Somali blog – somalimind.com
  • HOME
  • GENERAL
  • HISTORY
  • Politics
  • How to get in touch

Somali Blog - Somalimind.com

RSS FeedTwitterFacebook
Oct 30 2019

Hooyo (mother) and Aabbo (father)

Posted by M Shire
Tweet

Hooyo:
Hooyo (mother in Somali) has two distinctive etymological roots. The first one is ‘hoy’ which stands for home. A building, a room, or a house without people is nothing but an empty physical shell. Like a body without a soul; it’s a spiritless abode. Only when people inhabit it, is a haven of harmony established. A haven of love, care, and honour that truly shapes it into a home. Hoy (home) is a dwelling that’s inhabited, sheltering the occupants from all kinds of elements. Without the people, it can never be called a hoy. In the same manner, it’s the love and joy and presence of hooyo that make any place or any house turn into a home. In short, hooyo symbolises and embodies the proverbial concept of “home sweet home”.

The second one is
the root word ‘hoo’. Now, hoo has a sundry of meanings, with the
prevailing definition implying gifting someone something valuable (e.g.,
cash, gold, property, etc.) without expecting them to pay you back. We
all know that our mothers bear love that is unconditional and seemingly
endless. And since that love is irreducible to an hourly quantifiable
labour, it’s practically impossible to pay back that same love. So
essentially, it highlights that hooyo’s unconditional love is a
priceless gift that she freely bestows on her children.

Aabbo:
Aabbo (father in Somali) also has two distinctive etymological roots. The first one is ‘ab’ which describes descent. By inheriting his (sur)name, it’s a direct affirmation and an endearing tribute that you belong to your father’s lineage. What’s more, the importance of the first root word is amplified by the definition(s) of the second root word, which is centred on the word ‘aab’. Aab has two sub-definitions. The first one denotes people who are worthy of your unwavering respect and reverence. So by that definition, it teaches us that our fathers are people that are rightfully regarded with a high degree of respect and admiration. The second sub-definition refers to a constructed vessel that is made from tree barks, and fat is rubbed in to make it waterproof. Similarly, a father’s guidance and affection fill the opening holes that might soak a child’s well-being and his/her developing self-confidence.

Makes you think…

Comments (3)

Add a comment Top
  1. Ducaale Cismaan Maxamuud
    03/11/2019

    Thank you so much for this wonderful explanation, Mohamed! It is very intricate and provides good insight on somali grammar and symbolic significance.

    Reply
  2. Hooyos House
    11/01/2020

    Assalaamu aleikum brother. I love your blog and your articles are very meaningful and thought provoking. I asked for your permision to promote and upload your article “we have created mankind in a state of kabad” which you can find here:

    https://hooyoshouse.com/we-have-created-mankind-in-a-state-of-kabad/.

    I know you said it was ok before but i just wanted to double check and ask if i could promote and upload some of your other articles on my website too especially this one.

    Look forward to hearing from you and keep up the great work your doing.

    Reply
    • Mohammed Ibrahim Shire
      11/01/2020

      Wa’alaykumu salaam sister. By all means. Barakallahu feeii.

      Reply

Add a comment Cancel Reply

About Me

M Shire

Salam, welcome to my blog!

RECENT POSTS

  • The one that got away The one that got away
  • Gratefully received, gratefully repaid
  • Indeed, Allaah is ever watching over you
  • Hooyo (mother) and Aabbo (father)
  • He shaped you and then made your shapes beautiful

RECENT COMMENTS

  • nur on Nasiib Buundo: a forgotten Somali Bantu anti-colonial leader
  • Abdisamad on Pre-Islaamic Somali beliefs (incipient research)
  • Belinda on Pre-Islaamic Somali beliefs (incipient research)
  • Michele LOSSE on Rare historical images of the day-to-day life of Somali nomads
  • Liban Awale Jama on Rare historical images of the day-to-day life of Somali nomads

ARCHIVES

  • July 2021
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • February 2017
  • June 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • March 2013
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012

Archives

  • July 2021
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • February 2017
  • June 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • June 2013
  • March 2013
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012

CATEGORIES

  • General
  • History
  • Politics

Categories

  • General
  • History
  • Politics