How to Address Strangers in the Somali Language

If you have ever traveled overseas and happened to bump into a Somali fellow in an international airport, you must have noticed that he is overly friendly. Somalis are very friendly to one another, especially when they meet abroad and find themselves outnumbered by others. However, like any other language, the Somali language has specific expressions and words for addressing strangers.

It is widespread to say assalamu alaikum (peace to you or peace be upon you), a traditional greeting among Muslims, to friends, family members, colleagues, acquaintances, and people you don’t know. If you want to get someone’s attention, you can say fiiri, walaal (look, brother). I think the English expression of excuse me, sir or madam can be a loose translation of fiiri, walaal. Walaal, which literally means ‘brother,’ is super common for addressing someone – male or female – you don’t know. Huunno is used in some regions instead of walaal. If you have the guts and want to address a stranger in a friendlier way, you can say abboowehiis (dear brother) or abbaayadiis (dear sister).

Sometimes people address strangers with their titles if they are known. Guddoomiye (head) and agaasime (director) are very common titles among government officials. It is normal to call police officers and soldiers taliye (commander). In the private sector, people use maamule, which means manager. At times, addressing strangers in Somali can be tricky and complicated; this might be something that Somali shares with other languages. Needless to say that addressing an older person you don’t know will probably differ from addressing a young person you don’t know. People usually address older males as adeer, which literally means paternal uncle. If you want to address a more senior female, you can say eeddo (paternal aunt), though it can be viewed as rude in some regions. Some people try to avoid using “eeddo,” and instead use habaryar (maternal aunt).

Generally, young people tend to be friendlier and less formal among themselves and even to others. If you happen to be addressed by a young taxi driver as saaxiib (friend) or abti (maternal uncle), don’t lose your bearings; be calm because he is not trying to get under your skin. While walaal is used for both males and females, abbaayo (sister) is exclusive for females. However, the word “abbaayo” can be regarded as a regional dialect.

The abundance of words that are used to address males is really puzzling (to me). Does this have something to do with patriarchy? Maybe. Who knows? Look at this: boos (boss), macallin (teacher), kaabbo (boss in Italian – capo), injinneer (engineer). People can be addressed as “macallin/injinneer” even if that isn’t their profession. It is normal to address strangers you have just met using the name of their profession. For example, xildhibaan (parliamentarian), injinneer (engineer), ditoor (doctor), and barfasoor (professor).

If you want to address a young boy or someone younger than you, you can call him yariisow/yarka (young man/lad) and yarta (young lady) for a young girl.

People in other cultures might have some difficulties when approaching strangers. On the contrary, in Somali (culture), it is not so complicated to address someone you don’t know. It is normal to see Somalis in restaurants or lounges who break the ice by asking one another about the latest political news. A friend told me the other day that he noticed a waiter who served them listening to their conversation. The waiter engaged in their discussion and began to comment! My friend was very surprised because no one found that odd.