Somali

American  

[soh-mah-lee, suh-] / soʊˈmɑ li, sə- /

noun

plural

Somalis,

plural

Somali

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

2. the Cushitic language of the Somali ethnic group.

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adjective

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

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

Somali British  

/ səʊˈmɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a member of a tall dark-skinned people inhabiting Somalia

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

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adjective

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

Etymology

Origin of Somali

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

Example Sentences

American livestreamer Johnny Somali, who caused outrage in South Korea by kissing a statue representing World War Two sex slaves, has been sentenced to six months in jail.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The Executive Office for Immigration Review denied there is any Somali fast-track policy, instead noting that any immigration judge in the U.S. can hear a case at any time to help with caseloads.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Uganda has long been seen as a solid security partner for the U.S., sending troops to fight al Qaeda’s Somali franchise, al-Shabaab.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

There is also a more local threat from Al-Shabaab, the Somali affiliate of Al-Qaeda, that has said it will oppose any attempt by Israel to use Somaliland.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Few in Clarkston knew anything about the history of the Somali Bantu when they learned, through media reports, that another wave of refugees was coming to their town.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John