sug
The Somali verb for 'wait' is sug.
The verb means to delay until some event (verb).
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Which one should you use?
The form sug is used as a direct command, while sugaya describes the ongoing action of waiting and sugay describes an action that has already happened.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form sug is the imperative form used to command someone to 'wait'. The form sugaya is the present participle, used for the continuous 'waiting' state. The form sugay is the past tense form of the verb.
Did you know?
- The word sug is a linguistic double-agent that can mean both to 'wait' for an event and to 'guard' or 'protect' a physical object or person.
- Because Somali is an agglutinative language, the root sug can be modified with suffixes to identify the waiter and the waited-for within a single word.
- A common social shortcut for 'wait a moment' is simply saying daqiiqad, which literally means 'minute'.
Examples in context
- Sug halkan.Wait here.
- Sug ilaa uu roobku joogsado.Wait until the rain stops.
- Sug ilaa aan kuu soo waco.Wait until I call you.
- Sug ilaa xilliga fasaxa.Wait until the holiday season.
Example conversation
Mustafa and Hodan are waiting for a taxi.
- MustafaSug, gaariga ayaa imaanaya.Wait, the car is coming.
- HodanMuuqdo, meel fog ayuu joogaa.I don't see it, he is far away.
- MustafaHaa, sug ilaa uu halkan yimaado.Yes, wait until he comes here.
- HodanHaye, waan sugayaa.Okay, I am waiting.
