Benadiri Somali

Benadiri Somali, also referred to as "Coastal Somali" (Somali: Af Reer Xamar), is a dialect of the Somali language. It is primarily spoken by the Benadiri people, who inhabit the southern Banaadir coast of Somalia and into Kenya.^[1][2]

Benadiri Somali is spoken on the Benadir coast,^[3] spanning from Adale to south of Merca including Mogadishu, as well as in the immediate hinterland. The coastal dialects have additional phonemes that do not exist in Standard Somali.^[4] Linguist Giorgio Banti states the dialect has loan words from Harari language.^[5]

Benadiri Somali is also referred to as Coastal Somali or Af-Reer Xamar ("Language of the People of Hamar"). The dialect is widely considered a southern coastal dialect.^[6]

Blench (2006) structures the dialect into three general subdivisions:^[7]

• Northern Benadir (Hiraab, Ajuran, and Galjal)
• Southern Benadir (Hamari, Bimaal)

• ALSintl - Somali language