“Wolof” is a common spelling, and is a term that can refer to the Wolof nation or to things derived from the Wolof culture or tradition.
Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, and is the indigenous language of the Wolof people. As a neighboring Pular language, it belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Unlike many other languages in Sub-Saharan Africa, Wolof is not a voice language
Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, spoken not only by members of the Wolof (approximately 40 percent of the population) but also by many other Senegalese. Wolof dialects can vary between countries (Senegal and Gambia) and rural and urban areas.
“Dakar-Wolof” is an urban mix of Wolof, French, Arabic, and a little English – spoken in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Wolof and Senegal go hand in hand. Not only do the Wolof have a large population in Senegal, but their language is spoken by 85 percent of the people of Senegal.
Wolof is a language you will hear on the streets, but you will never see in the newspapers and is rarely written in official texts and as a result the spelling varies from place to place, such as jërejëf and dieuredief (thank you) or chebu-jen and thieboudienne (fish and rice, national dish). However, the words are still pronounced the same and having a few phrases in your back pocket helps in navigation as it puts a smile on the faces of local people.
Wolof Language Words and Phrases List
Now let us work on the Wolof words translated to English language:
| English | Wolof |
| Welcome | Merhbe |
| Hello (General greeting) | Na nga def (sg) |
| How are you? | Jaam nga am? (Have you peace?) |
| Long time no see | Gej na la giis |
| What’s your name? | Naka-nga sant? |
| My name is … | Maa ngi tudd … |
| Pleased to meet you | Am nàa mbekte ci guiss la |
| Good morning | Jaam nga fanane |
| Good afternoon | Jamm nga yendoo |
| Good evening | Naka ngon si |
| Goodbye | Ba beneen |
| (Parting phrases) | Mangi dem |
| Good luck! | Màa ngui lay nianal weurseuk |
| Cheers! Good Health! | Wer gu yaram! |
| Have a nice day | Yendu ak jam |
| Bon appetit / | Naci jàam bari |
| Bon voyage / | Yônu jam |
| Do you understand? | Dégg nga? |
| I understand | Dégg naa |
| I don’t understand | Dégguma |
| I don’t know | Xamu mako |
| Please speak more slowly | Ndax mën nga wax ndànk su la neexee? |
| Please write it down | Ndax mën nga ko bind su la neexee? |
| Do you speak English? | Ndax dégg nga angale? |
| Do you speak Wolof? | Deg nga Wolof? |
| Yes, a little | Wau, degg naa tuuti Wolof |
| How do you say … in Wolof? | Naka lanuy waxee lii ci wolof? |
| Excuse me | Baal ma! |
| How much is this? | Ñaata lay jar? |
| Sorry | Baal ma |
| Please | La neexee |
| Thank you | Jai-rruh-jef |
| Reply to thank you | Agsil (sg) |
| I miss you | Namm naa la |
| I love you | Begg naa la (general) |
| Get well soon | Tanéel ak jam |
| Go away! | Deemal! |
| Leave me alone! | Bayyi ma! |
| Help! | Wóoy! |
| Fire! | Táal! |
| Stop! | Taxawal! |
| Call the police! | Wooyal ma alkaati! |
| Christmas greetings | Mangui lay ndioukeul ci Noël bi |
| New Year greetings | Mangui lay ndokkel ci att bu bess bi |
| Easter greetings | Mangui lay ndokkel ci pâques bi |
| Birthday greetings | Mangui lay ndokkel ci sa bess bu délu si bi |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Góor gu bàax bi dina fay lepp |
| This lady will pay for everything | Jigéen gui dina fay lépp |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Buga nga fecc? |
| Where’s the toilet / bathroom? | Ana wanaag wi? |
Wolof is spoken by more than 10 million people and about 40 percent (about 5 million people) of Senegal speak Wolof as their mother tongue.
Wolof is usually written using the Latin alphabet was standardised in 1974 and is the official script for Wolof in Senegal. It is also sometimes written using the Garay alphabet which has 25 consonants and 14 vowels.
In Wolof the first syllable of words is stressed; long vowels are pronounced with more time, but are not automatically stressed, as they are in English. The verbs are the unchangeable words that cannot be conjugated.To express different tenses or aspects of an action, personal pronouns are conjugated – not verbs.
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