Hello. – No ngoolu daa.
Goodbye. – Ñalleen e jamm.
Please. – Njaafodaa.
Thank you. – A jaaraamah.
You’re welcome. – Enen ndendidum.
Yes. – Eey.
No. – Alaa.
Excuse me. – Yaafo.
Sorry. – Achanam hakke.
Help! – Ballal!
Tag Archives: peul
Pulaar: Vocabulary
aplenty adj. keewdum; ko heewi.
bind v. jokkondirde; habbude.
casque n. kaske.
dilate v. yuufde; yaajde.
environment n. sara; saraaji.
anande v. be jealous of.
bonnitde v. denigrate; vilify; debase; spoil again. (from bonande – damage; mess; waste; tragedy; havoc; destruction. Dum ko bonande It is a waste.
cuutirgal – instrument for lifting or pulling out.
deedol – a cut. (from deedaade v. cut oneself accidentally.)
endu – breast; bosom; pap; womb. daccude ~ wean. endi pl.
Entries from Dr. Mamadou Niang’s Pulaar Standard Dictionary.
Like this:
Pulaar Chanting in Mauritania
These are some Pulaar women in Garelboubou, Mauritania, singing during a break in a dyeing training.
…and now for some Pulaar.
We have covered some French & Arabic (tuuti rekk) which are of course common in much of the parts that Wolof is spoken but another common native language is Pulaar which is spoken by the Peul peoples. Although most Peuls in Wolof speaking areas will understand Wolof it is always nice to be able to say at least a few things to someone in their mother tongue. So here are a few “essential” phrases that you may want to practice…
No ngoolu daa. Hello.
Nalleen e jamm. Goodbye.
Njaafodaa. Please.
A jaaraamah. Thank you.
Enen ndendidum. You’re welcome.
Achanam hakke. Pardon.
Yaafo. Sorry.
Eey. Yes.
Alaa. No.
Ko Engale tan kaala mi. I speak only English.
Mi nani Faranse seeda. I speak a little French.
No mbiyeteedaa? What’s your name?
Ko … mbiyetee mi. My name is … .
Ko les USA njeyaa mi. I’m from USA.
