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Glite Dictionary
Somali language

Somali language

5.6
A language spoken by Somali people in Somalia and nearby countries
  • noun
translation icon : somali
  • The Somali language uses the Latin alphabet for its written form.

Examples

  • She is fluent in both English and the Somali language.

  • Many people in the Horn of Africa speak the Somali language as their mother tongue.

  • The Somali language has many dialects.

  • I am learning the Somali language this year.

  • The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.

  • The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.

  • She now gives her time freely back to the community, including translating the Somali language for some of the Kent center's clients.

Synonyms

Somali
vsSomali language
1 5.8

A language spoken in Somalia and nearby countries

has identical meaning but is the fuller, more explicit form of the name

Surface Forms

Somali language singular
Somali languages plural

Morphology

Somali + language

The meaning 'the language spoken by the Somali people' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'Somali' (relating to the Somali people/language) with 'language' (a named speech system). This noun + noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Somali language takes its name from the Somali people. One popular story says the name may come from the words soo, which means 'to come', and maal, which means 'to milk' or 'wealth', giving the image of people who travel with their herds. So the name came to mean the people and their language.