Somalian

English

Etymology

From Somalia +‎ -an.

Adjective

Somalian (comparative more Somalian, superlative most Somalian)

1. Of or pertaining to the Republic of Somalia in a civic or governmental context.
   • 2007 April 22, “Somalian government tells Mogadishu residents to flee”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:
2. (nonstandard, sometimes offensive) Synonym of Somali Not all ethnic Somalis are from the country of Somalia. Hence, it is not standard to use Somalian adjectively as a synonym for Somali.

Synonyms

• Somali

Translations

pertaining to Somalia — see Somali

Noun

Somalian (plural Somalians)

1. (countable, collective) A citizen from the country of Somalia. The term Somalian is sometimes used as an alternative to Somali to emphasize civic affiliations to the Republic of Somalia and de-emphasize ethnic affiliations.

   An ethnically Han Chinese man who is a citizen of Somalia is a Somalian but not an ethnic Somali. One can be a Somalian and not a Somali at the same time.

2. (nonstandard, sometimes offensive) Synonym of Somali Using the term Somalian to describe any Somali may be offensive to some Somalis who are not citizens of the Republic of Somalia such as those from or in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Usage of the term Somalian may also be offensive to some Somalis as it is viewed as nonstandard regardless of context. Some Somali separatists (chiefly from Somaliland) may use the term Somalian deliberately in a politicized fashion to differentiate people from their breakaway region (i.e. Somalilanders) from others in Somalia (i.e. Somalians).

Hypernyms

• East African, Horner, Horn African

Translations

someone from Somalia — see Somali

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Somalian, som ⁠

Anagrams

• Alaminos, Mona Lisa, isanomal

Finnish

Proper noun

Somalian

1. genitive singular of Somalia