Somali

[ soh-mah-lee, suh- ]

/ soʊˈmɑ li, sə- /

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noun, plural So·ma·lis, (especially collectively) So·ma·li for 1.

a member of a people speaking a Cushitic language and living primarily in Somalia, Somaliland, and adjacent regions.

the Cushitic language of the Somali ethnic group.

adjective

of or relating to Somalia, its people, or their language.

of or relating to the Somali ethnic group or their language.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Somali

First recorded in 1800–10 as Samaulies (plural); from Somali Soomaali, a self-designation

Words nearby Somali

Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr, som, SOM1, soma, somaesthesia, Somali, Somalia, Somalian, Somali cat, Somali Current, Somaliland

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Somali in a sentence

She also bagged her own show on the Food Network and taught the world how to cook suugo suqaar, or spicy Somali pasta with beef.
The Curious Warmth of Grandma’s Kitchen|Sohini Das Gupta|September 17, 2021|Ozy
The Somali American politician paved the way to victory with the support of the Somali community in Minnesota.
African immigrants are uniquely poised to influence US policy|Yaw Okyere Thompson|July 21, 2021|Quartz
Only Omar, a Somali American who arrived in the country as a refugee, was born abroad.
Greene’s ‘verbal assault’ on Ocasio-Cortez underscores growing tensions over safety and security on Capitol Hill|Marianna Sotomayor, Colby Itkowitz, Jacqueline Alemany|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
The Somali-born athlete moved to England as an 8-year-old and considers himself British.
Inside a secret running program at Nike and a win-at-all-costs corporate culture|Rachel King|October 6, 2020|Fortune

While Somali piracy or Taliban protection schemes may be “tricky” markets, they are fundamentally markets.
When Your Safety Becomes My Danger (Ep. 432)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 24, 2020|Freakonomics
He could surmise one item in keeping with young women of Somali heritage.
How ISIS’s Colorado Girls Were Caught|Michael Daly|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Godane rejects the idea of Al-Shabab negotiating with the Somali federal government, an “apostate government” he dubs it.
Ahmed Abdi Godane Is Al-Shabab's Osama bin Laden|Jamie Dettmer|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many residents of the area are Kikuyu farmers as well as Somali pastoralists.
Militants ‘Executed Non-Muslims’ at Kenyan World Cup Watch Party|Margot Kiser|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The daughter reported hearing the assailants singing Somali songs.
Militants ‘Executed Non-Muslims’ at Kenyan World Cup Watch Party|Margot Kiser|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Abdi only got into acting when the producers of the film came to Minneapolis to audition Somali-born actors.
Barkhad Abdi: From Limo Driver to Oscar Contender|Tim Teeman|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of the Somali tribes the Herti dwell near the coast and are more or less stationary.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
The Gurre, another Somali tribe, occupy the country south of the lower Daua.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
She immediately charged, chewed up his leg, arm and shoulder, and was then killed by his Somali gunbearer.
In Africa|John T. McCutcheon
Sometimes they run away, but the Somali gunbearers are the most fearless and trustworthy, and seldom desert in time of need.
In Africa|John T. McCutcheon
On one occasion, in 1881 I think it was, I was bringing over a large cargo of forty-two ostriches 129 from the Somali country.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, July, 1893|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Somali

Somali

/ (səʊˈmɑːlɪ) /

noun

plural -lis or -li a member of a tall dark-skinned people inhabiting Somalia

the language of this people, belonging to the Cushitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Somalia, the Somalis, or their language

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012