Fula is spoken from Senegal to Cameroon, in many varieties. This lesson follows the Pulaar of Fuuta Tooro (Senegal, Mauritania). The key word of its greetings is “jam”, peace.
1
The basic greeting
As in Wolof, a meeting often opens with the Muslim greeting.
Assalaa maaleykumpeace be upon you
↳ Maaleykum salaamand peace be upon you (reply)
2
Greeting by time of day
“Jam” + the time: the night just past, the afternoon, the evening.
Jam waaligood morning
Jam ñalligood afternoon
Jam hiirigood evening
Good to know. Fula uses its own letters: ɓ, ɗ, ŋ, ñ, ƴ. The forms in this lesson are those of Pulaar in Mauritania and Senegal; in Benin (Borgou), Fulfulde uses other forms that we have not yet been able to check in a source.
3
Asking how people are
You ask whether the person is at peace, then how their family is.
On ngoni e jam?are you in peace?
↳ Jam tanpeace only (reply: fine)
No mbaɗ-ɗaa?how are you?
No besngu maa waɗi?how is your family?
↳ Eɓe e jamthey are fine (reply)
4
Welcoming and saying goodbye
You invite people in, then part “in peace”.
Bismilla!welcome!
↳ Mba!thank you!
Ngonen e jam!goodbye
Haa jaŋngosee you tomorrow
Ɗo e yeesosee you later
Mbaalen e jamhave a good night
5
Small words you will use all the time
Thank you, sorry, yes, no.
A jaaraamathank you
Yaafo-miexcuse me
↳ A yaafaamayou are excused
Eeyyes
Alaano
In practice: Amadou runs into Kadiatou
AmadouAssalaa maaleykumpeace be upon you
KadiatouMaaleykum salaamand peace be upon you (reply)
AmadouOn ngoni e jam?are you in peace?
KadiatouJam tanpeace only (reply: fine)
AmadouNo besngu maa waɗi?how is your family?
KadiatouEɓe e jamthey are fine (reply)
AmadouA jaaraama. Haa jaŋngothank you / see you tomorrow
Key points
- Assalaa maaleykum → Maaleykum salaam: peace be upon you / and peace be upon you (reply)
- On ngoni e jam? → Jam tan: are you in peace? / peace only (reply: fine)
- A jaaraama: thank you
- Haa jaŋngo: see you tomorrow
Test yourself
1. Someone says “Assalaa maaleykum”. What do you answer?
2. How do you say “good morning”?
3. What does “A jaaraama” mean?
4. “On ngoni e jam?” — the usual answer is…
Where do these words come from?
The phrases in this lesson come from the Peace Corps Mauritania Pulaar lessons, cross-checked with the Peace Corps Gambia course script (2013) and Wiktionary. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.
The phrases in this lesson come from the Peace Corps Mauritania Pulaar lessons, cross-checked with the Peace Corps Gambia course script (2013) and Wiktionary. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.