Introduce yourself, ask the way or a price, ask someone to repeat: 29 phrases in Wolof checked against reference sources (Senegalese Wolof, official spelling).
1
Travelling
Foo jëm?where are you going?
Lan mooy paas bi?what is the fare?
Ñaata pallas ñoo des?how many seats are left?
Oto bi fees nathe car is full
Fii laay waccI'm getting out here
May ma fiidrop me here
Jaddal ci sa cammoñturn left
Jaddal ci sa ndeyjoorturn right
taxawalstop
Ñu demlet's go
Sore na?is it far?
Dama réerI'm lost
Ban yoon moo jëm …?which road goes to …?
garaasbus station
tukkito travel
2
Everyday phrases
Dégguma li nga waxI don't understand what you said
Dégguma Wolof bu baaxI don't speak much Wolof
Noo tudd?also: Naka nga tudd?what's your name?
Foo jóge?also: Foo jòge?where are you from?
Foo dëkk?where do you live?
Ñaata la?how much is it?
Seer na toropit's too expensive
Waññi kolower the price
… laa bëggI want …
Lii lan la?what is this?
Fan?where?
Naka?how?
Kan?who?
Kañ?when?
Test yourself
1. What does “Lan mooy paas bi?” mean?
2. What does “taxawal” mean?
3. What does “Dégguma li nga wax” mean?
4. What does “Waññi ko” mean?
Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Senegal Wolof manual (2012). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Senegal Wolof manual (2012). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.