Difference between revisions of "Wolof phrasebook"

Revision as of 04:31, 31 October 2011

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

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

hyrA

Common diphthongs

goeses

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 

Salamalekum (This is Arabic)

Hello. (informal) 

. ( Ca va)French

How are you? 

Na'nga def? ( ?)

Fine, thank you. 

Mangi fi rekk. ( )

What is your name? 

Noo tudd?

My name is... 

Mangi tudd...

Nice to meet you. 

. ( )

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) 

. (balma )

I'm sorry. 

. (maasa )

Goodbye 

Be benen yoon. ( )

I'm going (informal) 

. (mangi dem)

I can't speak name of language [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)

Good morning. 

Naka suba si?

Good evening. 

Naka si ngom si?

Good night. 

Fanaanal jaam.

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? )

Problems

Small talk

How is your work? 

Naka liggeye bi? ( )

How is your family? 

Naka wa kerr gi? ( )

My house (family) is fine (here). 

Nyung fi rekk.

How did you sleep? 

Nango fananay?

White person 

Toubab ( )

Numbers

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

===Time=== foor duckion

Clock time

Duration

Monday - Altine Tuesday - Taalata Wednesday - Alarba Thursday - Alxames Friday - Ajjuma Saturday - Gaaw Sunday - Dibeer

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

How much is it? 

Naata la? ( )

What does it cost? 

Nyata? ( )

Eating

Breakfast 

( Ndekki )

Lunch 

( An )

Dinner 

( Reer )

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority