Wolof phrasebook
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Pronunciation guide
;Note-: Wolof is primarily an oral not written language, so written spellings may vary considerably.
Vowels
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
goesesPhrase list
Basics
; Hello. : Salamalekum (This is Arabic) / Response: Malekum Salaam.; Hello. (informal) : . ( Sa 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 name of language . : . ( )
; 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?
Problems
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
Clock time
Duration
Monday - Altine
Tuesday - Taalata
Wednesday - Alarba
Thursday - Alxames
Friday - Ajjuma
Saturday - Gaaw
Sunday - Dibeer
Months
Writing time and date
Colors
Transportation
Bus and train
Directions
Taxi
Lodging
Money
; How much is it? : Ñaata la? ( ); What does it cost? : Nyata? ( )
Eating
; Breakfast : ( Ndekki ); Lunch : ( An )
; Dinner : ( Reer )
Bars
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)