see tahay?
How are you? In Somali is see tahay?
see tahay? is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being or state of being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of see (how) and tahay (you are).
Which one should you use?
The form tahay is the singular second-person form of the verb 'to be'. In contrast, the plural or polite form is tihiin.
When do people say it?
A standard response to see tahay? is Nabad ayaan ahay, which literally means 'I am in peace'. You can also say Waan fiicanahay to mean 'I'm fine', or use the short, informal response Fiican to say 'Fine'.
Did you know?
- Somali is a Cushitic language, meaning that while see tahay? sounds unique to English speakers, it shares ancient roots with languages like Oromo, rather than the Arabic words often found in Somali loanwords.
- Greetings in Somali often involve a repetitive cycle where both parties ask see tahay? and answer nabad multiple times before the actual conversation begins.
- When using the plural form tihiin to be polite, you are not necessarily addressing a group, but rather showing respect to a single person of higher status or elderage.
Examples in context
- Iska warran, see tahay?Tell me how you are, how are you?
- Mudane, see tahay?Sir, how are you?
- Saaxiib, see tahay?Friend, how are you?
Example conversation
Farah and Yasmin meet on the street.
- FarahHaye Yasmin, see tahay?Hi Yasmin, how are you?
- YasminWaan fiicanahay, Farah. Adiguna?I am fine, Farah. And you?
- FarahAniguna waan fiicanahay, mahadsanid.I am also fine, thank you.
- YasminWaa hagaag, nabadeey!Alright, goodbye!
