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.
Omar, who was first elected to the House in 2018, is the first Somali American in Congress. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Republicans have lobbed allegations of widespread immigration fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. — Finya Swai, The Hill, 12 Oct. 2026 Garden City follows Dan Day (Walter Hauser), a quiet resident of Garden City, Kansas, whose life becomes unexpectedly entangled in a plot targeting the city’s Somali Muslim community. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 Ultimately, after he was found out to be a con artist, according to his critics, Minnesota media appears to be more so upset that Jamal was not acting in the Somali community’s best interests. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Somali

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

Rhymes for Somali

See All Rhymes for Somali

Browse Nearby Words

somal
Somali
Somalia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Somali.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Somali. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Somali

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Somali

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