somaali

Somaali, often rendered in English as Somali, can refer to the Somali people or to the Somali language. The Somali are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa, with most members living in Somalia and sizable communities in Djibouti, the Somali region of Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. A large diaspora population exists in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

The Somali language, also called Soomaaliga in Somali, is an Afroasiatic language in the Cushitic branch. It has several regional dialects, with Northern Somali (Standard Somali) forming the basis of the standard written form. The language uses the Latin script in official use since the 1970s; earlier scripts include Osmanya and Arabic-derived Wadaad script.

Cultural organization centers on clan networks and shared lineage; major clans include the Darod, Hawiye, Isaaq, Rahanweyn, Dir, and Digil–Mirifle. Islam is the dominant religion. Traditional poetry and storytelling, pastoralism, and trade have shaped social life. The country’s post-1991 history has included civil conflict, state-building, and ongoing stabilization efforts; Somaliland in the northwest declared independence in 1991, though it remains internationally unrecognized.

Today Somalia has a federal system with semi-autonomous regions; diaspora communities contribute to the economy and politics; the language and culture continue to influence the broader Horn of Africa region.