lacag
feminine
The Somali word for money is lacag.
lacag is a feminine noun used to refer to currency.
Meaning: currency (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to money as a mass noun or an abstract concept, lacag does not change form for pluralization in common usage. To specify a particular sum of money, such as "the money," you can add the suffix -ta to the end of the word to form lacagta.
Did you know?
- The word lacag is used to describe both money and certain types of metal or silver ornaments. This reflects a history where jewelry and metal pieces served as a store of value.
- In certain nomadic contexts, the word for 'wealth' can refer to livestock, meaning that 'money' and 'animals' are conceptually linked in traditional Somali linguistic thought.
- When discussing someone being 'broke' or having no money, Somalis might use expressions involving 'empty hands' rather than a negation of the word lacag.
Examples in context
- Liza waxay lacagteeda oo dhan ku bixisaa dharka.Liza spends all her money on clothes.This sentence shows how to use lacag when talking about spending money.Tatoeba #9811222 by buux, translation #2946785 by astyng
- Ma haysaa lacag yar oo aan ku iibsado rootiga?Do you have a little money for me to buy bread?
Example conversation
Nimco and Farah are discussing the cost of a meal.
- NimcoMa haysaa lacag aad ku bixiso cuntada?Do you have money to pay for the food?
- FarahMaya, lacagtaydu way dhammaatay.No, my money has run out.
- NimcoWaa caadi, aniga ayaa bixinaya.It is okay, I will pay.
- FarahWaad mahadsantahay, Nimco.Thank you, Nimco.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
