See original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases
For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation Guide
↓ scroll down for more resources ↓
Essentials | sólo
English
Wolof / Français
pro·nun·ci·a·tion
[Pulaar / Mandinka]
Hello.
Salaam aleekum. / Bonjour.
sa·laam a·ley·kum / bon·zhoor
[P: No ngoolu daa. / M: I be ñaading.]
Goodbye.
Mangi dem. / Au revoir.
maan·gee dem / o·rer·vwar
[P: Ñalleen e jamm. / M: Fo tuma doo.]
Please.
Bu la neexee. / S’il vous plaît.
boo la ney·khey / seel voo pley
[P: Njaafodaa. / M: Dukare.]
Thank you.
Jërejëf. / Merci.
je·re·jef / mair·see
[P: A jaaraamah. / M: I ning bara.]
You’re welcome.
Amul sólo. / Je vous en prie.
uh·mool so·lo / zher voo zom pree
[P: Enen ndendidum. / M: Mbee le dentaala.]
Yes.
Waaw. / Oui.
wow / wee
[P: Eey. / M: Haa.]
No.
Déedéet. / Non.
dey·deyt / non
[P: Alaa. / M: Hani.]
Sorry. (Excuse me.)
Baal ma. (Jéggël ma.) / Pardon. (Excusez-moi.)
baal ma (jey·guhl mah) / par·don (ek·skew·zay·mwa)
[P: Achanam hakke. (Yaafo.) / M: Hakko tuñe.]
Do you speak English?
Ndax dégg nga angale? / Parlez-vous anglais?
ndakh deg nguh an·ga·ley / par·ley·voo ong·ley
[P: Ada faama engale? / M: Ye angkale kango moyle?]
Do you understand? (Do you speak … ?)
Dégg nga? / Comprenez-vous?
deg nguh / kom·pre·ney·voo
[P: (Ada nana … ?) / M: (Ye … kango moyle?)]
I understand.
Dégg naa. / Je comprends.
deg na / zher kom·pron
[P: Mi faami. / M: Ngaa kalamuta le.]
I don’t understand.
Dégguma. / Je ne comprends pas.
deg·goo·ma / zher ner kom·pron pa
[P: Mi faamaani / M: Mma kalamuta.]
Help!
Wóoy! / Au secours!
wohy / o·skoor
[P: Ballal! / M: Nso orangzola!]
Meeting & Greeting | ndaje ak nuyoo
May peace be with you. (“Hello.”)
As salaamu alay kum.
How was your night? (“Good morning.”)
Jàmm nga fanaane?
How was your day? (“Good afternoon/evening.”)
Jàmm nga yendoo?
How is your family?
Ana sa waa kër?
Is your wife well?
Mbaa sa jabar jàmm?
How is your child?
Sa doom jàmm?
What is your name?
Nanga tudd?
At the Market | ci marse bi
How much are you selling this for?
Ñaata ngay jaaye bii?
How much is it?
Ñaata lay jar?
That’s expensive!
Seer na lóol!
What did you say?
Nga ni?
Reduce your price!
Waññil!
I’ll add 100cfa, but no more.
Tekk naa ci ñaar-fukk, du ma ci yokk dara.
I can’t add any more.
Du ma ci tekk dara.
How much is your fish?
Sa jën wi, ñaata lay jar?
- 100cfa.
Ñaar fukk. (20 – multiply by 5 to get cfa amount.)
I will pay 75cfa.
Fey naa la fukk ak juróom.
- How many do you want?
Ñaata?
Three, how much is that?
Ñett, ñaata la?
- 225cfa, give me the money.
Ñeent fukk ak juróom, indil xaalis bi.
That watch, how much does it cost?
Sa montre bi, ñaata lay jar?
Bring your price down a bit.
Waññil.
1500cfa.
Ñetti teemeer. (three hundred)
- No, that’s not what it’s worth.
Deedeet du njëg-am.
I’ll add 100cfa, nothing more.
Tegg naa ci ñaar fukk, du ma ci yokk dara.
These shoes, how much are they?
Sa dall yi, ñaata lay jar?
That’s very expensive!
Seer na lool!
3400cfa.
Juroom mbenni teemeer ak juróom ñett fukk. (680 / 5 + 1 x 100 + 5 + 3 x 10)
Taxis | taksi bi
How much is it from here to Sandaga?
Fii ba Sandaga ñaata? (Here until Sandaga how much?)
- 1000cfa.
Ñaari teemeer. (200)
That’s too much, how about 700cfa?
Seer na lool, teemeer ak ñeent fukk angi?
I only have 800cfa.
Teemeer ak juróom benn fukki dërëm laa am.
- OK, get in.
Yéegal.
Stop here.
Taxawal fii./Fii baax na./May ma fii.
Dining | lekk
Excuse me, where is the nearest restaurant?
Baal ma, fan moo am restoraan?
Where is the toilet/restroom?
Fan mooy seen wanaag?
Thank you.
Jërë-jëf. (The act was worth it.)
May peace be with you. (“Hello.”)
As salaamu alay kum.
A table for three.
Ñett lanu. (We are three people.)
What do you have that is ready?
Lu fi am soti.
- Here’s the menu.
Kart baa ngi.
I will have fish-and-rice.
Di naa jël ceebu jën.
For me, the yassa.
Man, yaasa.
Is there mafé?
Ndax am na maafe mi?
I do not like hot pepper.
Bëgguma kaani.
I like hot pepper.
Bëgg naa kaani.
- It’s spicy.
Saf na kaani. (It tastes hot.) - It’s not spicy.
Saful kaani. (It does not taste hot.) - What will you have to drink?
Lu ngeen di naan?
Bring us some sweet drinks.
Indil nu naan gu saf suukër.
Please bring me/us some cold water.
Indil ma/nu ndox mu sedd.
Some ice please.
Tuuti galaas.
It is not cold.
Seddul.
It is not hot.
Tangul.
More sauce please.
Dollil tuuti ñeex.
I/We would like to pay.
Damaa/Danu bëgg fey.
Goodbye for now.
Ba beneen yoon. (Until next time.)
Telling the Time | waxtu wi
What time is it?
Ban waxtoo jot?
Do you have a watch?
Am nga montar?
- Yes, I have a watch.
Waaw am naa montar. - No, I don’t have a watch.
Amuma montar.
- It is 10 o’clock.
Fukki waxtu a jot. - It is 10:30am.
Fukki waxtu ak genne-wall a jot.
Look up words: Dictionary
Find more phrases: Phrase Dictionary
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This site will always remain free but by making a small donation you will be helping me to be able to acquire more Wolof resources that I can use to make this site even better. Many of these resources are rare and can cost $100 or more! (many of which I have to translate from other languages) Which is the reason I started this site in the first place — because of the lack of access to Wolof materials for English speakers, and hopefully I’ve been doing my small part to provide a suitable place for English speakers wishing to learn this wonderful language.
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[…] an updated list here: Basic Wolof Phrases Share this:FacebookTwitterTumblrPinterestDiggEmailPrintMoreStumbleUponLinkedInRedditLike […]
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really helpful. thanks!
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thank you
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very nıce
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Hi, I’m looking for someone that can and want help me
I want to translate a song by Wasis Diop
Can you help me?
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I used to live in Senegal as a Peace Corps volunteer years ago. Reading these phrases in Wolof again brought back many memories of my time there. I am a teacher and found your sight in hopes of teaching my first grade students some basic Wolof. I am glad you have made this sight available to people like me and fellow toubabs who want to visit your beautiful country. All the best to you.
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Can someone please help me figure out what this means:
Lotah boylu ma wahal.
Dam la nop.
Hamga Lutah?
Pasqi yo yiy gigen butgena rofet si ahdunah bi yip.
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Dam la nop means I love you
Hamga loutah- you know why?
Paski yow yay djiguen bi gueuneu rafet si adouna bi- because you are the most beautiful woman in the whole world
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Start learning Wolof with our free program: https://wolof101.mykajabi.com/
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I made a short film in Senegal, asking people to say their age in Wolof, from 0 to 100 years old. https://youtu.be/T5jHUeH6zvU
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[…] (two one-thousand-dërëm and two two-hundred-dërëm). For reals. If you don’t believe me, this site translates 3,400 CFA as […]
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[…] dërëm(2 one-thousand- dërëm and 2 two-hundred- dërëm). For reals. If you do not think me, this website equates 3,400 CFA as […]
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[…] CultureTalk in Wolof. 17 minute world languages has an online introductory phrasebook, as does this wordpress blog. A few other resources include this Wolof primer by donation, a Wolof learning app, or paid Wolof […]
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