qurux badantahay
qurux badantahay is the Somali way to say "you're beautiful".
This phrase is used as a compliment to tell someone that they are physically or aesthetically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qurux meaning "beauty", badan meaning "much" or "many" and the suffix -tahay which means "you are".
Which one should you use?
While qurux badantahay is the default, you can say aad baad u qurux badantahay to mean "you are very beautiful".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the second-person singular suffix -tahay to indicate "you are". In standard written Somali, the adjective badan and the verb tahay are often written as two separate words: qurux badan tahay.
Did you know?
- Somali is a Cushitic language, meaning the word qurux shares distant ancestral roots with languages spoken in Ethiopia and Kenya rather than Arabic.
- In some Somali poetic traditions, describing a woman's beauty can involve mentioning her 'cod' or 'voice', as a beautiful voice is a significant mark of elegance.
- While qurux badantahay describes beauty, the word qurux is also used to describe the aesthetic quality of a well-constructed poem or a rhythmic speech.
Examples in context
- Ma ogtahay inaad qurux badantahay?Do you know that you are beautiful?
Example conversation
Farah gives Sagal a compliment during a date.
- FarahSagal, habeenkaan aad baad u qurux badantahay.Sagal, you are very beautiful tonight.
- SagalWaad mahadsantahay, Farah.Thank you, Farah.
- FarahWaa runta, runtii waad qurux badantahay.It is the truth, you are really beautiful.
- Sagalaad baad iiga dhigtayYou've made me blush.
