Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Wolof words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Na nga tudd? Noo tudd? What is your name? Maa ngi tudd ... My name is ... Na nga def? Jàmm ngaam? How are you? Maa ngi fi rekk. Yow nag? Jàmm rekk. Yow nag? Fine. And you? Ana ...? Fan la ... nekk? Where is ...? Ana wanag wi? Fan la wanag wi nekk? Where is the toilet? Baal ma. Sorry. Excuse me. Amul solo. No problem. Dama bëgg ... Bëgg naa ... I want ... Bëgguma ... I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Fan nga joge? Where are you from? Ostrali laa joge.* I am from Australia. Dama bëgg adisiyon. The bill, please. Dama réer. I'm lost. Taxawal! Xaaral! Stop! Wait! Fi, fa, fale. Here, there, over there. Taksi. Oteel. Ayropoor. Are kaar. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. Dama bëgg ... Bëgg naa ... I like ... Bëgguma ... I don't like ... benn, ñaar, ñett, ñeent, juróom. one, two, three, four, five. juróom benn, juróom ñaar, juróom ñett, juróom ñeent, fukk. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Ameriik - America Kanadaa - Canada Anglateer - England Irlaand - Ireland Nuwel Seeland - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Jaraama! Cheers! baax / bon good / bad mag / tuuti/ndaw big / small jege / sore near / far waañi / gën less / more beneen / doy another / enough Wejetariyan laa. I am vegetarian. Duma lekk yàpp. I don't eat meat. ... ganaar. ... chicken. ... jën. ... fish. Dama am alersi ci gerte. I am allergic to peanuts. ... jën. ... fish. ... nen. ... eggs. |
Vowels:
Doubled vowels are long vowels, eg. aa, ee, ée, oo, óo, uu
a is pronounced uh as in cup
à is pronounced as a as in father.
aa is a long à
é is pronounced as e (IPA e)
ë is pronounced as er as in brother (ə)
o is pronounced o as in pot (ɔ)
ó is pronounced o as in dote (IPA o)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
j is pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
ŋ is pronounced as ng as in singer
ng is pronounced as ng as in finger (ŋg)
q is pronounced as a uvular k, far back in the throat (IPA q)
x is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
Doubled vowels are long vowels, eg. aa, ee, ée, oo, óo, uu
a is pronounced uh as in cup
à is pronounced as a as in father.
aa is a long à
é is pronounced as e (IPA e)
ë is pronounced as er as in brother (ə)
o is pronounced o as in pot (ɔ)
ó is pronounced o as in dote (IPA o)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
j is pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
ŋ is pronounced as ng as in singer
ng is pronounced as ng as in finger (ŋg)
q is pronounced as a uvular k, far back in the throat (IPA q)
x is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)