND IMPERFECT.
anigun a mian humahai ? | aniguma ormian amusnahai ?
PAST INDEFINITE AND IMPERFECT.
mian huma ?
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
mian human jirai ?
194
Ising.
Ising.
Ising.
I Sing.
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL.
Was I not habitually bad ? Was I not habitually silent ?
mianan human Jirin ?
FUTURE.
ShallI not be bad ? shallI ShallI not be silent? shallInot have been had ? not have been silen t ?
mianan human donin ?mianad human donin ?
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT AND PAST) .
Should, would I not be or Should, would I not be or
have been bad ? have been silent ?
mianad humaten ? mianad amusnaten ?
POTENTIAL,PRESENT.
Can ,may I not be bad ? Can ,may I not be silent ?mianan human karin ?mianad human karin ?
POTENTIAL,PAST.
Could, might I not be or Could, might I not be or
have been bad ? have been silent ?
mianan human karen ? mianan amusnaukaren ?
THE VERB.
256 . Examples showing how the verb to be and the
verbs are to be employedLet us be diligent, an shahi ahanno.
Be good, diligent, wanaksanaw, shahi ahaw .
Thou (you) art a beggar, dagag bad tahai or
dagagah bad tahai.
I amyoung, sh iguwa dalinyarahai.AmI good ?mian wanaksanahai ?Is he rich ?ma hodon buyahai ?Is she clever ?miai fl ‘
antahai ?
Is it so ? sides ma tahai ?Are youstrong ?miaidin adagtihin ?
Was I short ?mian gabna ?Was he poor ?man ‘
al‘
d buyabai ?
Were we obedient ?miainudeganuglain ?Were they hold ?ma gesiyo yai ahaiyen ?We are not idle, innagu ‘
ajisan ma nihin.
ON THE ROOT leh, be possessed Of, have .
’
257. The word leh is employed in a variety of ways. Withmay be formed (i.) an adjective or a concrete noun froma noun
,as
bein , a lie ; beinaleh, a liar, an impostor.baras, leprosy barasleh, a leper.
gall, a beard gadleh, bearded .
or (n .) a n oun froma verb , as‘ajm, bake ‘
ajinleh, baker.
abur, create abureh, creator.
196 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
N.B.—In the
‘
word aburoh, the letter 1 of leh is dropped for thesake of euphony . This happen s very frequently when this word isjoined to other words, and especially when it is affixed to verbs .
258. Lab is used to denote possession thus
aniga leh, it ismine.adiga leh, it is thine .isaga leh, it is his (own) .
iyada. leh, it is hers.
innaga leh, it is ours.
idinka leh, it is yours .
iyaga leh, it is theirs.
259. Leh is also employed as an attributive verb . The Imperativein this case should be lahaw, be possessed but it cannot beused alone .
260. The Past tense of this attributive verb is employed as an
auxiliary with the ConditionalPresent and Past,and the Past tense
of the PotentialMood.
261. The Present and Past Indicative of this verb can be employedto express say.
’In this case the pronouns used are wahan, v ahad,
wuhu, wahai, wahainu, wahaidin , wahai .
Ex . I say to him, her, them, wahan kn lehahai.You(thou) say tome, wahed igulehdahai.We say to them, wahainukulehnahai or nidahna.
I said to you wahan idin laha.
262. The verb lahaw is very often employed to translate the
English words must, ought, be obliged , should , we are to are we
to have we to
198 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
263. CONJUGATION OF THE VERB lahaw, be possessed of,have.
’
Afi rmatz‘ve Form.
IMPERATIVE.
Be possessed of, have .
an lahado
lahaw
ha labadoha lahato
ha lahadan
IND T E TI“ Iv “ms3
waidi n lahaIdenI amorwillbe possessed wai labayen
of
lsing. wan lahan
2 wad lahan PAST IMPERFECT HABITUAL
PRESENT HABITUAL AND I hablt‘muy was P08
IMPERFECT.sessed of
I am possessed of,I WG-11 lahan jirai
have ; or I say. wad lahan jirtai
wan or wahan lehahaiwad or wahed lehdahaiwulehyahai
wai lehdahai
wainn lehnahai
waidin lehdihin
PAST INDEFINITE AND
INPERFECT.
I was possessed of or
I said, have said , had
said , was saying
wan or wahan laha
wad or wahad lahaid
FUTURE.
I Shallbe or shall havebeen possessed of
wan lahan donawad lahan donta
TEE VERB. 199
CONDITIONAL (PRESENT FIRST PRESENT, SUBI .
That I be possessed of
I would be or would Ising. inan lahado
have been possessed of
POTENTIAL, PRESENT.
I can be possessed of
lsing . wan lahan ham2 wad lahan karta
POTENTIAL, PAST.
FUTURE, SUBJ.I eonld
,might he arhave
When I shall be posbeen possessed oi
sessed of
Ising. wan lahan kari laha
2 wad lahan kari lahaid gortadlahan donto or-tid
IMPERATIVE.
Be not possessed of
yanan lahauin or lahan 1 plur. yainan lahauin orlahan
ha lahanin or lahan 2 ha lahanina
yulahanin or lahan 3 yai lshanluor lahan
yai lahanin or lahan
SECOND PRESENT, SUBJ.That Imay be possessed
of
laing. inan lahan karoinad lahan karto or-tid
200 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
INDICATIVE, AORIST. lplur. innaguma lihinI amnot or willnot be 2
possessed of 3
lsing. anign ma lahan or
adiga ma lahan or
PAST INDEFINITE AND
IMPERFECT .
PRESENT HABITUAL ANDIMPERFECT.
I was not or have not or
I amnot possessed of had not been possessed of
ISing lsing. maan lahain or anign
2 adignma libid lahanmain ormein3m isagnma laha maad lshein or adiga
3f iYaduma laha lahanmain ormeinNata i.—The other tenses are conjugated like those of the verb
humaw, be bad .
’
Nata u.—The Interrogatz
’
ve and Interrogative Negative forms of theverb lahaw are conjugated like those of the attributive verb bun aw .
Ex . I have a book which is notmine, kitab anan lahain yan
hays (let . A book I amnot possessed of I have) .The book I have Is notmine , kitabka an hayoma 1t (lit.
The book I have I amnot possessed of) ; or kitabka
an hayamid anan lshnin weiyei or wa mid anan
lahain (lit. The book I have one I amnot possessed of
is indeed , or is one I do not possess) .AmI a leper ? barasmian lehyahai ?AmI not a leper ? barasmianan lahain ? (lit. Leprosy am
I not possessed of
202 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . Paper ismade fromrags , warahda sufafba lag-a samaiya
Flour ismade fromwheat, burh men he laguumaiya.
The fifty camels which were lost were found yesterday,
The two hundred horses were brought to Berberah , labadi
bohol0 fan s or laba boholki fan s ya Berberah Is.
A woman was beaten , nag ha 18 jodah i (not jedn hui,I was sent, nulgamIn. i dirai (3rd pers. sing.
We were beaten , mags.wa us. In. i dih i (3rd pers . sing.
mas .
I was sent for you, aniga idinh h i w kin dhni or aniga
awadina la 1 so dirai.
Itmust be observed that these examples are not completepassive sentences, for the passive voice denotes that its subject (or theobject of the active voice) is acted upon by the attribute (or the
subject of the active voice) , and in all these examples there is no
attribute expressed as acting upon the subject ; it is n ecessarilyunderstood .
In the first example,Paper is made fromrags,
’and in all the
others, there is no attribute expressed as acting upon the subject. In
turn ing this first sentence, as it stands, into the active voice, wemustsay Ragsmake paper,’ otherwise the verb make would have no
subject. But note wellthat here the objective fromrags’can not be
employed as subject. In turning again this active sentence Rags
make paper in to a passive one, we get Paper ismade by rags,’ whichdoes not conformto the example. Here the noun man or peopleis necessarily understood , and by adding either of these nouns we
THE VERB. 203
have Men (or people)make paper fromrags and turning this intothe passive voice we have Paper is made fromrags bymen prpeople ’understood) .The same can be said of allthe other examples, and wemay deduce
the following directionsI. Sentences rendered passive with In. generally express some
abstract idea .
II. When the particle la is used with a verb to translate an incomplete English sentence, it may be considered as a sort Of indefin itepronoun ,meaningmen , people, someone, something .
III. After la, the verb is used in the 3rd pers. Sing.mas .
,active
voice,although the subject be of feminine gender and of a different
person,as shown in the examples A woman was beaten ’
and We
were beaten ,
’in which we have nag ha la jedalai (mas.) instead of
jedashai for the subject nag , a woman ,
’is of feminine gender
and annega wa na la dilai (3rd pers. Sing .) instead of dilnai (lst
pers. the subject being annaga, we ,’ which is lst pers. plur.
IV . The nouns or pronouns used to express the subject are in the
objective case, as in aniga wa 18. i dirai, I was sent. The Somalipronouns aniga and i are in the objective case, although they expressthe English subject I,’ which is in the nominative case.V . The particle la, when used without any nominative expressed,
gives to the verb an impersonalmeaning.
Ex . It is known , wa la yahan. It is lifted, la had.It is proved , la garai. It is sent, la dir.
It is said , 1a yidi. It is not said, lama odan.
265. In ordinary conversation and in trading, Somalis avoid as
much as possible the use of the passive voice. But the materialwehave now in our possession shows that they employ this voice morefrequently when relating events, or in stories , and in poetry.
204 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
AUX ILIARY VERRS.
266 . The principalauxiliary verbs are (I) don , wish Ju‘
, be ,
live kar,‘ be able, can (all these are regular) , and lahaw , be
possessed of’
(p . 198) (2)mayo, ‘ I (am) not,’ and wah, ‘ do not find ,’
for the negative form(p . 171) and (3) abaw , be ’
(p. formingattributive and passive verbs .
CHAPTER VIII.
ADVERBS .
267. In Somali,adverbsmay be expressed
(i.) By root words, as ha, yes ; na (affix) , also ; wada,an , not. Ma and na are gen erally combined with the
used alone before the verb .
(ii.) By verbs which include the sense of the adverb, as dambai,
remain behind ; tag or iss ka tag , go away ; her, mer, meraiso, goround .
(iii.) By nouns. When a noun is employed as an adverb of timeit generally has either the sound a of the definite article or that of oof the demonstrative adjective pronoun affixed to it, as an inha, now ;shalai or shalaito, to-morrow.
(iv .) By particles and other parts of speech (see Adverbs of Qualityand Manner, p.
206 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
gor-ta, kol-ka,mar-ks. (lit. the time) .gortas (this time) , got ti (the time, past) .gor, ormar°
badan , danr gor, ha
long after,afterwards,hereafter,at no time,any time soever,soon,still, wolita, ila iminka.
always, ever, gor walba, kolwalha, gor iyo galab ,
weli-ga, —gi°
n ever, abki, abid, kolla, weli-ga.
N.B.—The adverbs abid and abki, n ever,’ and weli-ga, always ,
ever,n ever,’ are employed as follows, viz. with pronouns affixed to
themaccording to the person speaking or spoken of.
abid, never abki, n ever weliga, always,ever, never
I sing. abidkaina, Inever abkai, I, &c. weligai, I, &c.
2 abid kana, thou abka
never gana
abid kina, he abki waligi or welinever
abid kena, she abked weliged or welin ever
gorti ba, kolki ba.
mar, gor or kal kaleh, misana
dabaded, dambe, dambow , haddow .
dabadedba, hadowto, wagi dambe.
an inha, hadda, ka dambow.
gorra or gorna.
In n a formama.
W9
ADVERBS.
abkai orabken,we,
&c.
abkin
abkod
2 . ADVERBS OF PLACE.
whencewherever,inside,outside,forward ,backward,far,
close to, near,you, yonder,ashore ,alongside,afore and abaft,
around, on allsides,
207
weligen or weli
genna, we, &c.
or weli
ginna
weligod or well
godna
hag-ga,—gan , hal-ka,—kan , mesha,meshan .
shishai.
ila halkan .
hagga, haggas, helkaa,moshna.hagge ? me ? meyai ? (mas . and fem.
medal? (fem. melma ?hagge ? halkemelkasta,melwalba.
gudaha.
dibadda.
hor, hore.
melfog, fog.
(u) dow.
halka, halkO,meshé,mesh6,hebta.
barbar.
har hore iyo hat dambe.
harero.
208 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
3. ADVERRS OF QUANTITY .
enough, has ; or the verb filow , as, Enough for
me, anign igufilan .
ka badan .
other words used as adverbs of quantity, see In defin ite91— 107.
4 . ADVERBS OF AFFIRMATION.
ha, hays .
wa allah, wa run, wa runtis .
na (particle) .
5. ADVERBS OF NEGATION AND DOUBT .
maya,mal’.an ,ma (particles either combined w ithpronouns or used before the verb) .
perhaps, probably, malaha, sow , show.
N.B.— Sow and show express some doubt. Sow is generally used
when asking a question in doubt, and Show is used in the answer.
Ex . Sow sidama aha ? is it n ot so ?Show wa sidas, perhaps it is so .
Sow sa‘addutobankima aha ? is it not ten O
’clock ?Show sa
‘adduwa tobanki, it is ten O
’clock perhaps .
7. ADVERBS OF COMPARISON.
See also 119— 126 .
sida 11 (before the adjective or the verb) .
210 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
(iv . ) Other adverbsmay be formed(a) Bymeans Of the particle 11 after an adjective and before the
verb ; as,Go quickly, duh-outag .
Place it straight, humati udig .
(b) By noun s used as adverbs with the particle 11 before the verb .
Ex. Hold low , hos uhabo.Whisper, do not speak loudly, hosuhadal.GO before
,her 11 so‘o.
Give back, dib usi.Sit farther back, retire, dib ujogso.
MISCELLANEOUS ADVERBS.
well, completely, hail) .well
,allright
,haurarsan , hays , wa wahsan.
indeed,
only,
slowly,
ayar, adyar, hun yar.
absolutely, by allmeans , kolleh.
nomeans,
CHAPTER IX .
PREPOSITIONS.
269. Words used[merely as prepositions, as in English, French , &c . ,
do not exist in Somali, but the relation in which persons or thingsstand with regard to other persons or things in the senten ce is
expressed
PREPOSITIONS. 211
(i.) By a noun in the genitive or possessive case (see Nounsused in this way generally refer to time ; to place also when nomovement fromor to is expressed .
The prin cipalnoun s used as prepositions are
for above,on , dnl,— aha,fin , top, point, surface.
before, here, horai or hor,— ta, f .n . , front,opposite .
dabo, -ada, f .n . , back, hind part.
daf,— ta, f n . , bottom; hos,— ta, f .n .,
under part.beside, n ear, ges,
—ta, f .n ., side ; ‘ag , foot ;
flow , a .,adjacent.
between , (leh,— da, f .n . ,middle .for, on account of, awe, awada, f.n sake, interest.inside
, guda, —ha, — hi ,m.n . , interior, inside.
outside,
dibad,—da,f .n .,back, outer orhind part ;
duled,— ka,m.n . , outside of a house.
Ex . It is on the table, miska dushisa buyal (here on ex
presses place) .In the afternoon he always eats before his house, duhurka
dabaddisa isagugor iyo galab ahalkisa hortisa ku‘una (here
‘ before ’refers to place , and means ‘ in
front
By verbs which in clude the sense of the preposition as,
Let us go to his house, ahalkisa an tagno.
Ask the boy , wilka weidi.
Yes, give it tome, ha , i dib or i si.
Giveme cloth formy camel, darka aurkaig i i dafi .
Change withme, i dori.
212 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
(iii.) By the prepositionalor verbalparticles 11, to, for ; kn, to, in ,
for, at, on , with ; ha, against, from; In, with, along with.
N.B.—These particles, although in our Dictionary we style them
prepositions, are n evertheless mere verbal particles ; for they are
generally inseparable fromthe verb . In negative sentences, however,they are sometimes separated fromthat part of speech ; as,
I amnot speaking to you, adiga kn lama hadlin, or In In.
(iv .) By the verbalparticles 80, si, kala. V erbs used with theseparticles are expressed in English either by verbs which imply a
preposition , or by a verb and a preposition . The meanings of theseparticles are
So, used before a verb, expresses amovement towards thespeaker (or lst
This word is very often used with the prepositions n, kn , la, ka.
Si, used before a verb, implies amovement fromthe speakerto a place, or the continuity of the action expressed bythe verb .
Kala, used before a verb, indicates division , separation .
270. The particles 50, si, kala, as wellas n, kn, ka, la, very oftenchange the mean ing of the verbs to which they are prefixed ; therefore we give below a list of the prin cipalverbs of which theymore orless change the signification .
bah, v.e2, get out, go out, set out, leak, grow, spring up n go to ,go at him(for fighting) so come out (tome) ka
so come out from uso come for ; in kaget out, away.
ballan , e.tr., fix (a time, a day) 1a promise, treat with ; kastipulate, state positively, exactly.
214 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
an answer to a letter) , restore, re-establish , callagain ;I! bring back to him, answer ; kala separate,set apart.
(n) fur, v.tr. , attest, certify ; kn attest against.
gal, enter,penetrate ; so come in ; uso enter for somepurpose ; n surrender.
garai, o.tr .,prove ; kn prove against (refute the accusation ) .
go or goi, v .tr. , cut ; kala cut into parts,gur, e.tr .
,pick up, take away ; so bring here ; kala select.
guluf, v.tr. , attack ; ka get up and run away ; iss ka defendyourself.
hadal, v .12, speak 1a answer, communicate , speak with.
horai, 1mi , go first u be first ; ka go before him.
hukum, v .tr. , admin ister, govern , judge, condemn , order, command ;la iss ka forbidden .
hnl, v .tr .,go round
,through ; so go through and come back ;
Si go through, when I amOff.
habo, u.tr. , catch, hold , seize , keep ; ka take from; kuwith ; kaga begin ; la aid
,assist ; so
after, go and catch.
had, o .tr . ,take, assume
,bear, lift, raise ; ka take from; la
carry, raise with, help, assist ; laga be deprived of;
so fetch,bring .
hosol, v .i . , laugh , smile kn mock at,ridicule.
ka‘
, v .21,awake, wake, get up ; n go to
, get up for sara. and
so get up.
ke‘i, v.tr .
,wake, awake ; ka ke‘i, wake themall.
kahai, v.tr. ,lead , take to (a place , a person ) ; SO bring
, take
(towardsme) kala separate,detach .
j id, v.tr .,draw, pull, row
, put up or on ; so pull(towardsme)Si pullfromme to
PREPOSITIONS. 215
Jll‘
, v.tr .
,take care of, protect (cattle or sheep) la serve, attend to.
jog, v .i . , be, live , remain , stay, step; la remain with ; ka hesitate.
jogso, v.i. , halt, remain ,wait ; kn tread
,tread upon
,trample kn
jogjogso, Shampoo with the feet on the back.
jojl, v.tr . , detain , impede , interrupt, stop kn strike, fix a handle.
mal, a .tr . ,milk ; so go tomilk.
noho, v.i .
, go back, happen, occur ; so come back, return .
orod, v .i., run so come quick .
rid, v .tr. , pitch, throw ,upset ; kn throw in
, aimat ; ka
conduce kaga shoot.shub
,v.tr., put in , spill, pour out,melt ; so
' pour out towardsme ;si continue to pour out ; kn put in , pour in .
tag, v .i . ,go n go to him; Si go first
,before (I willcome after) .
ti g , v.tr. ,fix (a stake firmand straight) ; iss halt
,stop ; kn
prop,Shore up.
tali (with kn) , o.tr . ,arrange, settle, arbitrate ; 1a arrange with
him,suggest ; iss la settle for yourself ; so go
and settle ; n manage,educate ; 11 Si manage ,
settle for.
talab , v .i . , take a pace, a step ; ka cross, pass through.
yell, v .i .,call
,cry after, cry aloud ; n call for
,invite ; ngu
name, call.
Nata i.—The particles n , kn, ka, 1a, &c., when used with otherverbs, are generally expressed in English by one of the meaningsgiven above
Ex . Where do all those people come from? hagge dadka-S odami ka yimi ?
Twenty-nine boys.live at (with) the Fathers, sagal iyo la
batan wilBadrintu1a joga.
I can hop to the top, ‘aradi wan kn bodi kara.
216 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Ex . The dog fan to the hut, ol’
gi bulki bun ordai.
Turn to the right, midigta n jeso.
Nata ii.—The use of kn with the verb hadal, speak,’must becarefully noticed . There is nearly always something understood .
Ex. DO youspeak English ? afka Ingriskama kn hadasha ?(lit. DO youspeak in the English language
Yes, I speak English,ha, afka Ingriska ban kn hadal
(lit. Yes, I Speak in the English language) .What are you speaking of ?mahad kn (for kn n , to him)
hadlaisa ?
Nata iii.—When the particles kn and ka are used with pronoun sor with other prepositionals, the letter k is changed into g ; an d
in this case kn and ka are generally placed last,as ngu, to him; nga,
fromhim naga, fromus ; nogu, to us ; kugu, to you.
Ex . Tellme, him, us allwell, completely , hal’
b ign, ngu, nogu
shag.
He willtellyoun icely, plainly, isaguhal’
bn kugushegi.
Nata iv .-The compound particle kn-la, with you,’must not be
confounded with lags. or lagu, which is the passive particle la join edto kn or ka.
CHAPTER X .
CONJUNCTIONS.
conjunction s are
na (affix) .iyo, o, e.
sida, sidi (for the
218 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
273. The conjunctions o and e are of very frequent occurrence inSomali conversation and narrations . These are made up of a seriesof short sentences
,interspersed either with ejaculations by which the
bearer seems to tell the speaker that he has understood what he has
just been saying (see Interjection s) , or with the conjunctions o or e,
which are pronounced with some emphasis and about half as loudagain as the rest of the discourse, after each verb . By this repetitionof conjunction s the speaker seems to say to his hearers (who in this
case say nothing) , Continue to listen ; I have not as yet finishedSpeaking for after each conjunction he steps a little while beforecontinuing.
Exanmles .
Last week I wen t to Aden , and Todobadki hereAdan yan tagai,
o (or e)there I rode a bad horse
,and halkafaras hun ba yan so fulai,
o (or e)I felldown , and wan ka da‘ai, o (or e)I brokemy leg, and lngtaidi iga jabtai, o (or e)afterwards people took me to the dabadedna ragi hospitalka i 80
hospital,and gadai, e (or e)
I remained there for twomonths. laba bilod hospitalka ban jogai.
Hcarer kow, or kow deh, or hays , or waiyai.
Nata i.— Caremust be taken not to confound the sounds of theseconjun ctions with those of the endings of the verb.
Nata ii.— HOW these conjun ctions are joined to the verb can be
learnt only by practice, and especially how they are pronoun ced ; forexample
,fulai o (or e) is pronoun ced nearly as if it were in English
fooleithoh (or fooleitheh) .
CHAPTER XI.
INTERJECTIONS.
274. The principalinterjection s are
‘ar ! ‘
ar !
ow and yew !
waiyai or weiyei !
used either to induce excitement and
curiosity, or as a provocation to fight,as
‘ar ! ‘
ar ! i dillyou cannot beatme.
what !used in stead of war ya ! hallomanin speaking to parents or respectfullyto other persons .
atten tion ! behold ! hark ! hist ! 10 !see ! used to express sudden astonishment.
sigh when feeling pain .
yes ! allright !well allrightoh hallo woman , girl used in callingwomen .
Oh ! halloman , boy ! war ya ! war hoi !
war ya hoi kalai ! comeman ,
boy waryayahein kalaiya !
come yemen , boys !particles affixed to proper noun s
,when
calling. Abbahaiyow kalai ! 0 you
my father, come Husseinow ! 0then Hoossein .
indeed
220 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
275. The words kow, one kow doh, one say waiyai or
waiyai, indeed hays ! well! ’ are frequently used in Somaliconversation , which, as we have already said, is interspersed withejaculations by which the bearer seems to tellthe speaker that hehas understood .
The example we gave on p . 218, can also be rendered as follows
Last week I went to Aden , Speaker Todobadka hore Adan
Bearer kow or kow deh or
and there I rode a bad horse, Speaker o halka faras hun ban
and I felldown , Speaker o wan ka da ‘ai
Hearer : weiyei !
and I brokemy leg, Speaker o lugtaidi iga jabtaiHcarer weiyei !
and afterwards people took me Speaker . 0 dabadedna ragi hos
to the hospital, pitalka 1 so gadai
and I remain ed there for two Speaker : 0laba bilod hospitalkamonths . ban jogai.
Hearer kow or kow deh or
weiyei.
222 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Go away, get away fromme, tag , 188 ka tag, iss ka taga (pl. iss ka
GO home, ahalki tag or taga (pl. orod ahalki
tag , orda ahalki tags. (pl)hosta tag or taga (pl.
so deg or dega hosta kalai or
kalaiya
dusha tag or taga dusha ubah
or baha, gudka tag or tags.
Come up, dusha uso bah or baha
Get down fromthere, ka so deg meshes, ormesha he. so
dega
Get out fromthe house, ahalka ka. bah.
Go along with, la ra‘or la ra‘
a
Get aside, stand by , gas ujogso or jogsada
GO backwards , Shrink, dib uso‘o, dib n durug , dib ujogso.
GO by that way , halkamar.
Go n ear, udurug , udowow .
GO forwards , hor uso‘o or so ‘daGo on, wad, uguwad, tag.
Get up, war ! ka‘or ka‘
a or ka‘ka‘a, Sara ka
‘,
sara jogso or jogsada
Get upon the table, miska kn jogso.
Get together, iss ukalaiya.
Be silen t, amus or amusaBe silent for one hour, sa
‘ad dan amusnaw or amusnada
Be careful, iss ka eg or age amin ahaw or
ahada
amin abaw or ahada
ha ilawin , ha ilowbin or ilawina or
ilowbina
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
Make haste, be quick,Fetch that bottle,Give it tome
,
Leave it alone,leave him,
Open the door, the doors,
Shut the door, the doors,Open the door (entrance of
Somali hut) ,Shut the door (entrance of
Somali hut) ,Stand , be standing,Stand still, do notmove,Do notmake a noise,
Db not go there (pointingout the place) ,
Sit down,
Kneeldown ,Remain kn eeling down ,Bow your head ,Have patience , be patient,Wait waitamomentforme,Do as I say,
Come back (to a person sent
on an errand) ,Leave me in peace, let mebe quiet,
Come back afterwards,
dahha lal.
iss kaga kalai, iss kaga so noho.
iss ka i da or daya
hadowto i so noho.
223
dahso, dahsada
haruraddas la kalai or orod la kalai.war ! i si, war ! i dib.
war ! iss ka da, war ! iss kaga kalai.
war ! albabka fur, albabyada fura or
furfura.
albabka hid, albabyada hidhida.
dahha so da or so rida.
sara jog, sara jogso.
jogweliba, ha dahdahahin , si jog.
ha hailin or ha hailinina orwar !
hailada naga da or daya.
halko ha tegin or ha tegina
fadi, fadiso or fadista.
jilbe jogso or jogsada
jilba joga.
fororso, forereads .
samir or samra kadeo, dulhado.
sug or suga halka abbar i jog.
sidan kn idi fal, sidan kuguidi fal,sidan kulehahai falor yel.
224 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Light the lamp (or the
candle) ,Blow out
, put out the lamp(or the candle) ,
Light the fire (at 5 o’clock) ,
Turn to the right,Turn to the left,Callmy servan t,Ask him; ask Hassan ,DO not botherme,Take this letter to the
Governor, warhaddas had 0 Serkalka goi.
Bring an answer, jawab ka so had, jawab ka la kalai.Bring the answer, jawabta ka ken .
Mind your own busin ess, war ! hanshada habso o iga tag .
Bring some water, wahhoga biyah la kalai.Bring some drinking water, biyo la ‘
abo la kalai, or biyo an ‘aboi ken.
Bring some water for wash biyo an kn farhasho i ken or la kalai,ingmy hands, or biyo an sa
‘abada kn mal’do
i ken .
Listen tome, Obey, i degaiso, imahal, i yel.Speak loud , ad 11 hadal.
Do not chatter somuch, hadalka badan iss ka da.
Do not telllies, bein ha shegin.
DO not speak so fast, dahso ha 11 hadlin or hadalka ha
Say it again ,repeat, mar kaleh fish or daha
Give himlessmoney, la‘agta ka din .
Givememore, i kordi.Giveme the same (as those) , knas o kaleh i Si.
kn habo (Shama‘ha sirad
siradka afuf, bahti or sehi (shama ‘ha
dabka shid (Shanta sa‘adod) .
midigta ujeso or leho.bidehda ujeso.
mididinkaigiuyad.
weidi ; Hassauweidi.
226 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
It is the house of an Indianmerchant,Whose children are these ?
The children ofMahomed,Whose sheep are these ?The sheep of Fara,Whose daughter is She ?
She is the daughter of a
blacksmith,
She is the daughter of a
European ,
Where is my, thy, his, herfather ?
He is in the jungle withan Englishman ,
Where are your father’shorses
He sold themall,
Where are my brother’schildren ’
s houses ?They are at Aden ,Where ismymother ?Las t week she died in the
jungle ,
we. gabad h arm, or gabadda nin
Frenji'
ba dalai.
abbahai, abbaha, abbihi, abbahedme?or hagge jira ?miyi bujira, isaga iyo nin ingrisah, or
habtai, or nin ingrisah yumiyi ura
‘ai, or nin ingrisah yumiyi la jira.
fardihi abbabama ye ?or
isagufardihisi kulligod wada ibsai
walalkai wilashisi ahaladodima ye ?Adan bai jiran or bai yalin.
todobadki here yaimiyi kudintai.
ahalka leh or ahalkis weiyan .
srurtsn or inamadan ya leh? arurtaniwa arurma ?
wa arurta or erut ti Mohamed.
adiyahakan ya leh ?
wa adiyihi or adiyaha Fara.
tani yai gaballis tahai ? or gabaddani
yai dalai ?
wa tnmal gabaddi or gabaddis, or
we gabadda tumalka or we.gahad
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
Where is your sister ?Where are ourmothers ?Is this your horse ?Yes, I bought it last year,
IS thismy father’s house ?No , it is farther on , in the
n ext street,IS thismy Sister’s camel?Yes, She led it fromthe
country to Berberah ,Howmanymen are there ?
We shallfind about thirtyfive,
How many men will bethere tO-morrow ?
There willbe two hundred ,How are the horses ?
They are allwell,
Wh ere is your brother ?He died last week,
Where is thisman ’smother?
wilashadime dai ?hoyoinksnma yai ?kan,ma faraskagi ha ?ha sannaddi here or kal here
ibsadai.
kani abhahai ahalkisima yahsi ?
wa wada bed haban , or wa iss ka dan
me walalkaor walalkame ?todobadki horn (for here yu) dintai, or
todobadki doweid yudintai.
ninkan hoyadi me dai ? or
maya, ka fog , surinka here.
kanma geli or aurki walashai ba ?hamiyi yai or bai ka so kahaisai o
Berberi kentai.
halke nimankuimisai kuyibin ? or
nimanku imisai yibin ? or nimanin isa halke joga ? or imisa nin yai
malaha shan iyo sodon nin bainn ka
heli, ormalaha bainn ka heli shaniyo sodon nin .
berrito in isa nin ya halkas jogi or
ahan dona ? or berrito imisa nin ba
iman dona ?laba boholya ahan or iman dona.
farduhuwa side ? or farduhu sidai
228 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
She is living at Bulahar,Where were youyesterday ?
I was taking a walk on the
sea-shore,
Whose son are you?
I amthe son of Jama Abdi,Whose horses are these ?They belong to the SultanofMa
'
it,
Howmany houses are there ?I do not know
,it is only a
smallvillage,What sort of boat is this ?It is a large boat for goods,Where will these childrenbe to-morrow ?
They willbe at school,When willyoube at home?
This evening at 6 o’clock,Was your father at homeyesterday ?
N0, he was on board for
shipping his goods,
Will your brother he at
home to-morrow ?Yes
,in the morning before
noon ,
Were my two oxen in the
boat yesterday ?
Bulshar bai fadida or jogta or jirta.
haggad Shalai habatai or n ka‘dai ? or
jirtai or tag‘tai ?
ina ayad tahai ?
fardahan or fardahakan ya leh ?
Suldanka Matt ba leh.
in isa ahalba balhas ah ?war ! uma hayo, wa jesas iyohoga.
sehimaddamidabkeduwa ‘ain kc ?
wa sehimad wein 0 hole laguguro.berri arurtani or arurtatani haggai
jogi donan ?ma‘lamaddai jogi donan .
gormad ahalkaga jogi ? or hadmanshalki ka heli dona ?
galabta lehda sa‘adod.
Shalai abbahaahalkima jogai ?maya,markabkualabadisi or holihisi
kugurayai or kuguranayai.walalkaberrito ahalkama jogi dona ?
or walalkaberri ahalkama jogi ?
ha, subahdi , lab iyo tobanka ka horta.
Shalai sehimadda labadaidi dibi makujirtai ? orma kujiren ?
230 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
I come fromAden,
Where do you(plur.) comefromWe come fromthe jungle,What is your business here ?
I am a servant of the
Governor,With whomdo youlive ?I work for Mr. X .
,
What do youwant ?I wish to catch aman whohas robbed me of a loincloth,
Do youunderstand ?What do youunderstand ?I understand a little
,
When willthe ship sail?She willsailat four O’clock,
What are youdoing there ?
Nothing. I take care of
my smallbrother,
Willyoucome withme ?Willyouremain withme ?Yes . No .
Howmuch willyouchargeme for carrying my lugsage ?
Giveme half a rupee,
Adan ban ka imi.
hagge ka timaden ?
mahad halka habanaisa ? haushada
halka wamahai ?
yad la jogta ?saheb or hawaja X . yan la shahaiya.
mahad donaisa ?inan habto nin mahawis iga hadai
yan donaya.
ma garanaisa ?mahad garanaisa ?wah hoga ban garanaya.
gormamarkabka bihi or dofl or tegi ?
manta afarrta sa‘adod yu dofaye,
bahaya, tagaya.
mahad halka ka samainaisa ? or halkamahad ka falaisa ?
wahha. Walalkaiga yar ban egaya
or ban la jiraya.
ma i ra ‘i or ra‘aisa ?
ma i la jogaisa ? or jogi ?Ha. Maya.
alabadaida imisad iguhadi ? or ala
badaida gurideda imisad la‘ag igahadan
rubied banked i si.
MANUAL or SENTENCES. 231
Yesterday Mr. N . told meto give youthree annas ,
Is there plenty of fish ?Nc
, we cannot catch any,
Yes, the harbour is full
of fish at this monsoon
Who are you?
I amone of the Somalichiefs,We are the Somali chiefs,Who is that ?It is the son of my Sister
(my nephew) ,What is your name ?My name is Abdi,Where have youbeen ?I have been working in the
garden oftheGovernment,Why have youcome here ?I wish to learn English,Where are yougoing ?
I go to the jungle for threemonths,Where ismy servant ?Is he not in the house ?
wahhasi wa mahai ? or wa mahaiwahhasi ?
Mr. N. ya iguyidi Shalaito, sadeh
halkasima kalun badantahai ?
ha, bad hidankan, dekedda kalun ha
ha buha.
(sing ) knma or turned tahai ? or aya
tahai ? (plur. ) kumaidin or knmatihin ? or aya tihin ?
garadka Somalida yauahai or Soma
wa kuma kasi ? or wa kuma ninkasi ?
maga‘ha ? ormaga‘haguwamahai
hasse jirtai ?
Serkalka bustankisi yan ka shahaina
yai.
mahad halkan utimid ?
melmad kuso ‘ota ? or habanaisa ?melmad gadi ? or ka‘
aisa ?
miyi ban habanaya sadeh bilodsadeh bilod banmiyi jireya.
haggemididmlraigr’
jira ?sow ahalkama jogs ?
232 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
He has gone to the bazaar snhhuhabtai o iminkn so nohon or
and willcome back soon .
Who is thatman ? ninkasi wa ayo ?
He is amerchantofBombay, wa nin denhadah o Bombay joga.
DO youknow him? (isaga)ma tahan ?Yesterday I spoke with him Shalai ban weli la hadlai, or weligai
for the first time, lama hadlin Shalai ka. horow or
Howmanymen are there ? in isa halkas joga ?There are one hundred and wahai yihin bohol iyo konton o ‘
awai
fifty, and they willattack ina la dagalami.us to-night,
Is themaster at home ? sahebki ahalkimin pm?Yes
,come in , gudaha kalai or ahalka so gal.
Who is that European ? ninkas ‘adi wa knma ? or wa ayo ?
He is an English ofi cer, wa serkalIngrisah.
What is the good of that ? gedkasi muhu tari ? or maha lagu
or what is the use of fala ? ormaha kn falan ?that ?
It is a medicine against wa dawo dahanta la ‘aba, or wa dawo
Why do youdo so ?
Because I think it is best,
What is thematter ?That man has robbed me
Of 3 rupees, ninkasi sadeh rnbiadod yn iga hadai.Where did you hear this haggad ha 80mahashai warkas ? or
news ? warkas haggad he somahashai ?They say so in the jungle,
mahad sides 11 falaisa ?wahanmode in wahhasi uguwanaksanyahai or inai ka wada wanak
wamahai eddu? or edduwamahai ?
234 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Yes, but wait amoment,Can youspeak English ?
Speak Somali w ell,DO youunderstand now ?
I do not understand ,What do yousay ?What did yousay ?What are youspeaking of ?I say that youmust doyour work
,
What do youask ?What are you asking of
him?I beg for alms, because Iamhungry,
I wan t to speak to you,
WhyI willtellyousecretly,
I amnot speaking to you,
Why did you speak so
yesterday ?I said nothing
,
What news is there tod ay ?There is no news
,
What yousay is alltrue,
wahan kulehahai shuhulkaga habso.mahad weidinaisa ?
mahad uweidisanaisa ?gaja 1 haisa o sadahad ban weidisa
naya, or wan gajouaya o sedahanka bariyaya.
wahan donaya inan kula hadlo, or
man kula hadlo yan donaya.
wayohadalharson ban kushegi, or wan ku
kula hadlimayo, er adiga kn lama
mahad shalai sidas uguhadashai ?wahbama auo dan.
mahamanta halka war joga or j ira ?warma jiro orma jogo.wahed lehdahai o dami wa wada run.
ha, e abbar jog.
afka Ingriskama tahan or ma kn
hadasha ? orma kn hadli karta ?Somalida si fl‘
an uguhadal.
aminka ma kuda‘dai ? orma garanaisa ?
garanmayo, or ima da‘saua.
mahad lehdahai ? .
mahad tidi ?mahad kuhadlaisa ?
MANUAL OF SENTENCES. 235
3. CONVERSATIONAL SENTENCES.
MASTER AND SERVANT .
I want a good servant,
What wages willyoutake ?
I wish to have 18 rupees a
month ,
I willgive you10 rupees amonth
,
I do not accept,V ery good , Sir, I agree ,Iwilldowhatever youorder,DO you see that tall and
strongman ?I have engaged himas my
servant,
Of what use are you as a
servant ?I could be a coachman or a
cook,Why did you not comeearlier ?
If youdo not come immediately when I callyou,
I willdismiss you,
hadamormididin or sebiyan wanak
San ban donaya.
mahad mushaharo ka digan ? or imisad mushaharo hadan ? ormahadmushaharo hadan ?
sided iyo toban rubod ban kuhabanaya bishi ba, or wahan douayainad bishi sided iyo toban rnbiadod
i sisa.
mididmkal' '
gi yan ka dlgta'
i.
hadad hadamtahaimahan ka diga ?wa ahan kara gadiwaleh amasse sor
mahad dahso uimanweidai ? ormahad inta uga so dahsauor herein
gotten ku yello hadi anad markibaimenin , wan kueriyi.
toban rubiyadod yan bishi kusin .
yelimayo.ajja or tal
'
b , sab , wan oggolahai.
wahad i dirta ba wan fali.
ninkazs der e hogga weinlehma arag
ta .
236 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Please pardonme, sir,What wages do youget ?
15 rupees a month,with
lodging and water,What countryman are you?
I ama Somali,How far off is your nativecountry
It is very far, about 30days
journey,Has the newspaper cometo-day
I do not know,sir
,
Has the washerman cometO-day
Not yet,When willhe come ?Tellhimto come at once,Has the cook yet returnedfromthemarket ?
Yes, he is in the garden ,
outside,Let me know when he
comes,
Have my things (luggage)come yet ?
They promised to send themtod ay,
When they come, send themtome,
i samah, saheb , sab.
mahadmushaharo hesha ? or hadata ?
Ol‘
shan iyo toban rnbiadod iyo biyo, iyoahalyaubishi hata.
magaladaduwa hagge ?nin Somalied ban ahai.
meshad kudalatai imisai fogtahai ?or imisai jirtai ?
wamel fog , omalaha sodon ‘asho lo
so‘oda.
warkimantama yimi ?war IIma hayo, sab.
gortai yimadan , i so dir.
dhobigi or dar hasalkimantama yimi ?maya weli.gormuiman ?uSheg dahsouyimadai.sor kariski or deriye karishi suhhi
welima ka so nohdai ?
ha, bustanka, dibadda kujira.
an ogado gortuimanayo, or i ogaisi sonohodkisi.
alabadaidi weli ma timi or ma timiweli ?
wahai‘
ku ballamen inai mantakenan .
238 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Bring me some creamand
milk, ‘anaah i ken.
Some preserves and butter v ainudouaina wah hoga kabisah iyoare required, bur‘adka.
Bring a clean spoon and
fork, fandaliyomnda‘ safaisan i ken.
This sugar is fullof sand, sunkortatan amnd ba ka bnhda.
Order the dinner, sorta ‘id ino kn dir.
Lay the table,What is there for dinner ? mahad sor haisa ?What food do youeat ? sormaha ‘
nntan ?
What willyoudrink, Sir ? mahad ‘abi, saheb ? or sub ?Put the water on the
table ,Giveme some wine, wah hoga nabidkaah i Si.Who has drunk all the
win e ? hamrigi ya wada ‘abai ?
When will dinner be
ready ? gorma sorta daman ? or bislan ?
I amhungry and thirsty, gajo iyo harad ba wa i hayan .
Cook somemeat,Bringme some bread , wah hoga kibisah i ken or la kalai.The bread is alleaten , sir, kibisti la wada ‘un , sab.
Bring a clean plate, Se‘ni safaisan la kalai.
Bring a knife and fork, mindi iyomuda‘ i (me) , no (us), keniyaga ugoi (to themgive).
This meat is not wellcooked,
I have done eating, “an d or o halasai.
Take away the dinnerthings
,alabada sorta lugu‘uno gur.
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
WALKING.
I willgo out for a walk, dibadan u bihi inan so so‘odo,
dibadan .tegi inautamashlaiyo,dibadan utamashlai tegi.
Why do yougo out on foot? mahad lngaha nguso‘onaisa ?I amfond of walking, so ‘od wa or ban ja
‘lahai.
We walked about the city, magaladi or magalada bainn ku
waregnaI.
Are youtired ? ma dashai ? orma “M IM I
He walked with the aid of
a stick, ulbukn tukuba.
Youmust go withme, i ra‘a or i so ra‘a or inad i so ra
‘da
Youn eed not go there, inad halko tagtid douimaisid.I willcome immediately, iminkan So nohon, ormathiba ban
V ISITING .
See who is there, eg ! kan halko jog-a.
Who is there ? ya halko joga ?I amhappy to see you, inaukll arko, ban ja‘lahai.Take a chair and sit down ,
kursi hado so fadiso.
Give the gentleman a chair, sahebka or hawajaha kursi so Si or
It is a long time since Isaw you, we buran ba iss uguken dambaisai.
How are you? e iss ka warran ?
I thought youwould come wahan modayai inad manta imantO-day ,
240 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
I hope to see youagain soon , inan dahso kn arko yan sugaya.
When willyoureturn ? gormad so nohon ?I shall come back by the
n ext ship, markabka damban so ra‘i.
WEATHER.
This is fine weather, dabashatani wa wanaksantahai.
The sky is very clear, ‘irkn wa dalalaya.
It is very hot, wa kulul or kulail, or wa
It is the summer season , wa haga.
It is a fine day tod ay, manta wa malin bahsan or
badan.
How dark it is gndhur weina !
It willrain to-day, manta rob ba dii or roba dii.It lightens very much
now , iminka ‘irkuad buhila‘aya.
It is raining,it rains
,rob ba dasya or da,
‘irkuda.
It has stopped rain ing, robki hadyai, or robki diimayo.Much rain falls in the
hills , rob badan ba burta ka dasya.
There was a thunderstormyesterday,
Has themoon risen yet ?It drizzles,See the sun is setting
,
Oh ! the sun appears,Themoon Shines to-night
,
The sun is SO hot that Icannot go,
Shalai ‘unked ba daai.
dayihhi welima so bahai ?‘adar da, or
‘irkuwa ‘adar dasya.
eg !‘ad ‘eddi da‘dai.
war ! ‘ad‘eddi bahdai .
‘awa wa ‘
addo.
horahdusidai ukulushahai, tegi kari
wahyai orma tegi karo.
242 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
It is six and three quarters, wa lehdi iyo bad iyo wah, or wa
or it is a quarter to seven , todobaddi o wah la or iyo wah
Every two years, every two labadi sanadod ba, labadi bilod bamonths I go to Aden , Adan ban taga or n ka‘a.
What is your age ?
I amten years old,
How Old is he ?
Notmore than twenty years,He is very Old or aged,I have known himfrominfancy,
He is stillvery young,
Call the old man and the
old woman , odaigi iyo habarti uyell.We are both of the same labadayaduba iss kn fll, or iss kn di
389.
RELATIONS.
Have youany relations ? war ! higalor ga‘alma lehdahai ?What relation is he to you? Side ba iss kn higtan ? ormnhn kn
yahai ? ormaha iss kn higtan ? or
AGE.
dama tahai ? or imisa Jlr ba tahai ?or imisa gfi bad jirtai ? or adign
toban Jll‘ ban ahai , or toban gn yaujirai, or toban ban jirai.
imisujirai ? or imisa jir waiyan ?kolla labatan sanadod kama badna.
wa odai gabowbai.isago aruran ihin, for isaga o arurah
weli wa am, or isaguweli wa dalin
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
He is my brother,cousin , &c.
,
Where is your father ? abbabame ? or abbabahagguj ira ?His father is dead, abbihi dimai, or abbihima nola.
This is his sister,
Has he a wife ? isagn firi or afoma lehyahai ? or nagmiugursadai ?
Theylivewith theirparents, walidkod bai la jogan or jiran.
Have you a family (husband) ? rerma lehdahai ?
This is his elder brother, kasuwa walalkisi ka weina.
That is his eldest brother, kasuwa ‘uradkisi.
That is his young sister, tasn wa walashisi yaraid.
WRITING LETTERS.
Are there any letters forme ? war ! warahma i sida ?
NO, there are no letters for
you,
Themailhas just arrived ,
Themailis coming now ,markabka warahda sida gor dew bu
I want to write a letter, warhad inauhero ban douaya.
Is this your paper ? tanima warhaddadi ba ? or tani war.
haddadima tahai ?Your writing is not legible , fartada lama nihi karo.Giveme a wafer, in kibisah o yer i si.When does the mailleavehere ? gormamarkabkuhalka ka dofl ?
R 2
244 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
IS this letter for the Post ?Take this letter to thePostOffice
,
Youmust pay the postage,Giveme a postage stamp ,Where is the Post Ofi ce ?
Give me a smallpiece of
paper,Enclosemy letter in yours,
Did youreceivemy note ?
Makeme a suit of clothes,
Wait while I take yourmeasure
,
Please to send , give me a
pattern,Brushmy hat and coat,
Giveme a handkerchief,Mendmy shoes
,
Bringmy clothes here,
Where have youput myclothes ?
in yar o warhadah i si.
warhaddaida tada kurid or tada i
war ! warhaddaidama kuso gadai ?
war ! warhadatanima dabalka leh ?
warhaddan dabalka kurid.
tikedda la‘agtisi bihi.
war ! tiked i si.
war ! dabal haflski me ? or hagge
dabalhaflski jira ? or war ! i abeg
dabalbadekumeshuka disanyahai?
CLOTHING .
dar i samai, orwar ! surnaliyo garbagalai i tolor iguhiyas.
i jog an kuhiyasta, or i jog an hi
yasta ka hataie.
adign hiyastada i so dir, or wahan ka
kofiadaida iyohamiskaiga ba habeshakuuyalka bii.
massar i si or i dib.
kabaha i kar or i tolor i yel.
darkaiga halka i ken or halkakan i
ken.
darkaigi haggad digtai or hagge bad
geisai ? or darkaigi haggad kaga
246 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Put this in the centre, kan dohda geli.
He lives near that mountain
,bnrta ‘
agtedn fadiya or joga or ju'
a.
Move straight on, humati n so
‘o.
Put it on the back of the wahhas farasha funkiea or dnShisa so
horse,
It is under the book, the bahashasukitabka, sanduhha hostienbox , ta1, or gedku kitabka, sanduhha
hostisuyal.
On what page Of the book kitabka balkisi ya laga heli donais that word to be found ? eraigas ?
The box is under the table, sandnhhnmiska hostisuyal.
My knife is on the table, mindidaidn miska dnshisai tal or sa
Where is your country ? dalkagn or‘arradadn or biladkagn wa
hagge
Where is your coun try ? dalkinn or‘arradinuor biladkinn wa
hagge
QUALITIES.
Of these two,which is the labadas ya ka wein ?
greater ?Bring some cold water,
He is a very sharp (active)man
,
He is deaf and dumb,
This fruit is sour,
He is a wiseman , garadleh.
This is good bread,
biyo habow la kalai, or in biyaah o
habow la kalai.
wa nin kulul, or nin kululwaiyai, or
we nin hauled.
isaguwa degala iyo arrabla yahai.midkani wa hadad yahai.wa nin faridah, or we nin
tasi wa kibiawanaksan.
MANUAL OF SENTENCES. 247
That knife is Sharp,
This house is Camp,The n ight is very dark
,
She is a naughty girl,That merchant is a very
richman , or hololeh orwe nin holo badan leh.
How wet the grass is tod ay ! war !manta geduhuhoiyanayan , or
war !manta geduhuwa hoyan yibin.
He had a blackish dog, el’madow bulahan jirai.
Have youlit the fire ?Bring fire
,a light
,
Putmore wood on,
Put less wood on ,
Burn this paper,Tellhimto light a fire,
Be carefulof the fire,
Bring some charcoal,
Split up some firewood,
A spark may catch yourclothes
,
mindidasi wa af badantahai or wa ti
af badan.
ahalkasi wa heiyan yahai.habenkuwamid gudhurah , or wamidgudhurah buaha or wamadowba.
yaduwa gabad hnn
AND SMOKING .
dabkima shidai ?dab la kalai, iftin i (me) no (us) ken.
horiyo kaleh dabka ear or habo kordi.
horiya (or-o) or habo ka yar sar.
war ! ninka dab Shid fish or dab Shid
ushag.
war ! dabka ad uhabso, or ad isaga
jir, or dabka iss ka jir.
in duhulah orwah hoga duhulla kalaior ino ken .
in habaah or habo i, no jehjeh or je
jebi.
wa intas o dinbili darka kuor kaga
da ‘da, or we intas o dinbilba darkakudi‘i, or dinbilba darka kaga di
‘i
248 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Put out the fire,
Light the fire with amatch, dabka haraf kn Shid.
Please give me a light,a war ! (ka bariyaya) Sirad, mid habad
candle,
Shama‘ha i si.
DO yousmoke tobacco ? burima fndda ? burigama ‘abts ?
Giveme a cheroot,my pipe, habad Shurutah, pai'
pkaiga i Si.
Get the hookah (hubble badehhadda ino bnhi or ino bihi (light)bubble) ready , 0 dabaded ino so Shid.
Wherezare the tongs ? birrhabkime ?
GARDEN AND PLANTS.
Whose garden is this ? beirtatan ya leh ?
Where is the gardener ? hagafkime ?What flower is this ? ubahhani W3 ‘
al’
nma ? orubahhakaniwamahai ?
The garden gate is Open,
beirta ilinkedi wa banan or furan
What sort of soilis this ? wa ‘arro ‘
al'
nkeah ‘arradatani ?
Take a little walk in the
garden ,beirta kuso yar wareg.
Sit in the shade of this tree, beirtan w e!“ 1104180, 01‘ beirtatan
hauso or fadiso.
Will youallowme to take beirtada inan kn so werego ma i
a walk in your garden ? ogolan ?
Dig up this tree, beirtas or gedkas so bihi or hosuhod.
This is a very beautifulgarden , beirtasi wa beir hureh badan .
This tree hasmany branches, gedkasi lame badan bulehyahai.This plant will soonblossom, gedka dahso ubah uga so bihi.
250 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
16 divided by 4 equals 4,
He wan ts about tenmen ,Give themthree rupees each,He demands twice asmuch,
Tie the books ten by ten ,
Take the horses two by two,The nine boys are good ,Twenty are neither bad nor
good ,
What an imalis that ?It is a beast of prey,Whose oxen are these ?I have bought amule,The jackalis very cunning,Is it this dog or that cat ?
tellme,
It isnotthis dog, butthatcat,
In the Somali country therearemany beasts of prey,
The beasts of prey Of the
Somali coun try are
lion,lioness
,spotted hymns ,
striped hymne,hunting
chita, pan ther, leopard ,
leh iyo tobanmslodmin afarr la haibShai or laga digai wa afarr.
malaha toban nin budonaya.
nin ba or nin walba sadeh rubod si.
intas in leh cg budouaya, or intas
labaded budonayo.
kitabyada toban toban iss nguhida.
fardaha laba laba kn kahaiya.
labatan ban (for ba an ) humain na
ma el‘gasamasse wa dinadda ? i eheg.
efgakanma aha, wa dinaddas.bilad or dulka Somalied dugag badanwa jira.
ANIMALS.
bahalkasi wa bahalma ?kasi wa bahaldad ‘una.
dibiyada (lo ‘da) ya leh ?bahlad ban ibsadai.
dulmadow wa nejia or hiyan waiyai.
dugagyadi dulka Somalied waRT or libah lab, golorlibah didig , wa
raba and horor, didar and habalfurai, shabel(generalname for thatkind ) and at im‘
ed, horgumo, nimmer(the last two attackmen ) .
MANUAL or SENTENCES. 251
hymns dog, lynx, fox, foxin general, jackal,
wild cat (felis cerval) ,
The game (wild animals) ofthe Somali country are
gazelle, Semmeringe gazelle,kuduantelope, lesser kudu
antelope,oryx
,clippspringer,
hare or rabbit,musk deer,gazelle walleri, giraffe,wild ass
,hippopotamus,
elephant,
zebra, sand antelope,
N .B.— For other names
Dictionary.
yeyi, gndudonni, dawa‘, dawa
‘o, dulmadow or dawa‘ dulmadow, or golliOI
'
dined habishi.
HORSES AND RIDING .
I want a horse,
Is that a quiet horse ?Letme ride it
,
Send to callmy groom,
Saddle the horse,Bring the saddle-horse
,
I amgoing out for a ride,
Givememy whip,Shortenmy stirrups
,
kasi farasmarabiahma yahai ?an fulo isaga.
farasjirkaigi‘id ign dir, or faraSJrr
kaigi hofuyeda udir.
farasha (i) korai.faraska 1a fulo i so kahai.dibadan ubahaya inan fulo, or inau
jedalkaiga i si.
rikabyada i gabi.
dero (generalname
godir, adorye.
b ‘e‘id or b ‘i‘id, aliknt or alakut.
baka’
fla, beir or bai‘
ra.
gareung, gerri or halgerri.
gumburi, jer,marodi.farow , sakaro.
of an imals, and those of birds,
252 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
See if the rein s are strong, eg in hakamnhuadagyahai, or eg in
Is the horse ready now ? faraskima diyar ba iminka ?Whose horse is that ? faraskan ya leh ?
Here groom, hold this horse, farasjirow halka kalai, faraskan habo.
Give the horse some grain faraska wah hoga hadndah iyo wahand water, hoga biyaah Si.
The horse ran away withhim, faraski ba isaga 1a ararai.
He fellfromhis horse and faraski yn ka da‘ai, o dimai or kn
was killed,
I want camels , gelban donaya.
Howmany do youwant ? imisad donaisa ?I wan t two, twelve camels , laba, lab iyo toban rati ban donaya.
Can I find themin Berbera ? magalada Berbera ma ka helaya ? or
magalada Berbera gelma laga
hela ?
Yes, Sir, ha, saheb.
Buy them, so ibi.
Saddle the camels Iwill aurta heriyai wan heriyain
MONEY, BUYING AND SELLING .
Count thatmoney, la‘agtas tiri.
Howmuch is it ? wa in isa ?
Buy what is n ecessary, wahainudonaino ino So ibi.What is the price Of
thing ? wahhakan gana‘disuwamahai ?
What will you takethis ? wahhasmahad ka hadan ?
254 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Put it in the scales and misanka sar o sg intamisankisn yap
weigh it, hai ormisankedn tahai.He has more money thanhe wants, la‘
ag intudonaye ka badan buhaista.
TRAVELLING .
How far is Ogaden fromhere ?
It is far,
Tod ay I intend to go toBulahar
,
Will you go by land or
water ?What is the hire of the
boat per day ?
I travelby horse,I amgoing to Arghaisa tomorrow,
I shall start early in the
morning, arorta horan tagaya or bahaya.
Butler,tellmy head man bnder, hedmankaigi or turjumaukaigi
to come here quickly, dahso kalai, kn deb.
Here I am, sir,what do
youwant ? wa i kan, saheb,mahad donaisa ?Are allthemen and camels
ready ? ragi iyo aurti o dan , diyarmaHave you bought all the
provisions for themen ? ragi jl‘sinkodi o danma ibisai ?
Yes, sir, ha, saheb or sab .
biladka Ogaden imisai halka ujirta ?
wa fogtahai, or in buran bai n jirta.
manta inauBulshar tagan douaya.
ma berigamasse bedded maraisa ? or
ma berigadmarimasse badda ?malin walba sehimadda kiradeduwamahai ? or imisadla‘
agmalin walbaka hadata ?
faras ban kn sod‘ala.
MANUAL OF SENTENCES. 255
Giveme the account of hisabtoda i SI
I want to start to-morrow wahan donaya inan berrito duhurkaafternoon at two o’clock, dabadisa labadda se‘eded tago.
Youmust go off with thecamels to-morrow momins.
My shikaris only will ac
company (you),Take care of my things,
and have my tent and
everything ready when Iarrive,
Before my arrivaltell the imatinkaiga hortisi nimanki kn deh,men that I do not like ninkuSomalied hailo ad uja‘alyashouting as Somalis ordi hai, lakin sahebkama ja‘alain.
narily do,
I willdomy best, sir ; but italkaiwan samain dona, saheb ; lakinyou know pretty well adiguna ad ! bad 11 garanaisa inai
that Somalis cannot live Somalida kolna bailada dein shain
without shouting, or karain.
I know well that shouting ad ban u garanaya hailada owa {in
is part of their work, butI like work better than ka ja
‘alahai hadalka.
talk,
Do not let strangers comeinto our camp, and lookafter the camelmen that
they feed their camelsproperly,
Allright, sir, we willdo allas youwish it,
adign aurta la ra‘a berri arorta.
Shikaryadaida (my hunters) keliah i sora
‘ai donan .
alabadaidi ad uilali o tambuggaigaiyo alabada o dan hagaji bottaiintan imanayo.
ragamiyiga inai rerkeni galan udido nimauki aurta jiran ad n eg inai
aurta sor wanaksan siyan, or inai
aurta ad 11 dajiyan (graze) .
haurarsan , saheb , wahad donta bannn
256
DO youthink there is any
game here ?There are waterfowlin the
swamp,What bird is that ?
I amgoing to shoot that
partridge,Yonder runs a hare,Shoot that hyaena in the
head ,IS the animaldead ?I see some deer and Semmeringe gazelles thereyonder,
Are theymales or females ?I shoot onlymales,There on that mountain I
see two oryxes, and a
little farther up two
clippspringers,
Let us go and shoot a
koodoo antelope,Are there any liens here ?I do not know,
sir, I will
ask the people of that rer.
Are there any liens near ?
Yes, there are lions and
leOpards,
SOMALI GRAMMAR.
SPORT.
halka inainuugad wa ka heli done,ma umalainaisa ?
rubabka had biyo jogta be In jirta.
wa shimbirma tasi ?
gallowgasan inauso dilo uso‘oda.
bakalla halka ordeya.
warabamada‘ha kaga rid.
nefkima dintai ?deroin iyo ‘
aulba halko yan kn arka .
ma lab yihinmass wa didig yibin ?bahallab keliah ban togta.
burtas dnsheda laba be‘it ban kn
arkaya o in yar ka shishaisa laba
alaknt ban kn arkaya.
an tagno o godir an kn togano.
meshani libahmiai lehdahai ?garan mayo, saheb , raga rerkaa wei
war ya ! libahyomeshanma kn dow
ha, libahyo iyo shabelowe. jogan .
258 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Take care that youdo not kolkaidin hamgga ka behinaisan
cut the Skin,
santa ha jehina.
You‘
behaved very well; gidigin ad ushahaisen ; abalgndkini
here is your backshish,
ORDINARY SALUTATIONS.
Are youin good health ?Yes
,I amallright,
Farewell, good-bye, adieu!Are you safe ? (morning
salutation),Yes, we are safe,Are youwell?I amwell, thanks to God,I amnot well,Is there peace ? (ordinary
salutation ) ,Yes, there is peace,Warsamah ! are youwell?
Yes, thanks to God ,
How are you?
How are you? (lit.
n ews of yourself),I am(I feelbetter) ,How is your father ?He is better now ,
Be in peace !Were youin peace ?Yes , I was in peace,
ma admed habta ?ha, wa ladnahai.
amana Allah ! (some add iyo rasulka).ma baridai ? ma bariden ?
ha, barinai.
ma bed habta ?wan bed haba, Ilahmahaddi.ma bed habo.
ma nabad ha ?ha, wa nabad.
waryaWarsamow ! nabad or nabaddi
ma jirtaha, Ilahmahaddi.war ! Side tahai ? or Side ba tahai ?
iss ka warren ?
man or we ladnahai.
abbahawa side ?
an inha or hatan wa ladanyahai.
nabad gal!
ma nabad gashai ?ha, 0 nabad galai.
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
Good bye ! be in peace,Salam hail! hailto thee !To yoube peace, salam,
nabad geliyo, or nabad hab .
salamaleikum? (Arabic salutation ) .aleikumasalam(Musulman salutation) .
4. MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCES .
The European s can makeeverything, but they cannot escape death, nor re
suscitate a dead man .
(Proverb .)We go, be so
,
Be ye so,10 we go
,
Is it so ?
It is so,
If it be so, I go,
I amso,
GO to bed ,
Yes, let us go,An ox fellinto the well,Do tellme of it
,how it is,
Do not do so,
Mend the pen well,It is dark,
Ask if it is far,
Frenjigu wah walba wa
dimasho so ka bahsan
weinuta
weinutagaina, sida ahaw.
edinkn sides ahada, eg !
gaina.
ma sidasah ? or sidasma tahai ?wa sidas, or we se.
hadn sida yahai, or nohdai wan iss ka
tegi (mas.) hadai Sidai tahai, or
nohotai wan tegi
sides an ahai.
orod 0 echo.
ha, an tagno.
dihi ba ‘elkn da‘ai.
wahha iga Shag or i shag (sidai tahai?)sides ha falin .
halinka Si ada 11 her.
we gndhnr.
weidi balinai fogtahai, or weidi inai
260 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
ma fogtahai ?soma foga ? ormindahma fogs ? or
mianai fogain ?The wellis not far
,
‘elknma foga.
Sin is had ,my lad ,Is it a fat kid ? wahar shilie mi ya ? orma wahar
shilis be ?
Yes,it is, ha, we Shilie yahai or Shilin tahai,
ha, wa tahai.
If the sun is so hot, hadi horahdn knlnshahai, ha fogan , or
do not go so far, sida ha 11 fogan.
Let us go home,Can he cure my sore honta lugtama ui buksin kara ? yanI ask, weidistai, or wahan kn weidiyai
ninkn hegte lngta igaga ta1 inn
buksin karo ?Willyougo, or not ? war ! (adign)ma tegi (tegaisa)masse
wamaya ?It is a sin to lie, beini wa dembi, or beini dembi bai
I amaman , youare a lad,
IS she well? was she well?
We are not rich,
Youare badmen ,When did yougo home ? gormed ahalki tagtai ?
anign nin ban ahai, adign wilbe or
bad tahai.
iyadn wa bukta.
wa aflmadsantahai, or iyaduwe all
mad habta.
ma bed or admed habta ? ma bed
habtai ?
annagn hodanmiihin , or innaguhodan
262 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
Because it is good to do so.
Therefore we will not tell
lies,In doing so youare wrong,
Imerely ask one thing,It is a fine day,
That is the best way,
Are youhurt ?
There is a crowd,
The boat is on the coast,
Joseph is a good boy ,Mohamed is not a good boy,Is Hussein a good boy ?The day willbe fair,An ox has horns and hoofs,He is a fool. Why ?He tells lies,Speak clearly,I like himbetter than you,I like himbest of all,I willdomy best for you,They will do what they
can forme,
hadeh wa tolmen or fl‘antahai, sides
in 1a falo, or Sides inainn fella,
wanaksan .
hadaba bein shegima don e, or hadai
sides tahai bein shegimaino.hadad sides fashid adign wa hallohantahai, or jid hallohan bad kn so‘ota.
wah kaliab yen weidistai.
wamalin bahsan (wanaksan) .sidasauguwada wanaksan , or d kasa
or dengese nguMan , or he wada
wanaksan.
wah ma kn gaden ? or houi ma kngadai
halka wa laguurursanyahai, or dad
badan ba halka joga orurursan .
sehemad di hebtai jogta.
Yusuf wa inan or wilwanaksan.
Mohamed wilwanaksanma aha.
Hussein wilwanaksanma yahai ?malintn wa bahsanau(donta).dibi gesas iyo hobab yn lehyahai.isaguwa wallanyehai. Wayo ?bein bushega.
Si ads , or si hagagsan n hadal.
anign isaga ban ka ja‘alahai.
isaga yan nguja‘alahai.
anign wahan karo wan kn samain.
wahai karan bai i samain, or daradai
bai n samain wah walba, or iyagn
wa i samain donan, wahai karan .
MANUAL OF SENTENCES.
Aman has a soul,A cow lhas not a soul
,
Boilthe rice and stir it,
He does not speak the truth,
I cannot see the sea,
IshalldowhatIcan forthem,Callthe cook tome,Giveme somemore rice
,
Run up to the hill,
The earth is partly land ,The earth is partly water,
Be carefulwith that gun ,
Do not go withoutme,Joseph
,go with Hassan ,
Where do youlive ?I willnot go with you,Youshallnot go withme,It is too hot, I cannot run ,
Have youdone your task ?Whatever you do, tell thetruth
,
I have never felt the sun
so hot before,
263
nin naf bulehyahai.
se‘nafma leh orme laha.
bariska kari iyo walah.
isagurun knma hadlo, or runta n kn
hadlimayo.anign haddi arki karimayo.daradod ban wah walba n samain .
sor kariska ign yad.
bariska i kordi.karinta saro n bah, or bnrta dusheda
kn orod.
dulka in be berriah or in be ingegan .
dulka in be biyaah or in be heiyan ,or dulkuberri iyo biyo ayu or bukala yahai.
iss ka agew bundnhhas, or bnndnhhas
Si ada isaga eg !
aniga c an kn la so ‘on ha tegin .
Ynsufow , Hassan ra‘.
hagged fadida or jogta ?anign kn ra
‘imayo.i ra ‘ima dontid.
we kulnshahai, 0 ed 11 ordi karimayo.
horinkagima habatai or damaisai ?wah kasta 0 ad habanaisid ba, rnnta
Sheg , or wah wale ad falaisid ba,
rnnta shag .
horahda kulailkeda sidamanta o kalehabidkaimaanan taban , or horahda
sida manta o kaleh weligai i magubin .
264 SOMALI GRAMMAR.
The sun was very hot,A bad way has a bad and,
The law of God is holy,Godmade the ear
, shallhe
not hear ?Godmade the eye
,Shallhe
not see
The rain fallallthe n ight,I got this bird on that hill,
I bade himgo away,
Be kind to allmen,
DO not cheat or steal,Sin is the cause of muchwoe,
Rain-water is fresh,
Get some water fromwell
,
God is good to all,
What o’clock is it ?We see with our eyes
,
We hear with our cars,
We Speak with ourmonth,We walk with our feet,
Somalis have curly blackhair
,
horahdn we kululaid.
den humimslhnn yn kn bebaa.
Ilahhai hanunkisuwe hodne.Ilah be dsgta samaiyai,mianumahla
Ilah be isha samaiyai, mianuarka
robki habenki o den we dayai.shimbirtan hurtasen ke helai.wahan kn idi, orod o iss ke tag, or isska tag ban kn idi.
dad o den 11 nahariso or ka nah.
ha dulmin amass he hadin.
dembi inkar badan buno gaiya, or
dembi we inkar badan yahai, or
inker sebabtedn we dembi.hared we habowdehai, or biyaha
robkuwe hebowyihin , or harsddi
habowba !
‘elka wahhoga biyaha ka so dami.Ilah dad o den we 11 wanaksanyahai.sa
‘addn we imisa ?
indehayagann wah kn aragna, or in
dshsna yainn wahkn aragna.
degahayagann wah kn mahalna, or
degehene yainn wah knmahalla.
afkene yainn kn hadalla.
lngehenainn kn so‘ona.
Somalidn timemadow omat ersen bai
