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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Use the comments section to ask and share more Wolof words and phrases…

174 responses to “Some Essential Wolof Phrases”

  1. maria Avatar
    maria

    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

    Like

    1. Alfa Avatar
      Alfa

      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

      Like

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    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

    Like

    1. kristina32 Avatar

      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??

      Like

      1. elies Avatar
        elies

        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?

        Like

  3. […] original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation […]

    Like

  4. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    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 “

    Like

    1. Amadou Avatar

      Thank you! I’m glad you were able to learn something new while you were here 🙂

      Like

  5. bamber Avatar
    bamber

    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

    Like

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      this is great, my husband has a strong accent,, im clueless

      Like

    2. kristina32 Avatar
      kristina32

      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.

      Like

      1. bamber Avatar
        bamber

        they are for friends, my husbands friend taught me that so i can talk to him and all his cousins.

        Like

  6. Kristina Avatar
    Kristina

    yes you should ;o)

    Like

  7. Amadou Avatar

    I seem to get a lot of comments from people with Wolof speaking boyfriends and girlfriends. I should do a post for lovers.

    Like

  8. Kristina Avatar
    Kristina

    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 🙂

    Like

  9. Golden Avatar
    Golden

    Does anyone know what ‘Dama la buga’ means? I think it is something like ‘I like you’ but I am not sure.

    Like

    1. Amadou Avatar

      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.”

      Like

      1. Golden Avatar
        Golden

        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 ! 😀

        Like

        1. Amadou Avatar

          Haha…no problem! You’re welcome. Looks like you have an admirer… 😉

          Like

  10. Katherine Ortega Avatar
    Katherine Ortega

    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 =-)

    Like

    1. Golden Avatar
      Golden

      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 !

      Like

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