Somali

noun

So·​ma·​li sō-ˈmä-lē How to pronounce Somali (audio)
sə-
plural Somali or Somalis
1
: a member of a people of Somaliland
2
: the Cushitic language of the Somali
Somali adjective

Examples of Somali in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Former Minnesota Vikings captain and Minnesota Golden Gophers football star Jack Brewer has witnessed an arc of crime and punishment involving his state's Somali community. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Before that crackdown, the government had brought fraud charges against dozens of people, many of them Somali Americans, who were accused of fleecing a federal program that was meant to provide food to children. Mark Vancleave, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 At least one of the raids appeared to be at the Somali Senior Center and Adult Day Services facility, as federal law enforcement could be seen going in and out of the building. Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026 Dozens of people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol Monday for the third annual Somali Day celebration. John Lauritsen, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 Her book—only the third to be published on Somali cuisine since 1978—provides a detailed overview of her home country’s history, pays homage to the chefs and writers who came before her, and intersperses thoroughly researched essays about the Somali diaspora. Jamie Feldmar, Saveur, 15 Apr. 2026 According to the outlet, Somali had been free prior to the conviction but was taken into custody after the sentence was handed down. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 In an extended statement posted on Monday, four Somali art spaces—the Somali Arts Foundation, Arlo Artspace, Shaneema Banaadir, and Baciid Center—issued a statement criticizing the show for failing to include artists who are based in Somalia. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Apr. 2026 Guelleh learned to speak several languages, including Somali, Amharic, Arabic, English, and French. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from or akin to Somali Soomaali

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Somali was in 1814

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Somali.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Somali. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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