wiil
/ˈwîːl/
The Somali word for son is wiil.
The word wiil refers to a male person in relation to his parents. Depending on the context of a conversation, it is also the word used to mean boy.
Meaning: a male person in relation to his parents (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a particular son, you can use the definite form wiilka for 'the son'. If you wish to refer to 'the eldest son' or 'the big son', you would use the phrase wiilka weyn.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈwîːl/
Did you know?
- The word wiil shares a linguistic root with the word weyl, which refers to a 'calf'.
- In some contexts, the word for 'son' or 'boy' can be used to describe a young man's character or bravery rather than just his familial relationship.
- While wiil means 'son', the word walaal is used for both 'brother' and 'sister'.
Examples in context
- Wiilkaas waa wiil wanaagsan.That boy is a good son.
- Wiilka ayaa soo koray.The son has grown up.
Example conversation
Nimco and Omar are talking about their families.
- NimcoMa haysaa wiil mise gabadh?Do you have a son or a daughter?
- OmarWaxaan leeyahay wiil kaliya.I have only one son.
- NimcoMagaciisa maxay tahay?What is his name?
- OmarWiilkayga magaciisu waa Axmed.My son's name is Ahmed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “son” translations and entries wiil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wiil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
