Somali· Soomaali
Somali interpreters, matched to the speaker.
Standard Somali and Maay Maay are separate staffing requests. We connect you with vetted Somali interpreters by phone, video, or on-site — 24/7.
Somali at a glance.
Somali (Soomaali) has around 24 million speakers in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the diaspora. It belongs to the Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic family and is written in the Latin alphabet (since 1972). You'll hear it across Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, United States, and beyond.
Iska warran?
Where it's spoken
- Somalia
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- United States
- UK
- Sweden
Major dialects we cover
- Northern Somali (Standard)
- Benadiri
- Maay Maay
Script & family
- Writing system
- Latin alphabet (since 1972)
- Direction
- Left to right
- Language family
- Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic
What good Somali interpretation takes.
Standard Somali and Maay Maay are separate staffing requests. The two are not always mutually intelligible, and Somali carries a strong oral tradition — spoken interpretation is often the most effective channel for reaching Somali communities.
How we handle Somali
- Interpreters matched to the speaker's dialect and region
- Clinical, legal, and community-register fluency
- Consecutive and simultaneous modes available
- Live coverage around the clock, every day
Three ways to reach a Somali interpreter.
Phone interpretation
Audio-only Somali interpretation for clinics, courts, and contact centers — a live interpreter on the line in under a minute, any hour.
Video interpretation
Face-to-face nuance for high-stakes Somali conversations — informed consent, testimony, and family meetings where tone and expression matter.
On-site & conference
Vetted Somali interpreters in the room — depositions, IEP meetings, and events, in consecutive or simultaneous mode.
Where our Somali interpreters work.
- Refugee resettlement
- Healthcare & clinical
- K-12 family liaison
- Asylum & immigration
Often requested alongside Somali.
Need Somali on the line by tomorrow?
Tell us the setting, the Somali variety you need, and your schedule. We'll come back same-day with a plan.