Maay Maay (Af-Mai-Mai)

Maay Maay language is a member of the Lowland East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. It is spoken by about 2.75 million people mainly in southern Somalia by the Digil and Mirifle clans, particularly in the South-West amd Jubaland states in the Banaadir region. It is also spoken in Somali Region in eastern Ethiopia and the northeast of Kenya.

Maay Maay is also known as Mai-Mai, Af-Maay, Af Maay Maay, Af-Maymay or Maay. Dialects include Maay Erte, Maay Dhete and Af-Helledi. It is closely related to Standard Somali, and other varieties of Somlai, and it is not mutually intelligible with them. Many Maay Maay speakers use Standard Somali as a lingua franca to communicate with other Somalis.

There appear to be several ways to write Maay Maay with the Latin script. They have been developed by various people and groups since the 1980s.

Maay Maay alphabet (Elif-Maay)

Maay Maay alphabet (Elif-Maay)

Download an alphabet chart for Maay Maay (Excel)

Notes

Hear how to pronounce Maay Maay letters:

Sample text

Bani’aadynky dhammaantiyo way dhalydaayana yo o hur eh o usku jing ky eh sharafty i huquuqdy. Wayba ly siiyey aqly i kas, wayny waajib ky aha ini kiiby kan kely ingly dhagymy si walaalnimy eh.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Source: https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/universal-declaration/translations/maay

Sample videos

Links

Information about Maay Maay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maay_Maay
https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Af-Maay
https://www.biyoonool.com/en/maay-alphabet
https://www.somalispot.com/threads/af-maay-has-a-unique-alphabet-compared-to-maxaa-tiri-written-in-roman-alphabet.18163/
https://www.somalispot.com/threads/historical-day-for-maay-community-maay-alphabet-has-officially-been-published-shirka-afeef-tagowke-elif-maay.157992/

Cushitic languages

Afaan-Oromo, Afar, Awngi, Beja, Blin, Daasanach, Gawwada, Hadiyya, Iraqw, Maay Maay, Sidama, Somali, Southern Oromo, Waata, Xamtanga

Page created: 16.08.24. Last modified: 16.08.24

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