eey
The Somali word for dog is eey. Wiktionary also lists ey.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Somali | IPA |
|---|---|
| eey | |
| ey | /ʔéì/ |
The word refers to the canine animal.
Which one should you use?
eey is the standard spelling, while ey is a common shortened variation.
Did you know?
- The Somali word ey shares a deep historical connection with the ancient Egyptian word jw, which also meant 'dog'.
- In certain Somali contexts, calling someone an eey can be a severe insult, implying they are lowly or lack honor.
- In Somali, the word for wolf is yeey, which is a direct linguistic relative of the word for dog, eey.
Examples in context
- Eeygu waa weyn yahay.The dog is big.
- Waxaan arkay eey yar.I saw a small dog.
- Eeydu waa saaxiib wanaagsan.Dogs are good friends.
Example conversation
Yasmin and Abdirashid are walking in a park.
- YasminFiiri eeygaas yar!Look at that small dog!
- AbdirashidWaa uu qurux badan yahay.It is very beautiful.
- YasminMa rabtaa inaad taabato eeyga?Do you want to touch the dog?
- AbdirashidMaya, waan baqayaa.No, I am afraid.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries ey, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ey, CC BY-SA 4.0.
