“Expressions Ouolof Essentielles”
Na nga def. – Hello. (singular)
Na ngeen def. – Hello everybody. (plural)
Jaam nga fanane. – Good morning.
Jamm nga yendoo. – Good afternoon.
Fanaanal jaam. - Goodnight.
Ba beneen. – Goodbye.
Su la nexee. – Please.
Jai-rruh-jef. - Thank you.
Agsil. – You’re welcome. (singular)
Agsileen ak jaam. - You’re all welcome. (plural)
Baal ma. - Sorry./Pardon.
Wau. – Yes.
Deh-det. – No.
Jaam nga am? – Have you peace? (How are you?)
Jaam rek. – Peace only. (I’m fine.)
Yow nag? – And you?
Naka-nga sant? – What’s your first name?
Maa ngi tudd … . – My name is … .
Fan nga dahk? – Where do you live?
Fan nga joghe? – Where are you from? (singular)
Fan ngeen joghe? - Where are you all from? (plural)
Maa ngi joghe les USA. – I’m from the USA.
Deg nga Angale? – Do you speak English?
Deg nga Faranse? – Do you speak French?
Angale rekk laa degg. – I speak only English.
Degg naa tuuti Faranse. – I speak a little French.
Mahn deggumah Wolof. – I don’t speak Wolof.
Mahn deggumah Faranse. - I don’t speak French.
Degguma. – I don’t understand.
Dama bahggoon … . – I’d like … .
Fahn la … ? - Where is … ?
Soreh na? – Is it far?
Cha kanam. – Straight ahead.
Chammoon. - Left.
Ndeyjoor. – right.
Dugghal waay! – Get in!
Lii naata? – How much is this?
Seer na torob. – It’s too much.
May ma jaam! – Leave me alone!
I really want to learn wolof.
Thank you for this help.
Edith Flores
Amul solo (You’re welcome)
Can ANYONE please translate the following? PLEASE
dega dafa am num fa tarjo teh sa waji parei wuta understan
you people are so dumb, you got half of it wrong! nefu len fele waay!!
well why don’t you correct us then?
I have a Senegalese friend who has just died…I am an artist and would like to include an appropriate farewell phrase in a picture I am painting is there someone who can tell me what I should say to my friend and his family to say goodbye?
Danny, you’re probably already done with that painting but I was going to say you might include, rather than words, items in the picture that were significant to your deceased friend.
African cultures, like many others, have had a great portion of their culture and traditions preserved in song and glyphs.
Its just a thought.
Hi people,
I really want to know what is the meaning of this :
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
Please if anyone can help he can contact me : ristovc@yahoo.com
Thanx
These are Youssos Ndour lyrics from 7 Seconds w/Neneh Cherry.
This is what he is saying:
Don’t see me from a distance
Don’t look at my smile
And think that I don’t know
What’s under and behind me
I don’t want you to look at me and think
What’s in you is in me
What’s in me is to help them
Can anyone break down some of the individual Wolof words for us?
my husband is from Gambia and i’m very anxious to learn the language, can someone offer any other common phrases that will be helpful or tutorials?
Start >HERE< scroll all the way to the bottom and work your way up!
I visited senegal for about 4 months a few years ago.
Im still very interested and facinated with the language and country it self . Now I’ve been trying to brouse the web to find a phrase that i used pretty often yet i cant find a proper transulation for it , the phrase was légé légé ” dont start flaming me plse im a native speaker im from belgium i know the spelling may be off by miles
From the phrases that i can remember ( like said above plse dont flame me for typos
) – i was 19 when i made this trip so its been a while.
nellow nah boebah? : did u sleepwell?
defal danke : chill out
Ghamna gelbi rafet : do you know any pretty ladys
ki ke le wi : whos there , hello
dama sono : im tired
dama rew : im hungry
dama dof : im stupid
dama mara naam : im thursty
samagol : lady of my hearth
danga rafet : ure beautiful
de mal a dofsi yow : im crazy about you
ana wa kurge? : how are things at home?
nakka a fairbie? : what you up too?
foj dem? : where you going?
nejdem : we are going
boebah : good
boebaha very good
boemak : big
boemak a mak : bigger
boendow : small
boendow a dow : smaller
jogma : give it too me
amoel challies : i got no money
tutu rek : just a little
bahné : its ok
ko kan la? : who is there?
thats is about the most i can remember at the moment , hope this helps a little
I’m Senegalese , so just trying to help (:
Dama rew means I’m rude , not hungry .
Dama khif means I’m hungry .
Can you teach me Wolof ?
how do u say no sex in wolof my boyfriend is from senegal and i told him i would find out how to say that because he wont teach me that lol
Man déedéet tëdd ak. [maan dey-deyt tuhd ak]
I’m not going to have sex with you.
déedéet tëdd = no sex
man = I; déedéet = no; tëdd ak = (to have) sex
legui legui means ‘see you later’
What is the English translation?— Si lor neh
what are you up to?
Thank you very much for the prompt response!! I have two more—-damala nama la wahh….&
tor lu si skul bi…..
great list!
do you perhaps know any links to help proper pronunciation of wolof words?
Na nga def,
Hey Lisa, there is a pronunciation tab at the top of this page. Is that useful?
Jai-rruh-jef for this site. I am trying to learn Wolof to speak to friends in Australia.
Ba beneen,
Gnat
wot does this mean – jaam la fannne yaw
Can anyone tell me what ma nga fee means?
Mangi fi means “I am here”
Mangi = I am
Fi = here
It is most commonly used in response to the question: Naka nga def? or Nanga def?, meaning How/What are you doing?
legge legge means now now. Mangi dem supermarket, mangenyo legge legge. I am going to the supermarket and will be back very soon. Mangenyo si kanam (tutti) I will be coming back later. Si kanam tutti- see you later- ususally just si kanam.
Nak sa doogoo da? Mungee dalla! It’s a gambian double entendre! They say the person asking the question knows the exactly what the implication is!
nama nala – i miss you
maalalo – i miss you more (i miss you the most)
I learned these from my mother & sister in laws while in Senegal, they would always say this when I would leave for the day with my husband. Then they went somewhere and when they came back my husband’s mother said nama nala Marie, and when I replied Malalo, she was so happy.
mala raw is the correct sp, sorry.
I think it should also be said that Gambian Wolof and Senegalese Wolof are quite different (different dialects and pronounciations). I learned this when I first met my husband and had found a free online dictionary that I printed out from a missionary group website. Well when I brough it home to show my husband, he shook his head and said “if you come to Senegal and speak this wolof to my family, they will think you’re crazy” He obviously was joking with me, but it is rather different.
Gambian Wolof and Senegalese Wolof only differ slightly. Different materials use different spelling systems which can sometimes cause confusion for those who are used to a particular spelling system. Your best bet for a free online dictionary is the one put out by the Peace Corps which is a printable/downloadable PDF…also Firicat.com is a searchable dictionary. Both contain errors but are the 2 best free ones that I’m aware of.
Hi,
Iam doing a project in Senegal, and I would like to know the correct translation of the word Welcome in Wolof. Is there anybody who can help me out?
Thanks
Rianne
Hello!
Can someone tell me how you write the phrase that means “no problem” or “no worries” something like “cho du jip” in wolof???
Thank u!
no worries is amul ragal
que quiere decir tom roco??
gracias
Hi i was just wondering i’ve been looking up how to say i love you in wolof and while i was in senegal i was under the impression that it was boga nala but when i was searching how to spell it i found it as Nob naa la. which one is right? also How do you say “my sister”
nob nala is something you would like say to a boyfriend . it’s the equivalent of ‘i like you’ . begue nala means more of I love you .
@kath mayall – thanks so much, I’m writing letters back to my Gambian “family” and couldn’t remember “Naka sa doogooda?”. This is proof that really, anything is available on the internet.
Arame: buga naa la translates to “i want you” or “i like you”
nop naa la is “i love you”
i could be wrong but I’d say these terms are both reserved for the opposite sex.
my sister – there is no specific term for sister, you have to refer to siblings as younger “suma raka” or older “suma mag” and then add male or female, so if you’re speaking to your younger sister you’d say “suma raka bu jigen”, whereas your elder sister would be “suma mag bu jigen” (translates directly as “my older sibling that is female”)
It was fun finding this site. I was in Senegal from 93-94 and miss Wolof. I lived in Koussanar ci weto Tambacunda. (near Tamba) Wolof ak Senegal Bak na! (I still cannot spell in Engish, French or Wolof)
Hi, im dating a guy from senegal, im so inluv wit him so i want to learn his language- wolof
ITS REALLY REDICULUS; IT DIDN’T HELPED ME TO COMPLETE MY PROJECT
Glad to see all the helpful responses to this post!
Thank you for this blog! How do I say “watermelon” in Wolof? I am working on a food project which showed me that it is a fruit that originated in Western Africa.
jom ji. The ji part is optional – it’s like saying “the”.
Hi, what do you say on Korite? I know it starts with:
A: Baal ma ak
B: Baal na la
then there’s something like, “yalla nu yana bo lay val?”
Thank you it was helpfull to read this because I try n teach myself wolof because my husband doesnt want to teach me I know a bit what I learnd by just listning but it would be good if I could get a phrase book to help me or a web page
I have some more, my husband is a Gambian.and Im spanish!! .the words are not well written, I write like I sound like my… i hope can help a little!!!
Suma Hol = my heart
Nanga def = How are you
Mangui fi = Im Be here
Nanga no tu da = hOw is your name?
Danga Sona = you are tired?
Danga Dof = You are crazy!!!
Nakasubasi = Good Morning
Suma raka = Brother
Bagna = is Ok
Ñiatala? How cost???
Torop= so much
tuti rek = little
Danga refet = you are pretty
Man = I
Yow = You
Ko kan La = Who are you?
suba = tomorrow
am = Take
pichidoma = owl
fan la = where is???
kañudem = let’s go
jerejef = thank you
Damalob = I love you
lo wah = what you say?
suma jekkar = My husband
Suma jabbar = My wife
waaw = yes
dedet = no
Pourlan = why?
Dafa tuki = travel is
Nekufi =Do not be
Jahuma = i dont know
lu geo? Wha happen?
Meima = Gimme
Danga ñao = You Are ugly!
Balal ma = Im Sorry
togal fi = sit here
yogal = Up
Namana la = i miss you
tanga = Hot
Naka sa Family ? How is the family??
Nopil = Shut up
Merby = mother
OMG, do you see whats transpiring in Syria? Despite a brutal government crackdown, the manifestations continue
hi all
i cam at dis side n i waan learn wolof too, just knw tuuti rek n it would be so nice rek if i knw more..
@Denise Mendy
can u write me a email ? pls lol
jerejef
please could you tell me what means in Senegalese SA MA KHOL?
hi maria
i know it as (suma xhol ) = my heart
suma xharit = my friend
suma xhalibi =my baby (darlin)
grettings
Hi, would someone be so kind to translate to English for me please
Chon nice na cherie abdoulie?
Many thanks
hello everyone! i just needed some help to say” I hope you are having a wonderful day” in wolof or fulani. please help it would be of great assistance… i hope lol
This is a very good collection!
I posted a sentence earlier but no one had replied. I am looking for help to translate a sentence from wolof to English. Please cam you help if you can. The sentence was comment left on a picture..
Chon nice na cherie abdoulie?
Look forward to a reply..
chon nice na cherie abdoulie
nice na means dats nice cherie france means darling abdoulie
may it means: is dis nice darling abdoulie ?
Thank you very much binta, I really appreciate your response.
What does cheapah nakama mean
I am heading to Dakar and I would like to know if there is someone that would be willing to help me learn more Wolof. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am a nurse, arriving in Dakar on March 23rd with a team of doctors and nurses. We are looking for people to help us with translation: English to Wolof. If you know of anyone interested and available, March 26-30 let me know. sheriprn@comcast.net
I want to learn wolof
You’re in the right place
How do you say in Wolof “with Love”? Like when tou are going to give someone a present and you say this is from me with love! In Frech avec amour.
With love = ak mbeggeel; ak cofeel (friendship). ‘Ak’ means and/with. ‘Nob’ is a verb that also means ‘to be in love’.
woloffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff hahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
woloffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ya nekhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hey hey heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I would like to be able to say..Thank you very much..or, Thank you my friend..in Wolof. Someone told me the other day..Danga Rafet..
jiri jif is thankyou
I appreciate the reply. Can that be expanded just a bit to make it a little more personal, say add the words, My friend?
Jere-jef is ‘thank you’. Torop is ‘very much’ (from French ‘trop’). So, Jere-jef torop would be like ‘merci beaucoup’ (French) which is how they would probably say it in Senegal, at least in the urban centers.
Xarit/xariit is ‘friend’. Sama/suma is ‘my’. Suma xarit — “my friend”.
So, to finally answer your question
“Torop jere-jef, suma xarit!” or in French; “Merci beaucoup, mon ami!”
Bare/bari is another way to say ‘much’. Jaaraama is another way to say ‘thank you’.
By the way, danga rafet means “You are beautiful”.
P.S. — Xarit is pronounced like hair-reet. The ‘x’ is like a guttural ‘h’.
i knw it as jerejef ore jere jef (thank you)
I appreciate your quick reply Binta..I’m goint to try it today. Jere jef.
I believe I have it..thank you my friend, would be..jeri jef suma xarrit..
I still can’t make the right sound for “X” tho..that’s going to take much more practice.
After I went through all that I see you already have it
It’s great to have it all in one post tho, Amadou..this is a wonderful site..everyone can learn lots if we just take the time to make a few notes..and practice, practice, practice.
Thank you. I have been away from the site for awhile but I have some things in the works and will begin updating the site in a few weeks. I’m glad to see that even in my absence this site remains useful for those who wish to learn Wolof.
Can someone tell me how to say “Hope you are ok, I miss you and love you”
Yaakaar sa yaram jamm, dama la nob ak nala namm. <– Not 100% sure about this, can someone confirm?
yaakaar – hope; sa (your) yaram (body/health) jamm (peace/well) – your body at peace/you're in good health; dama (I) la (you) nob (love) – I love you; ak – and; nala (I will[?]) namm (miss) – I will miss you.
In Wolof! Thanks
Amul solo
Hi everybody.
My boyfriend is from Senegal and I really love him a loooot. I’m looking forward to learn phrases in Wolof. I want him to see I care a lot can you please give me some love phrases or things to say to him. Thank you =-)
Hello,
Di la nama – I am going to miss you. (It can also be used to day I miss you)
nama nala – I miss you
Mala raw – I miss you more
Bugg naa la – I love you (general)
Sopp naa la – I love you (I admire you – when dating)
Nopp naa la – I love you (between partners)
http://quizlet.com/1645140/wolof-greetings-phrases-flash-cards/ is quite a good site so check it out if you can. Hope that helps
Salaam mallekum !
Does anyone know what ‘Dama la buga’ means? I think it is something like ‘I like you’ but I am not sure.
You’re right. That is basically what it means.
Dama means ‘I am’. La means ‘you’. Bugga means ‘like/love/desire/want’.
Bugga is often used when indicating something that you want. For example if someone was giving you the choice between an apple and an orange and you wanted the apple you’d say ‘dama bugga pom’; ‘I want the apple/I like the apple.”
Jerejef !
Someone said ‘Dama la buga’ to me and would not tell me what it meant. Said I would have to find out for myself. Soo.. thank you !
Haha…no problem! You’re welcome. Looks like you have an admirer…
ahh good, now i know how to say i want/like/love/desire him to my boyfriend. he does speak good english but i can tell he is very surprised and happy when he hears me speak in wolof. i suppose it feels more personal
I seem to get a lot of comments from people with Wolof speaking boyfriends and girlfriends. I should do a post for lovers.
yes you should ;o)
silo neka- what you doing?
nakam- how are you?
mang gee dem- I’m going
mang gee dam lee gay-im going to work
wa cha nga- you off from work?
This is gambian wolof, i hope it helps you like it did me i learning from my husband and his cousins who speak it and are from Gambia.
Noup nala- i love you
numa nala- i miss you
this is great, my husband has a strong accent,, im clueless
Hi, this Q is for Bamber…i think the first two questions you have posted above are informal and mainly used among friends as ive been told my my boyfriend and his friends who are from The Gambia as well. You should follow up with your husband as i was urged not to learn these questions this way first. I think its a little too familiar to address elders. but, id welcome feedback if im incorrect as well.
they are for friends, my husbands friend taught me that so i can talk to him and all his cousins.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for liking my post Learing Wolof. I have enjoyed reading this page and the comments as they remind me of our wonderful trip to Senegal for our son’s wedding. Now Iknow what to reply when somone says “I miss you “