Poster text: ESSENTIAL WOLOF PHRASES; Salam alaykum! Peace be upon you; Maalikum salaam, And upon you peace; Noo tudd? What is your name? Maa ngi tudd... My name is...; Na nga def? How are you? Maa ngi fi rekk, I am here only/fine; Naka sa yaram? How is your health?; Jërëjëf. Amul solo, You're welcome; Ñaata la? How much is it? Teemeer la, It's 100; Waaw, Yes; Déedéet, No; Ba beneen yoon. Until next time / Goodbye.

“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!

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174 responses to “Some Essential Wolof Phrases”

  1.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Hi, what do you say on Korite? I know it starts with:

    A: Baal ma ak
    B: Baal na la

    then there’s something like, “yalla nu yana bo lay val?”

    Like

  2. celebrevents Avatar

    Thank you for this blog! How do I say “watermelon” in Wolof? I am working on a food project which showed me that it is a fruit that originated in Western Africa.

    Like

    1. Janga Wolof Avatar

      jom ji. The ji part is optional – it’s like saying “the”.

      Like

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        In the part of Senegal where I lived they used the word ‘haal’

        Like

  3. Jangalekat Wolof Avatar

    Glad to see all the helpful responses to this post!

    Like

  4.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    ITS REALLY REDICULUS; IT DIDN’T HELPED ME TO COMPLETE MY PROJECT

    Like

  5. refill clauss Avatar
    refill clauss

    Hi, im dating a guy from senegal, im so inluv wit him so i want to learn his language- wolof

    Like

  6. Gil/Fallou Avatar
    Gil/Fallou

    It was fun finding this site. I was in Senegal from 93-94 and miss Wolof. I lived in Koussanar ci weto Tambacunda. (near Tamba) Wolof ak Senegal Bak na! (I still cannot spell in Engish, French or Wolof)

    Like

  7. Meg Avatar
    Meg

    @kath mayall – thanks so much, I’m writing letters back to my Gambian “family” and couldn’t remember “Naka sa doogooda?”. This is proof that really, anything is available on the internet.
    Arame: buga naa la translates to “i want you” or “i like you”
    nop naa la is “i love you”
    i could be wrong but I’d say these terms are both reserved for the opposite sex.
    my sister – there is no specific term for sister, you have to refer to siblings as younger “suma raka” or older “suma mag” and then add male or female, so if you’re speaking to your younger sister you’d say “suma raka bu jigen”, whereas your elder sister would be “suma mag bu jigen” (translates directly as “my older sibling that is female”)

    Like

  8. Arame Avatar
    Arame

    Hi i was just wondering i’ve been looking up how to say i love you in wolof and while i was in senegal i was under the impression that it was boga nala but when i was searching how to spell it i found it as Nob naa la. which one is right? also How do you say “my sister”

    Like

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      nob nala is something you would like say to a boyfriend . it’s the equivalent of ‘i like you’ . begue nala means more of I love you .

      Like

      1. maria Avatar
        maria

        and what the meaning of dama la nopp then..i herd it is smt like i love u…

        Like

    2. Alfa Avatar
      Alfa

      Beugg is to like.. beugg na sama yay ( I love my mother); beugg na thiepp ( I love/like rice).
      Nopp nalla is I love you ( you say it to someone you are intimate with, or you wanna be intimate with).
      Clearly there’s a big difference between Beugg & nopp.

      Like

  9. eve Avatar
    eve

    que quiere decir tom roco??
    gracias

    Like

    1. Denton Avatar
      Denton

      What does “tom roco” mean?
      Thanks

      Like

  10.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    no worries is amul ragal

    Like

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