*** See an updated list here: Basic Wolof Phrases 2012 ***
“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!
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 =-)
LikeLike
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 !
LikeLike
Does anyone know what ‘Dama la buga’ means? I think it is something like ‘I like you’ but I am not sure.
LikeLike
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.”
LikeLike
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 ! 😀
LikeLike
Haha…no problem! You’re welcome. Looks like you have an admirer… 😉
LikeLike
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 🙂
LikeLike
I seem to get a lot of comments from people with Wolof speaking boyfriends and girlfriends. I should do a post for lovers.
LikeLike
yes you should ;o)
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
this is great, my husband has a strong accent,, im clueless
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
they are for friends, my husbands friend taught me that so i can talk to him and all his cousins.
LikeLike
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 “
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m glad you were able to learn something new while you were here 🙂
LikeLike
[…] original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation […]
LikeLike
Hello all! Naka ngeen def?
My husband is Senegalese and I was wondering if anyone could share any romantic phrases in Wolof. Anything that one would whisper during a romantic candlelight dinner or sms to let the person know that you’re thinking of them.
Jaajef waay!
Ania
LikeLike
i have been told a term of endearment for your loved one is cherry coco. it is how my boyfriend and i refer to each other…he wants to be married and i think we still need to work together to see if we can be a good pair. no funny business goes on here except affection like hugs and kisses or holding hands. i am struggling with his culture of just getting married without taking some time to get to know each other. advice anyone??
LikeLike
I recognize everything you say. My boyfriends tells me exactly the same. He wants to marry me, but I need more time to get to know eachother. I met him 18 months ago, but we only spend 6 weeks together ( 2 times 3 weeks)
How is your relationship now?
LikeLike
hey can someone halp mw with a translation…i need to know the meanning of this phrase “akh ki dou moromou domou khadj bobou” Does someone know?…thank you
LikeLike
Khadj means dog..
Literally it means ( this one is not equal to that son of a dog) .. but speaking. It just means “this person is much better than that son of a bitch”
Here is my enail if I can help more, tiendella@yahoo.com; I don’t check it regularly though
LikeLike
hi every one, i am a gambian and i was sooo happy to learn about this site, i love it, japa lenko fofu okay, and i have some treats for the wives
LikeLike
Welcome to the site!
LikeLike
Hi everyone!
I would really like to learn wolof.
My dad is a gambian but unfortunately he never thaught me wolof.
I only see my family in the gambia once in 2 years. So its difficult to learn it everyday. Could you guys please help me!
Thanks
LikeLike
[…] Some Essential Wolof Phrases | Janga Wolof […]
LikeLike
omg how cool is this site. just came across it by chance thank you google! i’m gambian. who knew there were so many other ppl wanting to learn wolof. li ci internet bi!
LikeLike
can someone please translate nga magal ko c atyu
LikeLike
Hi, I’m italian. i listened a beautiful song named nana ye. I’m a teacher and I would to teach this song to my little students.
Can anyone tell me the correct text and translation please?
More or less is
Nana ye zimbe
Nana ye zimbe
Nana ye somalé nana zimbe.
Suma doom jangal so bougué an diplo.
LikeLike
hello matteo. who is this song by? I’m having trouble making sense of the lyrics. i have no idea what nana ye zimbe is supposed to mean but i do know that ” suma doom jangal so bouge am diplome” literally means “my child learn if you want to have a diploma” basically the singer is imploring the child to get an education. wish i could be of more help.
LikeLike
http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CEMQtwIwBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjSpv8WG9Ko4&ei=h111UPmsGc-UswaZ0oGoBg&usg=AFQjCNE-uXqrzS32arnDp75xIIC6uQZuSA
This is the song, thank you very much. I think you’re on the right way: maybe my version was a “phonetic” version, and sorry for my english. 🙂
LikeLike
please can anyone translate: ‘gisuma ko deh’ to English?
LikeLike
It means ‘I don’t see it’ literally but can also be ‘I can’t see/find it’
LikeLike
how do you write “we are all the same” in Wolof. Thank you for your reply ❤
LikeLike
You can say nio far which means we are all together or we are one.
LikeLike
Hello, I cant understand how one can add your site in my rss reader. Are you in a position Assist me, please 🙂
LikeLike
verbi italiano
LikeLike
What’s up, this weekend is nice designed for me, since this time i am reading this wonderful educational paragraph here at my house.
LikeLike
my husband spent time in a wolof speaking area, one of the phrases he uses means for the good of us all….How in the work would that be spelled? (yok a boke) I don’t know THANKS.
Lori
LikeLike
I think he was saying you are welcome, which also literally means ‘we share it.’ It is often written with an accent above the n – ñokobok – pronouced nyokobok.
LikeLike
I reAly like this
LikeLike
what does “nanala” mean if anything? I got this from a Senegalese male friend but can’t figure out if his spelling is off cause i can’t find a translation!
LikeLike
Hey may have just been shortening namenala which means I miss you or I have missed you…but not sure otherwise.
LikeLike
I thought that but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something or that maybe he misspelled nob nala, but I’m sure nob nala and nanala sound quite different! Thank you
LikeLike
What es the muy: yalla na ma yalla may Diam ak were ak Nieppe. Please
LikeLike
A rough translation – God will repay you with peace, love and everything
LikeLike
Hey, thanks for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged. kakbaaeeefgc
LikeLike
hello! could someone please help me how to say in Wolof – “I’m very sorry. please forgive me for everything”? thanks in advance!
LikeLike
Hi all
Could anyone plz tell me wat “yow suma u nga” means…thnx
LikeLike
Hi all
Could anyone plz tell me wat “yow suma y nga” means…thnx
LikeLike
my parents re nigerians bt i ws born in d gambia brikama to be precise…….i ws good in wollof n madinko bfor bt wen i n my family relocate i find it hard to rememba d languagues…..pls sumone shud help me cz i nid to learn my language again
LikeLike
How do you say “my grandmother” in Wolof?
LikeLike
yaye sama yaye (the mother of my mother)
LikeLike
kom yow rekk queen suma yw nga
wht dat means? please!
LikeLike
How to say this is all for you in Senegalese wolof
LikeLike
How do you say in Wolof- my heart belongs to
LikeLike
Hello everybody someone can translate for me this lyrics?Is a song from Senegal is called Mbeuguel by Carlou D,thanks a lot!!
you can found the lyrics here
LikeLike
Yow yarame nékhoule
Any idea what this means?
LikeLike
Yow sa yaram nekhoul ” you are sick/ you are nuts/ you are wild.
LikeLike
Hi! Im seing someone that is from Gambia. His grandmother just passed away. Does anyone know how to say: “May she rest in peace. Im here for you”, in Wolof? Thank you!
LikeLike
hello I’m dating with a Gambian and wanna tell him some romantic sentences . I’m trying to learn some basic words to make him happy! but now I need ” I am the luckiest girl in the world because I found you and never gonna let you go again ” plz help me ! 🙂
thx
LikeLike
hiii admin
I have one Senegalese boy friend. Can u give me a wolof to french dictionary? and also french to wolof.
Online of pdf, no difference. Jerejefff 😀
LikeLike
can someone tell me what does “khewuel” means??
LikeLike
Khewel literally means Luck/opportunity
LikeLike
What does Balnala mean?
LikeLike
Kheweul – happiness, often heard in the phrase ‘jamm ak kheweul’ – peace and happiness.
Balnaala – I forgive you, often used at festivals when people say ‘balma ak’ – forgive me, to others who reply ‘balnaala’.
LikeLike
What does this mean?
Fo rek
Wa douma fo touti sakh
LikeLike
Fo rek : “you play too much/ playing is the only thing you do”.
“Douma fo touti sakh ” (nothing wrong with playing a bit)
LikeLike
Can you tell me what the following means: lonek yagiu ci diam
LikeLike
Living in NY since ’98, I found out long ago each English vowel can have up to 5 or 6 different sounds; unlike the English we were taught in Senegalese High school..
Wolof pronunciation is easier because each vowel has but one sound if I am not mistaken, like French. Because we wolof speakers don’t have our own alphabet; we use the french one .
The A in wolof or french always sounds like the O in Mott or robOt; well unless the A is succeeded by the vowel i or u.
The O in wolof, mostly sounds the same as the O in bOy; unless it is succeeded by U or i ; but I can’t think of a Wolof word with oi sound.
LikeLike
Hi everyone, love this thred. Im married to a Senegalese man and we have lots of trouble with comunicaions, from both languagebarriers and cultural diffrencies, yean and the common woman/man challenge.
What does “nou nou” mean? For example “Fofo nou nou” or “nou no la”
How to say “I wish people could have more patienser” and “I wish we could understand eachother better”
And a Word for Communication
LikeLike
sorry it should be “Patience”
ans please, what is the words for humility and pride
Jerejeff
LikeLike
Hi, sometimes I get a 400 site error when I arrive at this webpage. I thought you may wish to know, regards
LikeLike
Great blog. Thanks for posting.
LikeLike
Really good site,thank so much for your effort in writing the posts.
LikeLike