verbbasicLetter C

English to Somali dictionary

cook in Somali

To prepare food by heating

Page type: Learning page
Review: Source reviewed

everydayfood

Reviewed August 16, 2026Review record: Codex source audit

This entry has been checked against the references below, but a named Somali reviewer has not yet certified its dialect, register, and natural usage. Verify important communication with a qualified speaker.

Translation

Somali meanings

kari[1][2][3]

To prepare food by heating

karsado[3]

To cook for oneself

Useful combinations

Common phrases with cook

cook food

cunto kari[1][2][3]

cooking

karinta[1][2]

cook for oneself

karsado[3]

Real usage

Example sentences

Mother is cooking food.

textbook example

Hooyo waxa ay karinaysaa cunto.[1][2][3]

With fire we cook food.

textbook example

Dabka waxa aan ku karsannaa cuntada.[3]

Cook the food.

simple instruction

Cuntada kari.[1][2][3]

Grammar

Grammar notes

Kari and karsado

Kari is the basic verb for cook. Learner grammar lists kariyaa/karisaa for cooking food and karsadaa/karsataa for cooking for oneself.[1][2][3]

Questions

Questions about cook in Somali

How do you say cook in Somali?

Cook is kari in Somali. For cooking for oneself, use the related form karsado.

Evidence

References checked

[1] OpenTran English-Somali Dictionary PDF
Checked cook as kariyo, cooked as la kariyey, cooking as karinta, chef as cunto kariye, recipe as cunto karin, and food as cunto.
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[2] OpenTran Somali-English Dictionary PDF
Checked kari and kariyo as cook, karin/karinta as cooking, kariyey as cooked, and cunto as food.
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[3] Learner's Somali Grammar (Morgan Nilsson, University of Gothenburg)
Checked kariyaa/karisaa as boils or cooks food, karsadaa/karsataa as cooks for oneself, Hooyo waxa ay karinaysaa cunto, and Dabka waxa aan ku karsannaa cuntada.
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