Introduce yourself, ask the way or a price, ask someone to repeat: 21 phrases in Fula (Pulaar) checked against reference sources (Pulaar of Fuuta Tooro (Senegal, Mauritania)).

1

Travelling

Hoto garaas O woni? Gambiawhere is the car park?
Paas oo ko jelu? Gambiahow much is the fare?
Hoto njahataa? Gambiawhere are you going?
Mi na faalaa ya kama GambiaI want to go to the toilet
Heyi ɗum na seeri Gambiahey, that is very expensive
Ngella ustu ɗum Gambiaplease reduce it
Adda nam ndiyam Gambiagive me some water
Hoto hod ɗaa jooni? Gambiawhere are you living now?
Paa-mi ko ekkolI am going to school
Mi yahaani biroI'm not going to the office
2

Everyday phrases

Hol no mbiyete-ɗaa?also: Hono mbiite ɗaa?what's your name?
Holto njeye-ɗaa?where are you from?
Aɗa nana Pulaar?do you speak Pulaar?
Mbeɗe nana Pulaar seeɗaI speak a little Pulaar
Holto paaɗa?where are you going?
Paa-mi ko galleI am going home
Mi tampiiI am tired
Mi heyɗiI am hungry
Mi ɗomɗiiI am thirsty
Mi ŋoŋiiI am sleepy
Holtowhere?

Test yourself

1. What does “Paas oo ko jelu?” mean?

2. What does “Adda nam ndiyam” mean?

3. What does “Holto njeye-ɗaa?” mean?

4. What does “Mi tampii” mean?

Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Gambia Pulaar course script (2013), Peace Corps Mauritania Pulaar lessons. 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.