adjectivebasicLetter D

English to Somali dictionary

dark in Somali

Dark or black as an adjective

Page type: Learning page
Review: Source reviewed

everydaydescription

Reviewed August 17, 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

madow[1][2][3][4]

Dark or black as an adjective

gudcur[1]

Dark as the opposite of light

mugdi[1][2][3]

Darkness; a noun used for the state of being dark

Useful combinations

Common phrases with dark

dark color

madow[1][2][3][4]

darkness

mugdi[1][2][3]

in the dark

mugdiga[3]

Real usage

Example sentences

Don't go now, since it's dark.

textbook prohibitive example

Ha tegin hadda, waayo waa madow.[2][3][4]

It is dark.

short description

Waa madow.[1][2][4]

The room is dark.

room description

Qolku waa madow.[1][2][3]

Grammar

Grammar notes

Madow is the adjective; mugdi is the noun

Use madow for the adjective dark or black. Use mugdi for the noun darkness or in phrases like mugdiga, in the dark. The NSW dictionary also lists gudcur for dark as the opposite of light.[1][2][3][4]

Questions

Questions about dark in Somali

How do you say dark in Somali?

Dark as an adjective is madow, and the NSW dictionary also gives gudcur for the opposite of light. Darkness is mugdi.

Evidence

References checked

[1] English-Somali Bilingual Dictionary (NSW Department of Education)
Checked dark as gudcur for opposite light, dark/black as madow, darkness as mugdi, black as madow, now as hadda, and room as qol.
Open source ↗
[2] OpenTran English-Somali Dictionary PDF
Checked dark as madow, darkness as mugdi, black as madow, now as hadda, outside as bannaanka, and room as Qol.
Open source ↗
[3] OpenTran Somali-English Dictionary PDF
Checked madow as black, mugdi as darkness, mugdiga as in the dark, hadda as now, qol as room, and tagin/tegin as don't go.
Open source ↗
[4] Learner's Somali Grammar (Morgan Nilsson, University of Gothenburg)
Checked madow as dark adjective, madow as black/dark in the adjective list, and Ha tegin hadda, waayo waa madow, translated as Don't go now, since it's dark.
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