biyo
/bɪ̀ˈjɔ́/
The English word water is translated to Somali as biyo. Wiktionary also lists waraabin.
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
Ways to say it
| Somali | IPA |
|---|---|
| biyo | /bɪ̀ˈjɔ́/ |
| waraabin |
The noun biyo is used to refer to the inorganic substance H₂O.
Which one should you use?
biyo is the noun used for the substance itself, while waraabin is the specific verb meaning to water plants.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɪ̀ˈjɔ́/
Did you know?
- In Somali culture, offering biyo to a guest immediately upon arrival is a vital sign of hospitality and respect, often preceding any other greeting or food.
- Because water is so scarce in some regions, Somali has a rich vocabulary of specific terms to describe different types of biyo, such as those from a well versus rainwater.
- The Somali word biyo may actually be an ancient loanword from Southern Nilotic languages, rather than being purely indigenous to the Cushitic family.
Examples in context
- Biyo qabow ma rabtaa?Do you want cold water?
- Biyo badan ayaa u baahan dhirtu.Plants need a lot of water.
- Biyo ma i siin kartaa?Can you give me some water?
Example conversation
Mustafa and Sagal are having a snack at home.
- MustafaSagal, ma haysaa biyo?Sagal, do you have water?
- SagalHaa, biyo qabow ayaan haystaa.Yes, I have cold water.
- MustafaFadlan, biyo yar i sii.Please, give me a little water.
- SagalHalkan waa koobkaaga.Here is your cup.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries biyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries biyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
