English Wolof French Dictionary: English to Wolof & French with French & Wolof Indexes
This dictionary provided by JangaWolof.org is a multilingual resource offering translations between English, Wolof, and French, making it ideal for learners, travelers, and anyone interested in African languages. This dictionary includes:
- Pronunciation Guides: Detailed guides for both Wolof and French pronunciation, aiding users in correct articulation.
- Essential Vocabulary: Words and phrases are organized alphabetically, covering basic to advanced terms with translations in English, Wolof, and French.
- Numbers and Grammar: Guides on numbers, definite articles, verb conjugation, and sentence structure provide essential grammar insights.
- Practical Phrases: Includes common phrases and sentence examples to enhance conversational skills in Wolof.
This user-friendly reference is perfect for those wanting a comprehensive introduction to Wolof and is ideal for students, travelers, and language enthusiasts.
This dictionary features over 7,000+ translations.
*** See an updated list here: Basic Wolof Phrases 2012 ***
“Expressions Ouolof Essentielles”
Na nga def. – Hello. (singular)
Na ngeen def. – Hello everybody. (plural)
Jaam nga fanane. – Good morning.
Jamm nga yendoo. – Good afternoon.
Fanaanal jaam. – Goodnight.
Ba beneen. – Goodbye.
Su la nexee. – Please.
Jai-rruh-jef. – Thank you.
Agsil. – You’re welcome. (singular)
Agsileen ak jaam. – You’re all welcome. (plural)
Baal ma. – Sorry./Pardon.
Wau. – Yes.
Deh-det. – No.
Jaam nga am? – Have you peace? (How are you?)
Jaam rek. – Peace only. (I’m fine.)
Yow nag? – And you?
Naka-nga sant? – What’s your first name?
Maa ngi tudd … . – My name is … .
Fan nga dahk? – Where do you live?
Fan nga joghe? – Where are you from? (singular)
Fan ngeen joghe? – Where are you all from? (plural)
Maa ngi joghe les USA. – I’m from the USA.
Deg nga Angale? – Do you speak English?
Deg nga Faranse? – Do you speak French?
Angale rekk laa degg. – I speak only English.
Degg naa tuuti Faranse. – I speak a little French.
Mahn deggumah Wolof. – I don’t speak Wolof.
Mahn deggumah Faranse. – I don’t speak French.
Degguma. – I don’t understand.
Dama bahggoon … . – I’d like … .
Fahn la … ? – Where is … ?
Soreh na? – Is it far?
Cha kanam. – Straight ahead.
Chammoon. – Left.
Ndeyjoor. – right.
Dugghal waay! – Get in!
Lii naata? – How much is this?
Seer na torob. – It’s too much.
May ma jaam! – Leave me alone!
Janga Wolof 
172 responses to “Some Essential Wolof Phrases”
Hi everybody.
My boyfriend is from Senegal and I really love him a loooot. I’m looking forward to learn phrases in Wolof. I want him to see I care a lot can you please give me some love phrases or things to say to him. Thank you =-)
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Hello,
Di la nama – I am going to miss you. (It can also be used to day I miss you)
nama nala – I miss you
Mala raw – I miss you more
Bugg naa la – I love you (general)
Sopp naa la – I love you (I admire you – when dating)
Nopp naa la – I love you (between partners)
http://quizlet.com/1645140/wolof-greetings-phrases-flash-cards/ is quite a good site so check it out if you can. Hope that helps 🙂
Salaam mallekum !
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Does anyone know what ‘Dama la buga’ means? I think it is something like ‘I like you’ but I am not sure.
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You’re right. That is basically what it means.
Dama means ‘I am’. La means ‘you’. Bugga means ‘like/love/desire/want’.
Bugga is often used when indicating something that you want. For example if someone was giving you the choice between an apple and an orange and you wanted the apple you’d say ‘dama bugga pom’; ‘I want the apple/I like the apple.”
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Jerejef !
Someone said ‘Dama la buga’ to me and would not tell me what it meant. Said I would have to find out for myself. Soo.. thank you ! 😀
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Haha…no problem! You’re welcome. Looks like you have an admirer… 😉
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ahh good, now i know how to say i want/like/love/desire him to my boyfriend. he does speak good english but i can tell he is very surprised and happy when he hears me speak in wolof. i suppose it feels more personal 🙂
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I seem to get a lot of comments from people with Wolof speaking boyfriends and girlfriends. I should do a post for lovers.
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yes you should ;o)
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silo neka- what you doing?
nakam- how are you?
mang gee dem- I’m going
mang gee dam lee gay-im going to work
wa cha nga- you off from work?
This is gambian wolof, i hope it helps you like it did me i learning from my husband and his cousins who speak it and are from Gambia.
Noup nala- i love you
numa nala- i miss you
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this is great, my husband has a strong accent,, im clueless
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Hi, this Q is for Bamber…i think the first two questions you have posted above are informal and mainly used among friends as ive been told my my boyfriend and his friends who are from The Gambia as well. You should follow up with your husband as i was urged not to learn these questions this way first. I think its a little too familiar to address elders. but, id welcome feedback if im incorrect as well.
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they are for friends, my husbands friend taught me that so i can talk to him and all his cousins.
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Thank you for visiting my blog and for liking my post Learing Wolof. I have enjoyed reading this page and the comments as they remind me of our wonderful trip to Senegal for our son’s wedding. Now Iknow what to reply when somone says “I miss you “
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Thank you! I’m glad you were able to learn something new while you were here 🙂
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[…] original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation […]
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Hello all! Naka ngeen def?
My husband is Senegalese and I was wondering if anyone could share any romantic phrases in Wolof. Anything that one would whisper during a romantic candlelight dinner or sms to let the person know that you’re thinking of them.
Jaajef waay!
Ania
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i have been told a term of endearment for your loved one is cherry coco. it is how my boyfriend and i refer to each other…he wants to be married and i think we still need to work together to see if we can be a good pair. no funny business goes on here except affection like hugs and kisses or holding hands. i am struggling with his culture of just getting married without taking some time to get to know each other. advice anyone??
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I recognize everything you say. My boyfriends tells me exactly the same. He wants to marry me, but I need more time to get to know eachother. I met him 18 months ago, but we only spend 6 weeks together ( 2 times 3 weeks)
How is your relationship now?
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hey can someone halp mw with a translation…i need to know the meanning of this phrase “akh ki dou moromou domou khadj bobou” Does someone know?…thank you
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Khadj means dog..
Literally it means ( this one is not equal to that son of a dog) .. but speaking. It just means “this person is much better than that son of a bitch”
Here is my enail if I can help more, tiendella@yahoo.com; I don’t check it regularly though
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hi every one, i am a gambian and i was sooo happy to learn about this site, i love it, japa lenko fofu okay, and i have some treats for the wives
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Welcome to the site!
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Hi everyone!
I would really like to learn wolof.
My dad is a gambian but unfortunately he never thaught me wolof.
I only see my family in the gambia once in 2 years. So its difficult to learn it everyday. Could you guys please help me!
Thanks
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[…] Some Essential Wolof Phrases | Janga Wolof […]
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omg how cool is this site. just came across it by chance thank you google! i’m gambian. who knew there were so many other ppl wanting to learn wolof. li ci internet bi!
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can someone please translate nga magal ko c atyu
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Hi, I’m italian. i listened a beautiful song named nana ye. I’m a teacher and I would to teach this song to my little students.
Can anyone tell me the correct text and translation please?
More or less is
Nana ye zimbe
Nana ye zimbe
Nana ye somalé nana zimbe.
Suma doom jangal so bougué an diplo.
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hello matteo. who is this song by? I’m having trouble making sense of the lyrics. i have no idea what nana ye zimbe is supposed to mean but i do know that ” suma doom jangal so bouge am diplome” literally means “my child learn if you want to have a diploma” basically the singer is imploring the child to get an education. wish i could be of more help.
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http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CEMQtwIwBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjSpv8WG9Ko4&ei=h111UPmsGc-UswaZ0oGoBg&usg=AFQjCNE-uXqrzS32arnDp75xIIC6uQZuSA
This is the song, thank you very much. I think you’re on the right way: maybe my version was a “phonetic” version, and sorry for my english. 🙂
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please can anyone translate: ‘gisuma ko deh’ to English?
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It means ‘I don’t see it’ literally but can also be ‘I can’t see/find it’
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how do you write “we are all the same” in Wolof. Thank you for your reply ❤
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You can say nio far which means we are all together or we are one.
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Hello, I cant understand how one can add your site in my rss reader. Are you in a position Assist me, please 🙂
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verbi italiano
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What’s up, this weekend is nice designed for me, since this time i am reading this wonderful educational paragraph here at my house.
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my husband spent time in a wolof speaking area, one of the phrases he uses means for the good of us all….How in the work would that be spelled? (yok a boke) I don’t know THANKS.
Lori
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I think he was saying you are welcome, which also literally means ‘we share it.’ It is often written with an accent above the n – ñokobok – pronouced nyokobok.
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I reAly like this
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what does “nanala” mean if anything? I got this from a Senegalese male friend but can’t figure out if his spelling is off cause i can’t find a translation!
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Hey may have just been shortening namenala which means I miss you or I have missed you…but not sure otherwise.
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I thought that but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something or that maybe he misspelled nob nala, but I’m sure nob nala and nanala sound quite different! Thank you
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What es the muy: yalla na ma yalla may Diam ak were ak Nieppe. Please
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A rough translation – God will repay you with peace, love and everything
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Hey, thanks for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged. kakbaaeeefgc
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hello! could someone please help me how to say in Wolof – “I’m very sorry. please forgive me for everything”? thanks in advance!
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Hi all
Could anyone plz tell me wat “yow suma u nga” means…thnx
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Hi all
Could anyone plz tell me wat “yow suma y nga” means…thnx
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my parents re nigerians bt i ws born in d gambia brikama to be precise…….i ws good in wollof n madinko bfor bt wen i n my family relocate i find it hard to rememba d languagues…..pls sumone shud help me cz i nid to learn my language again
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How do you say “my grandmother” in Wolof?
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yaye sama yaye (the mother of my mother)
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kom yow rekk queen suma yw nga
wht dat means? please!
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How to say this is all for you in Senegalese wolof
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How do you say in Wolof- my heart belongs to
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Hello everybody someone can translate for me this lyrics?Is a song from Senegal is called Mbeuguel by Carlou D,thanks a lot!!
you can found the lyrics here
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Yow yarame nékhoule
Any idea what this means?
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Yow sa yaram nekhoul ” you are sick/ you are nuts/ you are wild.
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Hi! Im seing someone that is from Gambia. His grandmother just passed away. Does anyone know how to say: “May she rest in peace. Im here for you”, in Wolof? Thank you!
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hello I’m dating with a Gambian and wanna tell him some romantic sentences . I’m trying to learn some basic words to make him happy! but now I need ” I am the luckiest girl in the world because I found you and never gonna let you go again ” plz help me ! 🙂
thx
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hiii admin
I have one Senegalese boy friend. Can u give me a wolof to french dictionary? and also french to wolof.
Online of pdf, no difference. Jerejefff 😀
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can someone tell me what does “khewuel” means??
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Khewel literally means Luck/opportunity
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What does Balnala mean?
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Kheweul – happiness, often heard in the phrase ‘jamm ak kheweul’ – peace and happiness.
Balnaala – I forgive you, often used at festivals when people say ‘balma ak’ – forgive me, to others who reply ‘balnaala’.
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What does this mean?
Fo rek
Wa douma fo touti sakh
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Fo rek : “you play too much/ playing is the only thing you do”.
“Douma fo touti sakh ” (nothing wrong with playing a bit)
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Can you tell me what the following means: lonek yagiu ci diam
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Living in NY since ’98, I found out long ago each English vowel can have up to 5 or 6 different sounds; unlike the English we were taught in Senegalese High school..
Wolof pronunciation is easier because each vowel has but one sound if I am not mistaken, like French. Because we wolof speakers don’t have our own alphabet; we use the french one .
The A in wolof or french always sounds like the O in Mott or robOt; well unless the A is succeeded by the vowel i or u.
The O in wolof, mostly sounds the same as the O in bOy; unless it is succeeded by U or i ; but I can’t think of a Wolof word with oi sound.
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Hi everyone, love this thred. Im married to a Senegalese man and we have lots of trouble with comunicaions, from both languagebarriers and cultural diffrencies, yean and the common woman/man challenge.
What does “nou nou” mean? For example “Fofo nou nou” or “nou no la”
How to say “I wish people could have more patienser” and “I wish we could understand eachother better”
And a Word for Communication
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sorry it should be “Patience”
ans please, what is the words for humility and pride
Jerejeff
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Hi, sometimes I get a 400 site error when I arrive at this webpage. I thought you may wish to know, regards
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Great blog. Thanks for posting.
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Really good site,thank so much for your effort in writing the posts.
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[…] original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation […]
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