Language/Somali/Vocabulary/Health

Somali Vocabulary - Health

Hi Somali learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about health-related vocabulary. You will learn Somali words and phrases that will help you communicate with native Somali speakers in case you need to talk about health issues. You can also use these words to talk to your Somali doctor or nurse if you have any health conditions.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Count to 10 & Weather Vocabulary.

Basics

Let's start with some basic vocabulary you will need to visit a doctor or a pharmacy.

Somali	Pronunciation	English
badanaya	ba-da-na-ya	Painful
cadaawaha	ca-da-a-waha	Medicines
curashada	cu-ra-sha-da	Treatment
cuntada	cun-ta-da	Body
daaweynta	daa-wey-nta	Prescription
dhakhtarka	dhakh-tar-ka	Doctor
dhakhtaraha	dhakhtara-ha	Clinics
dhiig	dhiig	Blood
farxad	far-xad	Relief
gacanta	ga-can-ta	Hand
qaboojiye	qa-boo-ji-ye	Injection
habka	ha-bka	Chest
salaanta dhiigga	sa-laan-ta dhiig-ga	Blood pressure
lafaha korontada	la-fa-ha koro-nta-da	Lungs
lafaha	la-fa-ha	Head
maskaxda	mas-ka-xa-da	Toothache
naafada	naa-fa-da	Belly
rabshada	raab-sha-da	Syringe
qudha	qu-dha	Leg
qofka qaar	qof-ka qa-ar	Someone
fadhi kasta	fa-dhi ka-sta	Everywhere

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use this vocabulary in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Waxuu cadaawadiisa wax ka qabaa. (He is taking his medicine.)
• Person 2: Cadaawadiisa waa albaab. (His medicine is a capsule.)

• Person 1: Miiska xanuunka aad iyo aad u badan tahay. (Your illness is very serious.)
• Person 2: Haa, dhakhtarka wuxuu igu celinayaa cadaadisa. (Yes, the doctor diagnosed me with cancer.)

• Person 1: Waxaan rabaa in aan la taliyo calaamadaha. (I need to refill my prescription.)
• Person 2: Fadlan iloow dukaanka cusub ee cadaawaha. (Please visit a new pharmacy for your medicines.)

Symptoms

Sometimes, it is necessary to describe how you feel when visiting a doctor. Here are some words and phrases that you can use to describe your symptoms:

Somali	Pronunciation	English
aan rabbinaayo	aan rab-bi-naa-yo	I'm nauseous
ayaa ka xun	a-ya-ka-xun	It hurts
cagaar dhashay	ca-gaar-dha-shay	I sprained it
cudurka baabbi'iye	cu-dur-ka baa-bi-i-ye	I have a fever
illaa	illaa	Until
ilmo saarid	il-mo saa-rid	I'm feeling dizzy
indhaha hadal waxaan la dhiibin	in-dha-ha ha-dal wa-xaan la-dhiibin	I have a sore throat
qancin karaa	qan-cin ka-raa	I may vomit
Quudhihiin kala hadhaag	quud-hi-hiin ka-la hadhaag	I have stomach cramps
waa baabbi'in	waa baa-bi-in	He/She is sick
xanuun	xa-nuun	Disease

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use this vocabulary in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Waxaan arrinaya xanuunka saaraa ciyaarta. (I'm worried about catching the disease while traveling.)
• Person 2: Illaa shanaad oo lagu shubo yahay ka dib markaan kaliya la koreeyey! (Until next year, when I've only recovered from my last trip!)

• Person 1: Waxay ku dhacday turub markii ay garaacday. (He sprained his ankle when he fell.)
• Person 2: Waa cagaar dhashay. (It's sprained.)

• Person 1: Waxaan jira xanuun baabbi'iye ah. (I have a fever.)
• Person 2: Fadlan cunto dhurwaa. (Please take some tablets.)

Diseases

Here are some of the most common diseases and health conditions.

Somali	Pronunciation	English
amoxil la'aan	a-moxil laa-an	Amoxicillin resistant
burburiye	bur-bu-ri-ye	Sinusitis
dhidhkii haweenka	dhi-dhki-i hawe-en-ka	Women's pain
dhulka gacanta iyo guriga	dhul-ka ga-can-ta iyo gu-ri-ga	Joint pain
dhiigoreysi	dhiig-o-re-ysi	Anemia
dhulba dheer	dhul-ba dheer	High blood sugar
gabadh aqoonsan	ga-badh aqoon-san	Pregnant woman
qal qalooc	qal qal-ooc	Diarrhea
muruugada	mu-ruu-ga-da	Malaria
xanuunka cunta	xa-nuun-ka cun-ta	Digestive problem
xanuunka masafaha	xa-nuun-ka ma-sa-fa-ha	Respiratory disease

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use this vocabulary in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Waxaa dhici kara xanuunka dhiigoreysiga. (You can get anemia from it.)
• Person 2: Haa, fadhi ka ah inaad cabtaan carrotada badan. (Yes, it's important to include many carrots in your diet.)

• Person 1: Waxaan rabaa inaan ka raadiyo gabadh aqoonsan ah. (I need to see a doctor for my pregnancy.)
• Person 2: Waa dhakhtarka jaamacad, waxaad ka soo laabaneysaa 15 daqiiqo. (It's a gynecologist, you should arrive 15 minutes early.)

• Person 1: Waa muruugada jaceylkaay ka soo qalmay. (It's malaria that you got from your trip.)
• Person 2: Fadlan

Cunto qalabka dhurwaa. (Please take the tablets as directed.)

Prevention

Prevention is key to staying healthy. Here are some words and phrases related to prevention.

Somali	Pronunciation	English
biya bax	bi-ya bax	Take water
daadaasho	daa-daa-sho	Exercise
ilmaha jacaylka	il-ma-ha ja-cayl-ka	The man of love (nickname for garlic)
jirada sidata ah	ji-ra-da si-da-ta ah	Above the age of
kaddib	kad-dib	Later
sidaa u banjareen	si-daa u ban-ja-reen	Don't worry
soo dukaa	soo du-kaa	Get vaccinated
soo saara	soo saa-raa	Remove
subagta badan	su-bag-ta ba-dan	Fruits
sumcad	sum-cad	Sleep

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use this vocabulary in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Kaddib waan ku kallifayaa wayn garabka. (I gained a lot of weight later.)
• Person 2: Daadaashadiisu wuxuu caawin karaa. (Exercise can help.)

• Person 1: Waxaad doonaysaa inaad suuqa soo iibsatid. (You want to buy from the market.)
• Person 2: Ku wareejinta kaddib, ma suuqa soo saarayso. (After washing, don't forget to remove the market dirt.)

• Person 1: Waxaan siin doonaa soo dukashada muruurka. (I want to get vaccinated for chickenpox.)
• Person 2: Waxaad ka dooranaysaa jirka aad sidoo kale ku noqonaysid joogeeradda. (You also want to become part of your neighborhood's population.)

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned health-related vocabulary in Somali. To improve your Somali vocabulary, you can use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! To practice your vocabulary, feel free to visit the Somali Vocabulary page, where you can find more useful words and phrases.

We hope that you enjoyed learning and practicing Somali health-related vocabulary!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Seasons & Numbers.

Other Lessons

• Offering or asking for help
• Clothes
• Family and Relatives
• House
• Numbers
• Education
• Languages
• Express Surprise
• Animals
• Feelings and Emotions

Sources

• Somali Mental Health Project Findings and Recommendations
• Mental Health Problems and Healing among Somalis in Sweden