Wolof phrasebook
From traveller-now
Contents
Wolof is the main language of Senegal, and is also spoken in Gambia and Mauritania.
Pronunciation guide
Vowels
Consonants
hyrA
Common diphthongs
goeses
Phrase list
Basics
- Hello.
- Salamalekum (This is Arabic)
- Hello. (informal)
- . ( Ca va)French
- How are you?
- Na'nga def? ( ?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Mangi fi rekk. ( )
- What is your name?
- Noo 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)
- . (balma )
- I'm sorry.
- . (maasa )
- Goodbye
- Be benen yoon. ( )
- I'm going (informal)
- . (mangi dem)
- I can't speak name of language [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)
- Good morning.
- Naka suba si?
- Good evening.
- Naka si ngom si?
- Good night.
- 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? )
Problems
Small talk
- How is your work?
- Naka liggeye bi? ( )
- How is your family?
- Naka wa kerr gi? ( )
- My house (family) is fine (here).
- Nyung fi rekk.
- How did you sleep?
- Nango fananay?
- White person
- Toubab ( )
Numbers
- 0=dara/nayn (DA-ra/nayn)
- 1=benn (ben)
- 2=naar (naar)
- 3=nett (net)
- 4=nent (nent)
- 5=juroom (JOO-room)
- 6=juroom benn (JOO-room ben)
- 7=juroom naar (JOO-room naar)
- 8=juroom nett (JOO-room net)
- 9=juroom nent (JOO-room nent)
- 10=fukk (fook)
===Time=== foor duckion
Clock time
Duration
Monday - Altine Thursday - Alxames Wednesday - Alarba Tuesday - Taalata Friday - Ajjuma Saturday - Gaaw Sunday - Dibeer
Months
Writing time and date
Colors
Transportation
Bus and train
Directions
Taxi
Lodging
Money
- How much is it?
- Naata la? ( )
- What does it cost?
- Nyata? ( )
Eating
- Breakfast
- ( Ndecki )
- Lunch
- ( Anygh )
- Dinner
- ( Rer )
