bisad
/bɪ̀ˈsɑ́d/
The English word "cat" is translated into Somali as bisad. Wiktionary also lists dinad.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Ways to say it
| Somali | IPA |
|---|---|
| bisad | /bɪ̀ˈsɑ́d/ |
| dinad |
The word is used to refer to the domestic species of feline.
Which one should you use?
bisad and dinad are both forms used for the word cat.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɪ̀ˈsɑ́d/
Did you know?
- In Somali culture, cats are deeply associated with ritual purity, and harming a bisad is often viewed as a significant moral transgression due to Islamic influence.
- The Somali word bisad is a direct loanword from Arabic, specifically from the word bissa.
- The term bisad uses the suffix -ad to indicate a feminine noun, reflecting a grammatical gender system that influences how adjectives are paired with the animal.
Examples in context
- Bisad ayaa guriga ku jirta.A cat is in the house.
- Bisad yar ayaa aad u qurux badan.A little cat is very beautiful.
- Ma haysaa bisad kuu soo raacaysa?Do you have a cat following you?
Example conversation
Farah and Sagal are talking about a pet.
- FarahSagal, ma aragtay bisadayda?Sagal, have you seen my cat?
- SagalMaya, bisaddu halkee bay joogtaa?No, where is the cat?
- FarahWaxay joogtay qolka fadhiga.It was in the living room.
- SagalWaa laga yaabaa inay baxday.Maybe it went outside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries bisad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bisad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
