Somali translation

Somali Translation in Maxaa and Maay.

Native Somali linguists for health, public service, legal and app content, matched to the dialect your readers speak and reviewed by a second linguist.

Quick Answer

Should I Translate into Standard Somali or Maay?

Use standard Somali, based on Maxaa Tiri, for most written content. Choose Maay when your audience comes from southern Somalia, especially the Bay and Bakool regions, and many readers do not follow standard Somali easily. If you are unsure, tell us who your readers are and we advise before work starts.

At a glance

Somali at a Glance

The facts our project managers confirm before a Somali project starts.

Topic	Detail
Script	Latin, the official spelling since 1972.
Where it is used	Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, the Somali Region of Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya, and communities in the US, UK, Scandinavia and the Gulf.
Dialects	Maxaa, the basis of standard Somali, and Maay, which differs enough that speakers can struggle to understand each other.
Typical content	Patient information, school and benefits letters, legal documents, apps, subtitles and speech data.
Spelling to watch	Long vowels written as double letters, such as aa and ee, and loanwords spelled in several ways.

What we deliver

Somali Services we Deliver

Native Somali linguists, voice talent and data specialists, managed by one project manager.

Health and Public Services

Patient leaflets, appointment letters, benefits and school notices in clear Somali.

Legal Translation

Statements, certificates and court documents, with names spelled as in official records.

Subtitles and Voiceover

Somali subtitles and native voiceover for video, online courses and campaigns.

Speech and Text Data

Recording, transcription and annotation in Somali for AI and research teams.

Common mistakes

Where Somali Projects Go Wrong

Most problems in Somali projects come from a few predictable gaps. This is what we check on every file.

The dialect does not match the community. Material in standard Somali can miss Maay speakers, which matters most in health and public services.
Medical terms are translated word for word. Many terms have no single Somali equivalent, so native reviewers check that each explanation is clear.
Spelling drifts across documents. We keep loanwords and long vowels consistent with a project glossary.
The reading level is too high. Many readers prefer a plain, spoken style, and we write to the reading level you set.

How we work

Four Steps from Files to Delivery

Scope

Send your files, target market and deadline. We confirm the dialect or variant, the file format and a fixed price before work starts.

Match

We assign native linguists or voice talent with experience in your subject, and agree a glossary and style notes with you.

Produce and Review

A second native specialist reviews every translation, script or recording against the source and your glossary, in line with ISO 17100.

Deliver

You receive files in the format you need: subtitle files, mixed audio, print-ready layouts or data in your schema.

Free Test Translation

Test Our Somali on 300 Words, Free

Send us 300 words and we translate them free, with the second native linguist review included, so you can judge the quality before you commit.

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FAQ

Questions About Somali Translation

Not covered here? Ask us directly.

Tell us About Your Somali Project.

Send your files, audience and deadline. We reply with a fixed price and a delivery date.

Every language your market speaks, down to the dialect. Native linguists, voice talent and data specialists in 150+ languages.

Industries

Company

Languages

Offices

United States
1209 Mountain Rd Pl NE, Ste R
Albuquerque, NM 87110
+1 (505) 391-1719

Egypt
408 L, Pyramids Gardens
Giza, Egypt
+20 155 898 2586

Email
[email protected]