Janga Wolof

Conjunctions are words and expressions that connect words, phrases, clauses, and ideas.

Wolof has a substantial set of conjunctions, but they do not always correspond directly to English conjunctions. A particularly important distinction is that Wolof uses different forms depending on what is being connected.

For example, ak can connect nouns and pronouns in the sense of “and,” while te is used to connect verbs, predicates, and clauses.

man ak yow
me and you

but:

Toogal te xaar ko.
Sit down and wait for him.

This distinction is one of the first things to learn about Wolof conjunctions. (⁠wolofresources.org)

Wolof conjunctions can express relationships such as:

• addition
• contrast
• alternatives
• cause
• purpose
• consequence
• condition
• time
• comparison
• explanation
• continuation

Some of these meanings are expressed with single conjunctions, while others involve larger subordinate constructions.

ak — “and” / “with”

One of the most important Wolof conjunctions is:

ak — and

Ak is generally used to connect nouns, pronouns, and noun-like expressions.

For example:

ndey ak baay
mother and father

man ak yow
me and you

Omar ak Sàmba
Omar and Sàmba

This is different from te, which is used to connect clauses and verbal expressions. (⁠jangawolof.org)

ak also means “with”

The same word ak also functions as a preposition meaning “with.”

For example:

Wax ak man.
Speak with me.

Kaay ak ñun.
Come with us.

This is not simply an accidental similarity. The same form has both functions, with the construction and context determining whether it connects two things as “and” or expresses accompaniment as “with.” (⁠jangawolof.org)

Ak can even be used in expressions involving numbers:

fukk ak benn
eleven

Literally, this is “ten and one.”

te — “and”

Another extremely important conjunction is:

te — and

But te does something different from ak.

It connects verbs, predicates, and clauses, rather than simply joining two nouns.

For example:

Toogal te xaar ko.
Sit down and wait for him.

Here te connects the two verbal actions:

sit down + wait for him

Another example is:

Am na jom te am na xel.
He has honor and is reasonable.

The important distinction is:

ak → connects nouns and noun-like elements
te → connects verbs, predicates, or clauses

This is a very useful rule for learners. (⁠wolofresources.org)

di — connecting verbal expressions

Di can also connect verbal expressions.

It can occur in constructions where English would use “and” to describe two related actions:

Dafay daw di woy.
He runs and sings.

Here the second verbal expression is connected to the first through di.

This construction is especially useful when several actions are presented as part of the same activity or sequence. (⁠jangawolof.org)

This is another example of why Wolof cannot always be understood by taking every English and and replacing it with one Wolof word.

English has one very general conjunction:

and

Wolof has several constructions depending on what is being connected and how the relationship between the actions is presented.

Or

Wolof has several ways to express “or.”

The most common is:

walla — or

For example:

Dem nga walla toog?
Are you going or staying?

Walla can be used when presenting alternatives or choices. (⁠wolofresources.org)

Another form is:

mbaa — or else / otherwise

This can introduce an alternative with a stronger sense of consequence:

Xaar ma mbaa nga dem.
Wait for me, or else go.

The distinction is similar to the difference between ordinary or and or else / otherwise in English.

Other forms such as am can also occur in alternative constructions.

But

One of the common ways to express “but” is:

waaye — but / however

For example:

Waaye du fi nekk.
But he is not here.

Another form, wante, is also encountered with the meaning “but,” “however,” or “yet.”

Different speakers and varieties may use these forms somewhat differently, so it is useful to recognize both rather than assuming that one is the only legitimate form. (⁠wolofresources.org

This is another place where written Wolof may show variation.

Because

Wolof has several ways to express cause or reason.

One very common form is:

ndaxte — because

For example:

Dafay liggéey lool ndaxte bëgg na jënd ab kër.
He works a lot because he wants to buy a house.

The form ndax can also express cause, depending on the construction. (⁠wolofresources.org)

This is worth paying attention to because ndax has another very common function: it can introduce a question.

Thus the same form can have different interpretations depending on its position and the grammatical construction.

ndax — “because” and “so that”

Ndax is particularly interesting because it can express both cause and purpose.

For example:

Ñëw naa ndax am naa liggéey.
I came because I have work.

But:

Ñëw naa ndax ma am liggéey.
I came in order to have work.

The difference is not simply a matter of translating ndax differently. The grammatical construction following it changes the interpretation.

This is an important general feature of Wolof:

The meaning of a conjunction can depend on the construction that follows it. (⁠wolofresources.org)

Purpose: ngir

Another very important conjunction-like form is:

ngir — for / in order to

It can introduce a purpose:

ngir jàng
in order to study

It can also introduce a subordinate clause:

Jox na ma téere bi ngir ma man koo jàng.
He gave me the book so that I could read it.

Ngir also functions outside the conjunction system, including as a prepositional expression meaning “for” or “because of.”

This is one of several Wolof words that cross the boundaries of the grammatical categories familiar from English. (⁠wolofresources.org)

Therefore / so / in that case

Wolof has several expressions that can connect an earlier statement with its result or consequence.

One of the most common is:

kon — therefore / so / in that case

For example:

Fey naa la ba nu jeex, kon danga wara far sama tur.
I have finished paying you, so you should remove my name.

Other forms include:

• kon boog — therefore / in that case
• kon nag — therefore / then
• boog — therefore / in that case
• nag — therefore / then

These expressions can also carry a conversational meaning closer to “then,” “well then,” or “in that case.”(⁠wolofresources.org)

Time and conjunctions

Some of the most important Wolof conjunctions introduce time relationships between clauses.

English uses expressions such as:

• when
• while
• after
• before
• until
• as soon as

Wolof has several corresponding constructions.

Important forms include:

• bi — when / as
• ba — when / until / after, depending on construction
• bu — when / if in appropriate constructions
• su — if / when
• balaa — before
• naka — as soon as

For example:

Bi mu deeye…
When/after he died…

and:

Ba ma waxee ñu dem.
After I spoke, they left.

The exact interpretation depends on the construction and the form of the clause. (⁠wolofresources.org)

Conditional clauses

Wolof has several ways of constructing conditional clauses.

Important forms include:

bu — if / when

and:

su — if / when

For example:

Bu ma waxee, nu déglu.
If I speak, they will listen.

The conditional construction is closely connected with the Wolof verbal system. The form of the verb following the conditional marker is not necessarily the same as the form used in an ordinary independent sentence.

This is an important reason why conjunctions cannot always be learned as isolated vocabulary items.

You need to learn:

conjunction + the grammatical construction that follows it.

Relative and subordinate clauses

Conjunctions are also important in subordinate clauses—clauses that function as part of a larger sentence.

For example, Wolof can introduce:

• relative clauses
• temporal clauses
• conditional clauses
• purpose clauses
• causal clauses
• complement clauses
• manner clauses

Some of these are introduced by conjunctions, while others use relative markers or other grammatical elements.

For example:

Xale bi nga indi…
The child whom you brought…

This is not simply a conjunction construction. It is a relative clause, and Wolof uses its own relative-clause system.

This distinction is important because English may use words such as who, which, that, or where in places where Wolof uses different grammatical structures.

“That” and complement clauses

Wolof can also use ne to introduce a clause corresponding to English “that.”

For example:

Yaakaar naa ne…
I think that…

The following clause supplies the content of what someone thinks, knows, says, believes, and so forth.

This is sometimes called a complementizer rather than a conjunction.

The distinction is mainly useful for grammatical description. For a learner, the important thing is simply to recognize neas a way of introducing a clause that functions as the content of another verb.

Before

A common expression for “before” is:

balaa

It can introduce a clause describing an event that has not yet occurred.

For example:

Balaa ma tukki…
Before I travel…

The form can therefore connect two events in a temporal sequence.

Wolof has several related temporal constructions, so balaa is best understood as part of a larger system rather than as an isolated equivalent of English before. (⁠wolofresources.org)

“When” and “if”

An important feature of Wolof is that the same conjunction-like forms can sometimes correspond to either “when” or “if”in English.

This is not necessarily ambiguous to a Wolof speaker.

The rest of the sentence—including the verbal construction, aspect, and context—helps determine whether the speaker means:

when X happens

or:

if X happens.

This is another example of why English translations should not be treated as exact definitions of Wolof grammatical words.

Conjunctions and the verbal system

Wolof conjunctions are closely tied to the verbal system.

A conjunction does not always simply appear between two complete English-style sentences.

Instead, certain conjunctions require or favor particular forms of the following verb.

For example:

ngir
in order to…

can introduce a particular type of subordinate construction.

Likewise:

bu / su
if / when…

introduce conditional or temporal constructions.

And:

bi / ba
when / after / until…

introduce particular temporal structures.

This means that learning a conjunction by itself is only part of the job.

A more useful unit is:

conjunction + construction + example

rather than:

conjunction = English translation

Conjunctions do not always correspond one-to-one

English has:

and

Wolof has:

ak, te, di, and other constructions.

English has:

or

Wolof has:

walla, mbaa, and other forms.

English has:

because

Wolof has:

ndax, ndaxte, nde, and other causal expressions.

English has:

so

Wolof has:

kon, boog, nag, and combinations such as kon boog and kon nag.

This does not mean that these words are perfect synonyms. They can differ in grammatical structure, emphasis, discourse function, or context.

It means that English conjunctions should not be treated as a one-to-one map onto Wolof conjunctions.

Coordinating versus subordinating conjunctions

A useful grammatical distinction is between coordination and subordination.

Coordination

Coordination joins elements that have roughly equal grammatical status.

Examples:

Omar ak Sàmba
Omar and Sàmba

Toogal te xaar ko.
Sit down and wait for him.

Dem nga walla toog?
Are you going or staying?

Subordination

Subordination makes one clause grammatically dependent on another.

Examples include:

ndaxte — because

ngir — in order to

bu / su — if / when

balaa — before

ne — that

bi / ba — when / after / until

The distinction is useful because subordinate constructions often have their own verbal grammar.

Conjunctions and word order

Wolof conjunctions also help determine how a longer sentence is organized.

For example:

ak generally joins noun-like elements:

xale yi ak mag yi
the children and the adults

while:

te joins verbal or clausal material:

Dañu lekk te dañu naan.
They eat and they drink.

This makes conjunction choice part of sentence structure rather than simply a vocabulary decision.

Conjunctions in everyday speech

As with other areas of Wolof grammar, there can be variation in how conjunctions are pronounced, spelled, or preferred.

For example, written sources record variants such as:

waaye / wante

and:

ndax / ndaxte

Some speakers or varieties may favor one form over another.

You may therefore encounter forms in informal writing, social media, texting, or transcribed speech that do not exactly match the form used in a particular textbook.

This does not necessarily mean that one speaker is misunderstanding the grammar. Wolof is used across different regions and communities, and written conventions are not always uniform.

For learners, it is useful to recognize common variants while still learning the standard forms used in formal educational materials.

Learning conjunctions

Conjunctions are particularly useful to learn in complete sentences.

For example, instead of memorizing:

te = and

learn:

Toogal te xaar ko.
Sit down and wait for him.

Instead of:

ndaxte = because

learn:

Dafay liggéey ndaxte bëgg na jënd ab kër.
He works because he wants to buy a house.

Instead of:

bu = if

learn:

Bu ma waxee, nu déglu.
If I speak, they will listen.

This shows you not only what the conjunction means, but what grammatical structure it creates.

A useful way to organize Wolof conjunctions

For learning purposes, conjunctions can be grouped into several broad categories.

Addition

• ak — and, when joining nouns/pronouns
• te — and, when joining clauses or verbal expressions
• di — and, connecting verbal expressions

Alternatives

• walla — or
• mbaa — or else / otherwise
• am — or

Contrast

• waaye — but
• wante — but / however

Cause

• ndax — because
• ndaxte — because
• nde — since / because
• ndegam — given that

Purpose

• ngir — for / in order to
• ndax — in order to

Result or consequence

• kon — so / therefore / in that case
• kon nag — so / then / therefore
• kon boog — so / in that case
• boog — therefore / in that case
• nag — then / therefore

Time

• bi — when / as
• ba — when / after / until
• balaa — before
• naka — as soon as

Condition

• bu — if / when
• su — if / when

Clause introduction

• ne — that
• ni — as / how, in appropriate constructions

These categories are useful for learning, but they are not completely rigid grammatical boxes. Some Wolof forms perform more than one function, and some are better described technically as particles, complementizers, or subordinate-clause markers rather than simply “conjunctions.”

The most important idea

The biggest adjustment for an English-speaking learner is this:

Do not assume that every English conjunction has one Wolof equivalent, or that every Wolof conjunction has one English equivalent.

Wolof chooses different connectors according to:

• what is being connected
• whether the connection is between nouns, verbs, or clauses
• whether the relationship is additive, causal, temporal, conditional, purposive, or contrastive
• the grammatical form of the following clause
• the intended meaning and context

The distinction between ak and te is a particularly useful example.

English:

Omar and Samba

Wolof:

Omar ak Sàmba

But:

They eat and they drink.

Wolof can use:

… te …

The English word stays the same while the Wolof connector changes.

Once you begin thinking about conjunctions as ways of building relationships between grammatical units, rather than simply as translations of English words, longer Wolof sentences become much easier to understand.

Key points to remember

• Wolof has a substantial system of conjunctions and conjunction-like particles.
• ak connects nouns and pronouns in the sense of “and.”
• ak also means “with” and therefore overlaps with the preposition system.
• te commonly connects verbs, predicates, and clauses in the sense of “and.”
• di can connect related verbal expressions.
• walla means “or,” while mbaa can express “or else” or “otherwise.”
• waaye and wante can express “but” or “however.”
• ndax and ndaxte can express causal or purposive relationships depending on the construction.
• ngir commonly expresses purpose and can mean “for” or “in order to.”
• kon, boog, and nag can express consequence, result, or “in that case.”
• bu and su introduce conditional or temporal relationships.
• bi, ba, balaa, and naka participate in temporal constructions.
• ne can introduce complement clauses corresponding to English “that.”
• Many conjunctions interact closely with the Wolof verbal system.
• A conjunction’s meaning can depend on the grammatical construction that follows it.
• Some conjunctions also function as prepositions or other types of grammatical particles.
• Regional, informal, and spelling variation means learners may encounter alternative forms.
• The most useful way to learn conjunctions is as complete grammatical patterns rather than isolated translations.

Related topics

This page connects especially closely with:

• Wolof Verbs
• Wolof Verbal Pronouns
• Wolof Tense and Aspect
• Wolof Prepositions and Relational Expressions
• Wolof Adverbs and Adverbial Expressions
• Wolof Questions
• Wolof Negation
• Wolof Relative Clauses
• Wolof Conditional Sentences
• Wolof Sentence Structure