duqsi
The English word school can be translated into Somali as duqsi or iskuul.
Meaning: an institution dedicated to teaching and learning (noun)
Ways to say it
| Somali |
|---|
| duqsi |
| iskuul |
Both terms refer to an institution dedicated to teaching and learning.
Which one should you use?
The term duqsi is used in more formal, traditional or literary contexts. In contrast, iskuul is a loanword from English and serves as the most common way to refer to a school in everyday spoken Somali.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the loanword, you can make it definite by adding the suffix -ka to get iskuulka, meaning 'the school'. The plural form of iskuul is iskuulada, meaning 'the schools'.
Did you know?
- The term duqsi is closely related to the Arabic word dugus, reflecting the deep historical influence of Islamic scholarship on the Somali language.
- Because duqsi is so tied to traditional learning, using it to describe a high-tech university might sound unintentionally humorous or strikingly archaic to a native speaker.
- The suffix -ka in iskuulka is a definite article that functions similarly to the English word 'the' but is attached to the end of the noun.
Example sentences for Somali are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their daily routines.
- AbdirashidSagal, xagee wax ku barataa?Sagal, where do you study?
- SagalWaxaan dhigaa duqsi weyn oo magaalada ku leh.I attend a big school in the city.
- AbdirashidMa jeceshahay duqsigaas?Do you like that school?
- SagalHaa, macallimiintu aad bay u wanaagsan yihiin.Yes, the teachers are very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
