maxaa

Maxaa is a Somali interrogative pronoun that translates to "what" in English. It is used to ask about a thing, event, idea, or situation and is one of the most common question words in the Somali language.

In typical sentence structure, maxaa appears at the start of a question, followed by the rest of the sentence that describes what is being asked about. For example, Maxaa cusub? means "What is new?" and Maxaa dhacaya? means "What is happening?" The word acts as the focal point of the question, with the remainder providing the context or subject.

Usage and variations: Maxaa can be combined with different verbs and clauses to inquire about objects, conditions, or processes. It is versatile across registers, from everyday conversation to formal inquiries. Somali question formation often relies on intonation and particle placement, but maxaa remains the core word for asking "what." While dialects may feature slight pronunciation differences, the basic usage of maxaa as the standard "what" question word is widespread.

Etymology and linguistic context: Maxaa belongs to the family of Somali interrogative words and is part of the broader system that forms questions in the language. It functions similarly to other question words in Somali, helping to elicit information about a wide range of topics. As with many Somali interrogatives, maxaa is typically used in the initial position of a question, sometimes with the rest of the sentence adjusted to fit tense and aspect.

See also: Somali language, interrogatives, question formation.