Asalaam alaikum.
May peace be with you. (greeting)
Malaikum salaam.
And with you be peace. (reply to above)
Allahu akbar.
God is greater. (than me, you, anything)
Alhumdulilah.
Praise God. (said to thank God)
Bismilah.
In God’s name. (said before meals)
Inch’Allah.
If God wills it. (refers to a future action)
Mash’Allah.
What God wishes. (indicates a good omen)
A short document on the Wolof culture. I think this might apply more to rural regions as this is not exactly my experience in Senegal, which was primarily in urban areas, although there were definitely elements. A nice plus is that it gives us a handful of new words to add to our Wolof vocabulary.
Wolof – Religion and Expressive Culture
jinn – malevolent spirits (Arabic, similar to ‘demons’)
taalibé – a disciple (usually young boys in the service of a marabout)
seriñ (marabout) – a religious leader
mnqaddam – a type of marabout
yélimaan – imam (a Muslim leader, like a priest or a preacher)
jabarkat – shaman; sorcerer
lu gakat – a shaman who cures snakebite victims
ndëpukat – usually a female, who performs the ndëp ceremony to cure the mentally ill
botai mbar – man in charge of newly circumcised boys
Korité – the feast at the end of Ramadan
Tabaski – the feast of the sacrifice of sheep (from the Biblical story of Abraham)
nggentée – naming ceremony
xalam – a type of guitar
POPULATION:
12,853,259 (July 2008 est.)
ETHNIC GROUPS:
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
RELIGIONS:
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
LANGUAGES:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
CLIMATE:
Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind.
Source: CIA – The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sg.html
Words & phrases with religious significance starting with the letter B.
Many of these terms may actually be Arabic or Wolofized Arabic. Many Wolof speakers practice Islam which uses the Arabic language.
baakaar, bakaar – sin, evil
baawaan – religious ceremony to pray for rain
Baay Faal - a type of Mourit (Mouride) follower, characterized by long hair (dreadlocks), etc.
baraka – blessing
baraka Alla, barak’Allah fik – with God’s blessing, may the blessings of Allah be upon you (used to thank someone)
barke – blessing
barkeel – to benefit from a blessing
bataaaxal, bataxel – letter, circular letter (generally prophesying the future)
bayere – a charm for happiness; to be popular
biddaa – belief, superstition
billaay, billaxi – by God
bisimilaay, bisimilayi, bisimilaahi – in the name of God
bismillah ar rahman ar rahim – in Allah’s name most gracious most merciful
bootal – man in charge of newly circumcised boys
boroom daara – head of a religious school
bu soobee Yalla – if it pleases God
See Religious Terms 1.
——————————————————-
Here are a few things that you may come across if traveling to Senegal or the Gambia.
bazin – dyed fabrics that are beaten to a shine with wooden clubs
campement – could be loosely translated as ‘hostel’, ‘inn’ or ‘lodge’, or even ‘motel’; it is not a camping ground (Senegal)
djembe – short, goat hide-covered drum
fromager – kapok tree; also known as silk-cotton tree (Senegal)
gasoil – diesel fuel
Inch’ Allah – God willing, ie hopefully (Arabic, but used by Muslims in Africa)
marabout – Muslim holy man
paillote – shelter with thatched roof and walls; usually on the beach or around an open-air bar-restaurant (Senegal)
sai-sai – Wolof term for a womanizer; also used for youngsters smooth-talking women, usually with sexual but sometimes criminal intentions
telecentre – privately owned telephone bureau (Gambia)
Thanks to Lonely Planet’s The Gambia & Senegal; 3rd Edition.
Words & phrases with religious significance starting with the letter A.
Many of these terms may actually be Arabic or Wolofized Arabic. Many Wolof speakers practice Islam which uses the Arabic language.
ajaratu – title given to a woman who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca
aji Makka – to go to Mecca
aj gi – the pilgrimage
Aji – title given to a woman who has made the pilgrimage
ajjana, aljana, arjana – heaven, paradise
allaaji, alxaaji – title of a man who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca
allaaxira – the next world
alla-akubaar, allahu-akbar – God is great
alxamdulillaa – praise be to God
alxuraan – the Koran
amiin – amen
astafurlaa – may God forgive, God help us. (an exclamation of astonishment)
atte Yalla la – it is the judgement of God, it is fate
——————————————————-
Here are a few things that you may come across if traveling to Senegal or the Gambia.
alham – white Mercedes bus, also called N’Diaga N’Diaye in Dakar
beignet – simple deep-fried donut (Senegal)
calesh – horse-drawn taxi usually seating about three people behind the driver
demi-pension – half board (dinner, bed and breakfast) (Senegal)
essence – petrol (gas) for car (Senegal)
fanals – large lanterns; also the processions during which the lanterns are carried through the streets
gare routière – bus and bush-taxi station, (also called autogare and gare voiture) (Senegal)
hôtel de ville – town hall (Senegal)
in sha’ Allah – God willing, ie, hopefully (Arabic, but used by Muslims in Africa)
lumo - weekly market, usually in border areas
mairie – town hall; mayor’s office (Senegal)
paletuviers – mangroves (Senegal)
quatre-quatre – four-wheel-drive car (4WD or 4×4)
riz yollof – vegetables and/or meat cooked in a sauce of oil and tomatoes
Senegambia – the region of Senegal and Gambia
tampon hygiénique – tampon (also tampon periodique and serviette hygiénique) (Senegal)
yassa poulet – grilled chicken marinated in an onion-and-lemon sauce (Senegal)
Thanks to Lonely Planet’s The Gambia & Senegal; 2nd Edition.
Merry Christmas to all of our readers!
Here are a few things that you may come across if traveling to Senegal or the Gambia.
afra – grilled meat, or grilled meat stall (Gambia)
benechin – rice baked in a thick sauce of fish and vegetables (Gambia)
cadeau – gift, tip, bribe or a hand-out (Senegal)
dash – bribe (noun); also used as a verb ‘You dash me something …’ (Gambia)
Ecowas – Economic Community of West African States
factory – fortified slaving station
garage – bus and bush-taxi station (Gambia)
harmattan – the light winds from the north which carry tiny particles of sand from the desert, causing skies to become hazy from December to February
IMF – International Monetary Fund
latcheri - pounded millet
mafé – thick brown groundnut sauce
ndeup – ceremonies where people with a mental illness are treated and healed (Senegal)
occasion – lift (noun), or place in a car or bus (often shortened to occas) (Senegal)
palava – meeting place
Quran – Islamic holy book (also called Koran)
Ramsar – an international convention primarily concerned with the conservation of wetland habitats and associated wildlife
salon du thé – tea shop (Senegal)
tampon – stamp (eg, in passport) (Senegal)
ventilé – room with a fan (Senegal)
Thanks to Lonely Planet’s The Gambia & Senegal; 2nd Edition.
