Comprehensive Guide to Wolof Pronouns

Overview of Pronouns in Wolof

Wolof pronouns are integral to sentence structure, serving as subjects, objects, or markers of emphasis. They adapt depending on grammatical function, number, and person, offering flexibility and precision in communication.

Types of Pronouns

Subject Pronouns

Independent Subject Pronouns: Used as standalone subjects.
- Singular: man (I), yaw (you), moom (he/she/it).
- Plural: nun (we), yeen (you all), ñoom (they).
- Example: Man, maa ngi dem. (“I, I am going.”)

Subject Emphasis Pronouns (Moo)

Purpose: Used to emphasize the subject of a sentence.
- Formation: Subject + emphasis pronoun + verb/object.
- Singular: maa (I), yaa (you), moo (he/she/it).
- Plural: ñoo (we/they).
- Example: Maa ko def. (“It is I who did it.”)
Contractions:
- Kan moo dem? (“Who went?”) contracts to Ku dem? (“Who went?”).
- Ñan ñoo dem? (“Who are they who went?”) contracts to Ñu dem?
Usage with Stative Verbs: Can express exclamatives: Yaa siiw! (“How famous you are!”).

Object Pronouns

Purpose: Used to indicate the object of a verb.
- Singular: ma (me), la (you), ko (him/her/it).
- Plural: nu (us), leen (you all), ñu (them).
- Example: Moom la gis. (“It is him that he saw.”)
Placement:
- Follows the verb: Defal ma! (“Do it for me!”).
- Precedes the verb in subordinate clauses: Xale bi ma indi. (“The child that I brought.”)

Minimum Verb Construction Pronouns (Mu)

Simplified Pronouns: Used in contexts where tense and mode are already clear.
- Singular: ma (I), nga (you), mu (he/she/it).
- Plural: nu (we), ngeen (you all), ñu (they).
- Example: Ma dem. (“I went.”)
Usage:
- Narratives: Ma jàng, ma lekk, ma dem. (“I studied, ate, and left.”)
- Subordinate clauses: Xale bi nga indi. (“The child that you brought.”)

Special Pronoun Structures

Complement Predicator Pronouns (La)

Purpose: Used to emphasize complements or objects.
- Singular: laa (I), nga (you), la (he/she/it).
- Plural: lanu (we), ngeen (you all), lañu (they).
- Example: Ameriken laa. (“I am American.”)
Usage:
- Emphasizing objects: Cin laa bëgg. (“It is a cauldron that I want.”)

Explicative Pronouns (Dafa)

Purpose: Used to explain actions or states.
- Singular: damaa (I), danga (you), dafa (he/she/it).
- Plural: danu (we), dangeen (you all), dañu (they).
- Example: Damaa sonn. (“I am tired.”)
Contractions:
- Dafay contracts to Day: Day lekk. (“He is eating.”)
Usage with Stative Verbs:
- Indicates causal relationships: Dafa tang. (“It is hot.”)

Negative Pronoun Forms

Negation with -ul

Formation: Add -ul to the verb to negate.
- Singular: -uma (I), -uloo (you), -ul (he/she/it).
- Plural: -unu (we), -uleen (you all), -uñu (they).
- Example: Waxuma. (“I did not speak.”)

Negation with Du

Formation: Use du + pronoun to negate.
- Singular: duma (I), doo (you), du (he/she/it).
- Plural: dunu (we), dungeen (you all), duñu (they).
- Example: Duma dem. (“I will not go.”)

Special Negative Pronouns

-agul (Not yet):
- Singular: aguma (I), aguloo (you), agul (he/she/it).
- Plural: agunu (we), aguleen (you all), aguñu (they).
- Example: Pareeguma. (“I am not ready yet.”)
-atul (No longer):
- Singular: atuma (I), atuloo (you), atul (he/she/it).
- Plural: atunu (we), atuleen (you all), atuñu (they).
- Example: Amatul sama caabi. (“He no longer has my key.”)