adjectivebasicLetter D

English to Somali dictionary

difficult in Somali

Needing much effort or skill

Page type: Learning page
Review: Source reviewed

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Reviewed August 18, 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

adag[1][2][3][4]

Needing much effort or skill

Useful combinations

Common phrases with difficult

difficult exam

imtixaan adag[1][2][3]

difficult work

shaqo adag[1][2]

difficult problem

dhibaato adag[1][2]

Real usage

Example sentences

The exam is difficult.

describing an exam

Imtixaanku waa adag yahay.[1][2][3]

This work is difficult.

describing work

Shaqadani waa adag tahay.[1][2]

The problem is difficult.

describing a problem

Dhibaatadu waa adag tahay.[1][2]

Grammar

Grammar notes

Adag covers hard and difficult

Adag is a basic Somali adjective listed for hard or difficult. Learners can use it after the noun in simple phrases such as imtixaan adag or shaqo adag.[1][2][3][4]

Questions

Questions about difficult in Somali

How do you say difficult in Somali?

Difficult is adag in Somali. The same adjective also covers hard, as in shaqo adag for difficult or hard work.

Evidence

References checked

[1] English-Somali Bilingual Dictionary (NSW Department of Education)
Checked difficult/hard as adag, hard as dhibbadan/adag, exam/test as imtixaan, work as shaqo, and problem as dhibaato.
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[2] OpenTran English-Somali Dictionary PDF
Checked hard as adag, harder as ka adag, hard work phrasing with shaqo, exam as imtixaan, and problem as dhibaato.
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[3] OpenTran Somali-English Dictionary PDF
Checked adag as hard and adagtahay as hard, plus imtixaan forms for exam.
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[4] Learner's Somali Grammar (Morgan Nilsson, University of Gothenburg)
Checked adág in the list of frequent basic adjectives with the gloss hard, difficult.
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