To talk about your family in Wolof: parents, children, brothers and sisters. 17 words checked against reference sources (Senegalese Wolof, official spelling).

1

Family words

waa kërfamily
baayfather
yaaymother
waajurparents
jëkkërhusband
jabarwife
doomchild (someone's son or daughter)
xalechild (in general)
magolder sibling
rakkalso: ràkkyounger sibling
maamgrandparent
nijjaayalso: nijaayuncle
góoralso: gòorman
jigéenwoman
xale bu góoralso: Xale bu gòorboy
xale bu jigéengirl
xaritfriend

Test yourself

1. What does “baay” mean?

2. What does “jabar” mean?

3. What does “rakk” mean?

4. What does “jigéen” 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.