Say No To Translating Somali Names

[BlackVelvet]

Even if most of us have Arab names or non Somali names in general, the nicknames are a quirk to our culture. If they start being translated into English, that's just another way of our identity being stripped from us.

e.g.

One of Somalia's most notorious pirate leaders, known as "Big Mouth", has been arrested in Brussels and placed in custody pending charges, judicial sources said Monday.

Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as "Afweyne" or "Big Mouth", was being held in Bruges after being detained at Brussels airport on Saturday on disembarking from a flight from Nairobi, Belga news agency said.

The name is not "Big Mouth" it's "Afweyne". The same way "Naso Hablood" is not "Breasts of Women" it's just "Naso Hablood" and "Gurey" is not "Left handed". Certain things should not be translated. English has no place in conveying the meaning of Somali names.

[ZubeirAwal]

[STARKAST]

Bantus are patrolling the street of Mogdishu and your worrying about translations and funnily enough culture...wow

[Hyperactive]

i laughed when i read that article about that pirate.

i know what you talking, even me you never catch a hint if somali my name and forefathers, when i went to jigjiga. i knew what i will get, so i introduced my self by second part of my name. i was scared they will give me the name "abdi" since my second part is little hard for them....the minute they saw i use my left hand eating, first they give me lecture about karahiya and you should know better etc... the whole 3 months , my name was gurey. until now they ask my family, how is gurey.lol

here you go, abdul.... abdul.... suufi...now is gurey.

[BlackVelvet]

lol Hyper Somalis can be very literal it's part of us lakin these names can't be English because it loses the cultural context. Xumaan waaye tarjumaada.

Lakin if I may ask you were using your actual hand to eat? Not forks or spoons? Dadka wey kaa nexen aan u maleyna and in your spare time you were cleaning the streets. Here's to not conforming

[Hyperactive]

i was eating with spoon but using left hand. i know , hada dee sow adonka ma adin. wa in english in laku tarjuma.

[wiyeer]

Yes, i agree it doesn't convey the true meaning of the nicknames and seems to take them out of context.

Jasmine, translate these tuulos into english: habariheshay,candha dhexe, xiiniinyo-dabadood.

All actual real names, no word of lie.


add Dhuusomareeb to that too

[BlackVelvet]

habariheshay,candha dhexe, xiiniinyo-dabadood.

I refuse to translate. These are what they are. Say NO to Translations!!!

Where is Daanyeer when you need him

i was eating with spoon but using left hand. i know , hada dee sow adonka ma adin. wa in english in laku tarjuma.

What do you mean?

[Hyperactive]

i mean, we are lucky if our first name and last name is not translated to english or other languages. you will hear , guled as victorious etc.lol

[BlackVelvet]

When I found out "Istarlin" waxaa laga waado the British currency "Sterling" ayaan is dhahay anything is possible

[LiquidHYDROGEN]

Siilanyo - Lizard/reptile

Faroole - Fingers

Waraabe - Hyena

Laangadhe - Lame/crippled

Somali nicknames are a tradition, and usually range from not very flattering to down-right insulting

[Jam Street]

I am ok with "the slave of peace".

[GeoSeven]

I salute the man who named Naaso Hablood

Imagine there was a structure in Somalia shaped like a penis, what would they call it? GGus Weyne

[ZubeirAwal]

[InaSamaale]

Lol@ big mouth. Essentially the same thing though one is culturally appropriate.

Zubeir, share your nickname.