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SOMALILAND FINANCIAL TERMS GLOSSARY
Somali and Arabic terms used in this report.
bakyayl
bir
boorse
dadab-gal
dahabshiil
dawar sad miskiine
faxal
gar
gabaati
hagbag
hargaysa
hawala
kaafi
mag
lacag
sadaqo
shaxaad
tamaasul
xaal
yarad
zaad
stingy
Ethiopian currency, accepted in border towns
a pouch for money
a term to describe the act of taking one’s “wife to be” home for a night prior to the marriage,
but after the engagement
gold-smelter
begger
someone you can turn to for a loan, a “walking wallet”
a dispute resolution through discussion between two parties and their elders. The party in
favour is said to have “found the gar.”
during engagement, money distributed to the wife’s family—typically about 5,000,000
shillings, of which the wife’s family gives back to the husband’s family 1,500,000
group savings and loan association
where you go to sell goatskin
transfer
Salaam Bank’s mobile banking option interlinked to Zaad
accidental payment/compensation for death; can be cash or camels
cash
it is considered a good deed and common practice to help your family and relatives, for which
god will reward you on Judgement day
small and quick request for money
compromise, sometimes mediated by elders
money paid after the result of wrongdoing
during engagement, money given to the mother of the man’s family, typically US$1,500. Used
to cover wedding costs, and to cover the expenses of hosting guests
money savings used to travel, for a nomad
B&MG - SOMALILAND MOBILE MONEY STUDIO D RADIODURANS
MAY 2015 7