Wolof phrasebook

Wolof is the main language of Senegal, and is also spoken in Gambia and Mauritania.

Pronunciation guide

Note: Wolof is primarily an oral not written language, so written spellings may vary considerably.

Consonants

hyrA

C-

is always pronounced "Ch" Words borrowed from French should use "S" instead of C but might not always be written that way.

R-

Should be rolled.

After a double consonant,

repeat the vowel preceding vowel sound slightly. For example, Tudd (to call oneself) sounds almost like "tuddu" and jamm (peace) sounds like "Jamma" with a very soft a / e muet (if you speak French, for reference) at the end.

Ng -

Difficult for a non-speaker to replicate. Focus on the "g" sound and if possible add the n to the end of the preceding word. For example, Fan nga joge? (Where to you come from) sounds more like Fann ga joge?

Common diphthongs

goeses

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.

Salamalekum (This is Arabic) / Response: Malekum Salaam.

Hello. (informal)

. (Ça va)French

How are you?

Na'nga def? ( ?)

Fine, thank you.

Mangi fi rekk. ( jama rek or I'm in peace)

Alhumdililay.

Thanks be to God. (From Arabic.) May be used after 'jama rek' to express thanks.

What is your name?

Nanga tudd?

My name is...

Mangi tudd...

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please

(S'il vous plait )

Thank you.

Jere jef. ( )

You're welcome.

ñoku boku. ( )

Yes.

. (waaw )

No.

. (de det )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. (pardon )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. (baal ma )

I'm sorry.

. (maasa )

Goodbye

Be benen yoon. ( Means see you next time, or a la prochaine in French )

See you very soon

Leegi leegi.

See you later

Ba ci kanam.

I'm going (informal)

. (maangi dem)

I can't speak Wolof [well].

[ ]. ( [Man degguma ?????? ])

Do you speak English?

? ( Degg nga anglais?)

I speak some english

? (Degg naa tutti tutti anglais)

Help!

! ( dembalema)

Look out!

! ( me hole)

How is the morning?

Naka suba si?

How is the evening?

Naka si ngom si?

Good night.

Fanaanal ak jamm. Plural: Fanaaleen ak jamm. (NB: Slight "a" sound follows the double consonant.)

Good night (to sleep)

. (bon nuit )French

I don't understand.

. (je ne comprend pas )French (Degguma)

Where is... ?

? ( Ana ...?)

Where are you from?

( Fooy degga? ) or Fan nga joge?

Small talk

How is your work?

Naka liggeye bi? ( )

How is your family?

Naka wa kerr gi? ( ) or Ana wa ker ga?

My house (family) is fine (here).

Nyung fi rekk.

How did you sleep?

Nanga fananay?

White person

Toubab ( )

Numbers

• 0=dara/nayn (DA-ra/nayn)
• 1=benn (ben)
• 2=naar (nyaar)
• 3=nett (nyet)
• 4=nent (nyent)
• 5=juroom (JOO-room)
• 6=juroom benn (JOO-room ben)
• 7=juroom naar (JOO-room nyaar)
• 8=juroom nett (JOO-room nyet)
• 9=juroom nent (JOO-room nyent)
• 10=fukk (fook)

Time

• foor duckion

Duration

Monday

Altine

Tuesday

Taalata

Wednesday

Alarba

Thursday

Alxames

Friday

Ajjuma

Saturday

Gaaw

Sunday

Dibeer

Money

How much is it?

Ñaata la? ( )

What does it cost?

Nyata? ( )

Eating

Breakfast

( Ndekki )

Lunch

( An )

Dinner

( Reer )

Shopping

(Ci) Marse bi

(at) the market

Ñaata la?

How much is it?

____ francs

____ CFA (NB: Numbers used for prices will usually be in French and in thousands with inflation.)

Waxale

to bargain

Maangi waxale

I bargain

Cher na (torop)

It's (very) expensive (Used to try to haggle the price down)