Somali Questions/Interrogative (“ma” + past tense positive)

In a previous post, I wrote about subject pronouns, in the “declarative” (sentence) sense. Of course, a conversation usually consists of both sentences (declarative) and questions (interrogative). So, today will be about the interrogative, so that we can start putting together small conversations.

Here’s a table showing pronouns, the declarative marker, and the interrogative marker for each person. Just like the declarative marker is formed as “waa+suffix,” the interrogative marker is formed as “ma+suffix.” That being said, it comes out looking like “miy+suffix.”

Forming the Interrogative

ENGLISH	SUBJECT	DECLARATIVE	DECLARATIVE (with complement)	INTERROGATIVE
I	aniga	waan	waxaan	ma+aan = miyaan
You	adiga	waad	waxaad	ma+aad = miyaad
He	isaga	wuu	waxuu	ma+uu = miyuu
She	iyada	way	waxay	ma+ay = miyay
We (exc.)	aanaga	waannuu	waxaannu	ma+aannu = miyaannu
We (inc.)	innaga	waynu	waxaynu	ma+aynu = miyaynu
Ya’ll	idinka	waydin	waxaydin	ma+aydin = miyaydin
They	iyaga	way	waxay	ma+ay = miyay

Using the Interrogative

Note: the rest of this post assumes you’re already familiar with the simple past tense (positive). If you need a refresher, click here for the post about the past tense.

Okay, let’s leave the jargon behind. These “ma” words are used similarly to the English question word “do.” Yes/no questions which would begin with “do” in English begin with these “ma+suffix” participles (words) in Somali.

Did you eat lunch? Qado miyaad cuntay?	Yes, I ate lunch. Haa, qado waxaan cunay.
Did you sleep? Miyaad seexatay?	Yes, I slept. Haa, waan seextay.
Did you (all) arrive? Miyaydin gaadhteen?	Yes, we arrived. Haa, waannu gadhnay.
Did they go to Somaliland? Somaliland miyay tageen?	Yes, they went to Somaliland. Haa, Somaliland waxay tageen.
Did you (all) drink tea? Shaah miyaydin cabteen?	Yes, we drank tea. Haa, shaah waxaannu cabteen.
Did he enter the house? Guriga miyuu galay?	Yes, he entered the house. Haa, guriga waxuu galay.
Did she bring breakfast? Quraac miyay keentay?	Yes, she brought breakfast. Haa, quraac waxay keentay.

Obviously, there aren’t any “no” answers so far — I haven’t learned the negative version of the past tense yes, but I’ll be sure to share when I do!