Lexicon: English to Wolof ♦ Wolof to English
Phrase Dictionary: Wolof to English ♦ English to Wolof

Lexicon

English to Wolof

action	jéf
adze	dené
all	yëp
already	jeeg
arrow	fetta
bamboo	waax
bean	ñebbe
before	bërka
biscuit	mbiskit
butter	bëër
button	butong
buying	njénda
canoe	gaal
cassava	ñambi
center	digga
cord	buum
corpse	néew
cotton	wittéén
country	rééw
creature	mbindéef
cultivation	mbey
daytime	bëccëg
driver	dërayva
elephant	ñay
epidemic	mbas
Europe	erop
eye	bët
farmer	béykay
farming	mbay
fifth	juroomel
flute	mbilip
forehead	je
four	ñanent
French	faranse
gaol	jeel
gas	gaas
Ghana	gaana
goat	bëy
grass	ñax
hand	loxo
hare	njomboor
hat	mbaxana
here	fi
hole	bënna
hospital	lopitaan
house	néég
husband	jekër
iguana	mbëta
intestines	butiit
joy	mbégté
judgment	atte
kitchen	waañ
liver	res
locust	njééréér
loss	looraange
love	mbëggeel, nobel
Monday	londi
mother	yaay
mouth	gémmeñ
necklace	caxa
one	jeen
only	rekk
owl	looy
plan	mbir
plank	dénka
pot	cin
price	njëg
pus	dëtta
quiet	teey
religion	diiné
root	reen
Saturday	gaawu
sauce	ñeex
school	ekol
second	nyaarel
shame	gacce
sheath	mbar
singlet	genso
sowing	nji
street	mbedda
strength	kattan
Sunday	dibéér
supper	reer
tailor	ñawkat
tea	attaya
that	né
thigh	luppa
thirty	fanweer
thread	woñ
tooth	bëñ
underskirt	njiitlay
use	jéfoo
vegetable	lejum
war	geer
watchman	wocmaan
whatever	lu
wrestler	bërekat, mber
wrestling	bëre
writing	mbinda
xylophone	balafong
year	at
yes	waaw
zero	dara

Wolof to English

aj	to go on a pilgrimage
ajjana ji	heaven, paradise
almanaak bi	calendar
anda bi	a perforated pot for burning incense
aye	to be the turn of
baxa	to be light; to dye light blue
bëy wi	goat
binda	to write
buy bi	baobab fruit
calbet mi	wagtail
cammeñ bi	brother (sister speaking)
ciz bi	cheese
daa ji	ink, inkwell
dar	to cover, protect
dëbba	to pound
dexi	to harvest (groundnuts, etc.)
diiné ji	religion
dof	to be mad
doktoor bi	doctor
door	to begin
doylu	to be happy, satisfied
ëgga bi	rain in the dry season
ëw	form a circle around
falang bi	a hairstyle with hanging braids
fas wi	horse
fer	to be weaned
firi	to unroll, loosen, explain
foog	to think
gajja	to cut (bushes, etc.) near roots
gakka	to be spoiled, stained
gañceñ gi	vertebrae (of animal)
geer gi	Guiera senegalensis
géwel bi	griot, musician, etc.
gu	which (relative)
halam	guitar
ite ji	sensation, feeling
jaambur bi	freeborn
jarat	to comb
jela	to squint
jeneen	another
julli	to pray
juroomeeli	fifth
këf ki	thing
korité	festival at the end of the month of Ramadan
kwafe	to do hair
layyi	to be misty
lèx bi	cheek
liw	to be cold
loxo bi	hand
luye	to hire
mbiskit mi	biscuit
mbojj mi	first pounding of grain
mbuus mi	leather bag, skin bag
mool bi	a type of fisherman
muri	to uncover
nduumaar li	turtle
nektay bi	necktie
ñemeñ	to have courage, not be afraid
nga	to open the mouth
ngott	to lack generosity
ni	as
njaaloo gi	adultery
njuna wi	tunafish
noflaay gi	rest
noppi	to be finished
obali	to yawn
oos gi	fishhook
oyof	to be light (in weight)
paj mi	treatment
puus	to push
quai	platform
raaf	to be destroyed, cease to exist
rafle	to lack clothing
réy	to be big
saasal	to solder
samdi ji	Saturday
saxami	to chew
tanka bi	foot
tayyi	to be tired
tëgga	to beat a drum, to hammer iron, etc.
tër	to hold down
toxor	to be numbed
urus	gold
viande	meat
waaaxu	to walk quickly with long strides
wandeelu	to wander about
wattatu	to crawl
weñ gi	iron
werta	to be green
woñoo	to be in dispute with one another
xaaf mi	a ram
xana	isn’t it that, or, perhaps
xas	to scold
xef wi	eyelash
yal	to shake, to be loose
yale	form of the word ‘those’
yelwaan	to beg for alms
yonné	to send
yotu	to try to reach (with the hands, etc.)
zoo	zoo

Phrase Dictionary

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Wolof to English

Amoon na fi.	Once upon a time.
Amul boppa.	He has no sense.
Ana Faatu?	Where is Faatu?
Ana mu?	Where is he? / Where is it?
Ana waa kër ga?	Where are the people of the compound? (How is your family?)
Atte Yalla la.	It is the judgment of God. (It is fate.)
Aw ma guru.	I have no kola.
Aw yoon am.	He goes on his way.
Awa, ñu dem.	Well then, let’s go.
Baay bi tiit lool.	The father was very much afraid.
Ban liggeey ngay def?	What work do you do?
Be bëgga dee.	Until he nearly died. (emphatic)
Bu fa yagga.	Don’t be long there.
Bu Gamble ñowati.	When Gamble comes again.
Bul def loolu.	Don’t do that.
Da ma bëgga ma fey la.	I would like to pay you.
Dama bëgga jëkkër.	I am looking for a husband.
Degga naa né.	I have heard that.
Dem na liggeey.	He has gone to work.
Demal ñaana rénda.	Go and ask for dried fish.
Demul fenn.	He did not go anywhere.
Di na buur.	He is a king.
Di na dem.	He will come.
Di naa fa ñow.	I will come there.
Di naa ñow.	I will come.
Di nga am doom de!	You will have a child!
Doo naan ndox?	Won’t you drink water?
Fab fetal gi, diir ko, jam ko.	He took the gun, aimed it, and shot him.
Fan la dekka?	Where does he live?
Fan nga dem?	Where are you going?
Faral na a ko def.	I have often done it.
Fi nga dëkka?	Is it here you live?
Fii la nekka.	It is here he stays.
Foo nekkon?	Where have you been?
Geej gi di geej i Saalum.	The sea is the sea of Saalum.
Geej gi fer na.	The tide has gone out.
Jamma nga endu?	Have you spent the day in peace?
Jamma nga fanaan?	Have you spent the night in peace? (i.e. ‘good morning’)
Jox ko loxo.	Shake hands with him.
Jox ma ci, ma mos.	Give me a bit to taste.
Kaay lekka ci soow.	Come eat a bit of sour milk.
Kañ nga ñow?	When did you come?
Ki laa bugga.	This is the man I want.
Ki olof la.	He is a Wolof.
Ku la ko won?	Who showed it to you?
Ku laa bañ, yal na dee.	Whoever hates you, may he perish.
Li lan la?	What is that?
Loo ame?	What have you got with you?
Loo bëgga?	What do you want?
Loo gis?	What do you see?
Lu dem ci nyaar i fukk i at.	For as much as twenty years.
Lu mu wax am na dalill.	What he says has a reason.
Lu muy def?	What is he doing?
Lu Yalla atte.	What God decides.
Ma né.	I say.
Ma won la.	Let me show you.
Man olof laa.	I am a Wolof.
Mangi ci kow am, ndanka ndanka.	I am at it, bit by bit.
Mangi feexlu tuuti.	I am getting a little fresh air.
Mangi ñow.	I’m coming.
Matta ko ci tanka.	It bit him on the foot.
May ma ci xaalis.	Give me a bit of money.
May ma ci.	Give me a bit.
May ma guru.	Give me kola.
May ma ndox ma naan.	Give me water to drink.
Mu dem?	Can he go?
Mu ne ko.	He told him.
Mu ne leen.	He told them.
Mu né.	He says.
Munga fa.	He is over there.
Munge nelaw.	He is sleeping.
Munge nyow.	He is coming.
Mungi ni.	Here he is.
Mungi!	That’s it!
Na rees ak jamma.	May it be digested in peace.
Ñaata at nga am?	How old are you?
Naka liggeey bi?	How is the work?
Neex na lool.	It is very sweet.
Ñenenteel ba di waañ wa.	The fourth is the kitchen.
Nit ñangi fey lakka gi.	People are putting out the bush fire.
Ñow-atul.	It will not come anymore.
Ñuy waajal ngénté la.	They made preparations for the naming ceremony.
Penda aw ci yoon wi.	Penda set off.
Soppal sa jabar te bul oolu.	Love your wife but do not trust her (with your secrets).
Su neexe Yalla.	If it pleases God.
Suma doom fer na.	My child is weaned.
Suma jabar dafa biir.	My wife is pregnant.
Suma yaay dafa réér.	My mother is dead.
Waa dëkka bi yëpp.	All the people of the town.
War fas wi di daw.	He mounted the horse and galloped off.
Waxu leen ma ci dara.	You told me nothing about it.
Won ma.	Show me.
Won na ko ko.	He showed him it.
Xam naa ko, mo di jëkkër i Koddu Jañ.	I know him, he is the husband of Koddu Jañ.
Yagga nga fii?	Have you been long here.
Yalla, Yalla, béy sa tool.	Invoke God, but cultivate your farm. (God helps those who help themselves.)
Yeet ma ci ndox.	Bring me some water.

English to Wolof

A table for three.	Ñett lanu.
Bring us some bissap.	Indil nu bisaap.
Bring your price down a bit.	Waññil.
Come and take me with you, don’t go and leave me.	Kay yobbaale ma, do dem baay ma.
Do you have a watch?	Am nga montar?
Everyone was coming to the funeral.	Ñep angi ñow ci dëj bi.
For me, the yassa.	Man yaasa.
Give me the money.	Indil xaalis bi.
Goodbye now.	Ba beneen yoon.
He is fine.	Mi ngi ci jàmm.
Her mother has gone to Saloum.	Yaay am dem na Saalum.
Here’s the menu.	Kart baa ngi.
Here’s your change!	Am sa weccit!
How about 700cfa?	Teemeer ak ñeent fukk angi?
How are you?	Na nga def?
How is your child?	Sa doom jàmm?
How is your family?	Ana sa waa kër?
How is your wife?	Mbaa sa jabar jàmm?
How many do you want?	Ñaata?
How much / many?	Naata la?
How much are you selling this for?	Ñaata ngay jaaye bii?
How much is it from here to Sandaga?	Fii ba Sandaga ñaata?
How much is it?	Ñaata lay jar?
How much is that?	Ñaata la?
How much is your fish?	Sa jën wi ñaata lay jar?
How much will you pay?	Loo fey?
How was your day?	Jàmm nga yendoo?
How was your night?	Jàmm nga fanaane?
I am from America.	Maa ngi jóge Amerik.
I am hungry.	Da maa xiif.
I am not afraid of you.	Ragalu ma la.
I am thirsty.	Da maa mar.
I can’t add any more.	Du ma ci tekk dara.
I don’t like hot pepper.	Bëgguma kaani.
I like hot pepper.	Bëgg naa kaani.
I only have 800cfa.	Teemeer ak juróom benn fukki dërëm laa am.
I want him to take me along.	Dama bugga mu yobbuwaale.
I will pay 1000cfa.	Fey naa la ñaari teemeeri dërëm.
I will pay 75cfa.	Fey naa la fukk ak juróom.
I’ll add 100cfa but no more.	Tekk naa ci ñaar-fukk du ma ci yokk dara.
I’ll cook rice and fish.	Di naa togga ceeb u jen.
I’ll do it for 850cfa.	Defal naa la ko teemeer ak juróom ñaar fukk.
I’ll have fish and rice.	Di maa jël ceebu jën.
I’m fine.	Maa ngi fi.
I’m full.	Suur na.
Is there mafe?	Ndax am na maafé?
Isn’t it true?	Du dëgga?
It tastes spicy.	Saf na kaani.
It was fine.	Jàmm rekk.
It was good.	Neexoon na.
It’s 10 o’clock.	Fukki waxtu a jot.
It’s 10:30 a.m.	Fukki waxtu ak genne-wall a jot.
It’s a quarter to 10 p.m.	Fukki waxtu des na fukki minit juróom.
It’s cold.	Sedd na.
It’s five p.m.	Juróomi waxtu ci ngoon.
It’s hot.	Tang na.
It’s not cold.	Seddul.
It’s not hot.	Tangul.
It’s not spicy.	Saful kaani.
It’s the truth.	Dëgga la.
Lower your price!	Waññil!
More sauce, please.	Dollil tuuti ñeex.
My name is David.	Maa ngi tudd Daawuda.
No one can deny it.	Kenn mën a ko weddi.
No, I don’t have a watch.	Amuma montar.
No, that’s not what it’s worth.	Deedeet du njëg-am.
OK, get in.	Yéegal.
Please bring us some cold water.	Indil nu ndox mu sedd.
She is fine.	Jàmm rekk.
She washed and washed until it was finished.	Mu foot a foot be pare.
She went off to do the washing.	Mu dem footi.
Some ice please.	Tuuti galaas.
Stop here.	Taxawal fii.
That watch, how much does it cost?	Sa montar bi ñaata lay jar?
That’s expensive!	Seer na lóol!
That’s no good.	Loolu baaxul.
That’s too much.	Seer na lool.
There’s ten minutes left.	Des na fukki minit.
These shoes, how much are they?	Sa dall yi ñaata lay jar?
They are fine.	Ñu nga fa.
This is my mother.	Kii sama yaay la.
This is where it belongs.	Fii la dëkka.
We would like to pay.	Danu bëgg fey.
We’re going.	Nu ngi dem.
Welcome.	Agsi leen.
What did you say?	Nga ni?
What do you have that is ready?	Lu fi am soti?
What is your name?	Nanga tudd?
What time is it?	Ban waxtoo jot?
What will you have to drink?	Lu ngeen di naan?
What would be a better price?	Lu seerul?
When you go, take me with you.	Soo demee, yobbaale ma.
Whenever you like.	Saa yu la neexee.
Where are you from?	Foo jóge?
Where is the nearest restaurant?	Fan moo am restoraan?
Where is the restroom?	Fan mooy seen wanaag?
Won’t you stay and chat?	Doo waxtaan?
Yes, I have a watch.	Waaw am naa montar.
Yes, there is.	Waaw-waaw am na.
You’ve spoken the truth.	Wax nga dëgga.

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