# Wolof phrasebook

Wolof is the main language of Senegal, and is also spoken in Gambia and Mauritania.

## Pronunciation guide

Note: Wolof is primarily an oral not written language, so written spellings may vary considerably.

### Consonants

hyrA

#### C-

    is always pronounced "Ch" Words borrowed from French should use "S" instead of C but might not always be written that way.

#### R-

    Should be rolled.

   #### After a double consonant,

       : repeat the vowel preceding vowel sound slightly. For example, Tudd (to call oneself) sounds almost like "tuddu" and jamm (peace) sounds like "Jamma" with a very soft a / e muet (if you speak French, for reference) at the end.

#### Ng -

    Difficult for a non-speaker to replicate. Focus on the "g" sound and if possible add the n to the end of the preceding word. For example, Fan nga joge? (Where to you come from) sounds more like Fann ga joge?

### Common diphthongs

goeses

## Phrase list
### Basics
#### Hello.

    Salamalekum (This is Arabic) / Response: Malekum Salaam.

#### Hello. (informal)

    . (Ça va)French

#### How are you?

    Na'nga def? ( ?)

#### Fine, thank you.

    Mangi fi rekk. ( jama rek or I'm in peace)

#### Alhumdililay.

    Thanks be to God. (From Arabic.) May be used after 'jama rek' to express thanks.

#### What is your name?

    Nanga tudd?

#### My name is...

    Mangi tudd...

#### Please

    (S'il vous plait )

#### Thank you.

    Jere jef. ( )

#### You're welcome.

    ñoku boku. ( )

#### Yes.

    . (waaw )

#### No.

    . (de det )

#### Excuse me. (getting attention)

    . (pardon )

#### Excuse me. (begging pardon)

    . (baal ma )

#### I'm sorry.

    . (maasa )

#### Goodbye

    Be benen yoon. ( Means see you next time, or a la prochaine in French )

#### See you very soon

    Leegi leegi.

#### See you later

    Ba ci kanam.

#### I'm going (informal)

    . (maangi dem)

#### I can't speak Wolof [well].

    [ ]. ( [Man degguma ?????? ])

#### Do you speak English?

    ? ( Degg nga anglais?)

#### I speak some English

    ? (Degg naa tutti tutti anglais)

#### Help!

    ! ( dembalema)

#### Look out!

    ! ( me hole)

#### How is the morning?

    Naka suba si?

#### How is the evening?

    Naka si ngom si?

#### Good night.

    Fanaanal ak jamm. Plural: Fanaaleen ak jamm. (NB: Slight "a" sound follows the double consonant.)

#### Good night (to sleep)

    . (bon nuit )French

#### I don't understand.

    . (je ne comprend pas )French (Degguma)

#### Where is... ?

    ? ( Ana ...?)

#### Where are you from?

    ( Fooy degga? ) or Fan nga joge?

### Small talk
#### How is your work?

    Naka liggeye bi? ( )

#### How is your family?

    Naka wa kerr gi? ( ) or Ana wa ker ga?

#### My house (family) is fine (here).

    Nyung fi rekk.

#### How did you sleep?

    Nanga fananay?

#### White person

    Toubab ( )

### Numbers

* 0=dara/nayn (DA-ra/nayn)
* 1=benn (ben)
* 2=naar (nyaar)
* 3=nett (nyet)
* 4=nent (nyent)
* 5=juroom (JOO-room)
* 6=juroom benn (JOO-room ben)
* 7=juroom naar (JOO-room nyaar)
* 8=juroom nett (JOO-room nyet)
* 9=juroom nent (JOO-room nyent)
* 10=fukk (fook)

### Time

* foor duckion

#### Duration
##### Monday

    Altine

##### Tuesday

    Taalata

##### Wednesday

    Alarba

##### Thursday

    Alxames

##### Friday

    Ajjuma

##### Saturday

    Gaaw

##### Sunday

    Dibeer

#### Writing time and date
### Colors
### Money
#### How much is it?

    Ñaata la? ( )

#### What does it cost?

    Nyata? ( )

### Eating
#### Breakfast

    ( Ndekki )

#### Lunch

    ( An )

#### Dinner

    ( Reer )

### Shopping
#### (Ci) Marse bi

    (at) the market

#### Ñaata la?

    How much is it?

#### ____ francs

    ____ CFA (NB: Numbers used for prices will usually be in French and in thousands with inflation.)

#### Waxale

    to bargain

#### Maangi waxale

    I bargain

#### Cher na (torop)

    It's (very) expensive (Used to try to haggle the price down)