digaag
masculine
The Somali word for chicken is digaag.
digaag refers to the bird as a noun.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Did you know?
- In certain Somali dialects, the word for chicken can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is perceived as weak or lacking in bravery.
- Because Somali is a Cushitic language, digaag shares distant structural similarities with languages spoken in Ethiopia. This connects the word to a broader regional linguistic family that predates the widespread use of Arabic in the region.
- In many Somali households, the term digaag is rarely used for a pet, as poultry are almost exclusively viewed as a food source or a minor livestock asset.
Examples in context
- Digaag ayaa guriga jooga.A chicken is at the house.
- Digaag ma aragtay?Did you see a chicken?
- Digaag ayaa geedka saaran.A chicken is on the tree.
Example conversation
Farah and Hodan are visiting a farm.
- FarahHodan, fiiri digaaggaas yar!Hodan, look at that little chicken!
- HodanWaa lagu qoslaa, Farah.It is funny, Farah.
- FarahMa leenahay digaag badan halkan?Do we have many chickens here?
- HodanHaa, waxaan leenahay toban digaag.Yes, we have ten chickens.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
