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verbbasicLetter D

English to Somali dictionary

drive in Somali

wad[1][2][4]

To operate or drive a vehicle or machine

Page type
Learning page
Review
Source reviewed
everydaytransport

Reviewed August 19, 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

wad[1][2][4]

verb

To operate or drive a vehicle or machine

Use wad for driving a car in a full sentence.

kaxee[1][3]

verb

To lead, drive, herd, or take people or animals somewhere

Use kaxee carefully; sources also list it for drive, but Zorc marks a broader lead or take meaning.

Useful combinations

Common phrases with drive

drive a car

baabuur wad[1][2][3][4]

the driver

darawalka[1][2][4]

driving

wadista[1][2][4]

Real usage

Example sentences

Can you drive a car?

question

Baabuur ma wadi kartaa?[1][2][3][4]

You drive the car for us.

command

Adigu baabuurka noo wad![1]

Driving is hard.

gerund

Wadistu waa adag tahay.[1][2][4]

Grammar

Grammar notes

Wad and kaxee

Use wad for operating or driving a vehicle. Kaxee is also listed for drive, but Zorc's reverse dictionary gives it a broader sense of leading, driving, herding, or taking people or animals somewhere.[1][2][3]

Questions

Questions about drive in Somali

How do you say drive in Somali?

For driving a vehicle, use wad in phrases such as baabuur wad. Kaxee can also mean drive, but it often carries a lead or take-along meaning.

Evidence

References checked

  1. [1] Somali-English Dictionary (R. David Zorc)

    Checked wad as operate a machine/drive, wado and wadniin as driving forms, kaxee as lead/drive/herd/take, kaxeeye/wade/dareewal as driver, and the sourced example Adigu baabuurka noo wad.

    Open source ↗

  2. [2] English to Somali Finder List (R. David Zorc)

    Checked drive/driving/driver entries, including wado, wade, kaxeeye, and driver variants.

    Open source ↗

  3. [3] English-Somali Bilingual Dictionary (NSW Department of Education)

    Checked drive as kaxee, car as baabuur yar, vehicle as fatuurad, and the irregular verb table for drive/drove/driven.

    Open source ↗

  4. [4] OpenTran English-Somali Dictionary PDF

    Checked drive as wado, driver as darawal, drivers as darawaliinta, driving as wadista, and vehicle as baabuur.

    Open source ↗

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