Learn Wolof ten words at a time
Wolof
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Wolof words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- Asalaam maalekuma-sa-LAAM maa-LEH-koom
- Hello
- Jàmm nga fanaan?jam nga fa-NAAN
- Good morning
- Jàmm nga yendoo?jam nga YEN-doh
- Good evening
- Maa ngi demmaa ngi dem
- Goodbye
- Ba beneen yoonba beh-NEHN yohn
- See you
- Su la neexsoo la naykh
- Please
- Jërëjëfjeh-reh-JEF
- Thank you
- Amul soloa-mool SOH-loh
- You're welcome
- Jéggal maJEG-gal ma
- Sorry
- Baal mabaal ma
- Excuse me
- Bég naa ci la xambeg naa chee la kham
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Dama bëgg...da-ma beg
- I would like...
- Biibee
- This one
- Ñaata la?NYAA-ta la
- How much is it?
- Addition bi, su la neexa-dee-SYON bee soo la naykh
- The bill, please
- Ak kartak kart
- By card
- Ak xaalis loxoak KHAA-lis LOH-kho
- In cash
- Ndoxndokh
- Water
- Kafeka-FEH
- Coffee
- Ataayaa-TAA-ya
- Tea
- Biirbeer
- Beer
- Te amul...teh a-MOOL
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- Waawwaaw
- Yes
- DéedéetDEH-deht
- No
- Baax nabaakh na
- Okay
- DéggumaDEG-goo-ma
- I don't understand
- Ndax dégg nga àngale?ndakh deg nga AN-ga-leh
- Do you speak English?
- Mën nga ko waxaat?men nga koh wa-KHAAT
- Can you repeat that?
- Ndank, su la neexndank soo la naykh
- Slowly, please
- Lii lan la?lee lan la
- What is this?
- Dama soxla...da-ma SOKH-la
- I need...
- Mën nga ma dimbali?men nga ma dim-BAH-lee
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- Bennben
- One
- Ñaarnyaar
- Two
- Ñettnyet
- Three
- Ñentnyent
- Four
- Juróomjoo-ROHM
- Five
- Juróom-bennjoo-ROHM ben
- Six
- Juróom-ñaarjoo-ROHM nyaar
- Seven
- Juróom-ñettjoo-ROHM nyet
- Eight
- Juróom-ñentjoo-ROHM nyent
- Nine
- Fukkfook
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Am nga...?am nga
- Do you have...?
- Fan la... nekk?fan la nek
- Where is...?
- Ubbeeku naoo-beh-KOO na
- Open
- Tëj natej na
- Closed
- Bëgg nga saas?beg nga saas
- A bag?
- Dafa seer loolda-fa sehr lohl
- Too expensive
- Am naa réservationam naa reh-zer-va-SYON
- I have a reservation
- Ndax ndékki bi bokk na ci?ndakh NDEK-kee bee bok na chee
- Is breakfast included?
- Lan mooy mot de passe Wi-Fi bi?lan moy moh deh PAS WAI-fai bee
- What's the wifi password?
- Ndax mën naa...?ndakh men naa
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Taabal bu ñaarTAA-bal boo nyaar
- A table for two
- Menu bi, su la neexmeh-NOO bee soo la naykh
- The menu, please
- Lan nga may digal?lan nga may dee-GAL
- What do you recommend?
- Duma lekk...DOO-ma lek
- I don't eat...
- Am naa allergie ci...am naa a-ler-ZHEE chee
- I'm allergic to...
- Yàppyap
- Meat
- Ginaargi-NAAR
- Chicken
- Jënjen
- Fish
- Dafa neexda-fa naykh
- It's delicious
- Wér gu yaramwehr goo YA-ram
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Nanga def?NAN-ga def
- How are you?
- Maa ngi fi rekk, jërëjëfmaa ngi fee rek jeh-reh-JEF
- I'm fine, thanks
- Yow nag?yow nag
- And you?
- Noo tudd?noh tood
- What's your name?
- ... laa tuddlaa tood
- My name is...
- Foo jóge?foh JOH-geh
- Where are you from?
- ... laa jógelaa JOH-geh
- I'm from...
- Neex na manaykh na ma
- I like it
- Rafet nara-FET na
- It's beautiful
- Dalal ak jàmmda-LAL ak jam
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Fan la wanag wi nekk?fan la wa-NAG wee nek
- Where is the toilet?
- Naka laay dem...?NA-ka lai dem
- How do I get to...?
- Ci càmmooñchee cham-MOHNY
- To the left
- Ci ndeyjoorchee nday-JOHR
- To the right
- Demal ci kanamdeh-MAL chee KA-nam
- Straight ahead
- Fiifee
- Here
- Gaaru saxaarGAA-roo sa-KHAAR
- Train station
- Otobüsoh-toh-BOOS
- Bus
- Aéroporta-eh-roh-POR
- Airport
- Benn biye, su la neexben bee-YEH soo la naykh
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- LéegiLEH-gee
- Now
- Ci kanamchee KA-nam
- Later
- Teytay
- Today
- SubaSOO-ba
- Tomorrow
- Tey ci gudditay chee GOOD-dee
- Tonight
- Kañ?kany
- When?
- Ban waxtu lañuy ubbi?ban WAKH-too la-nyoo OO-bee
- What time does it open?
- Xaaral tuuti, su la neexKHAA-ral TOO-tee soo la naykh
- One moment, please
- Minitmee-NIT
- Minutes
- WaxtuWAKH-too
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Dimbali ma!dim-BAH-lee ma
- Help!
- Woowal doktoorwoh-WAL dok-TOHR
- Call a doctor
- Polispoh-LEES
- Police
- Farmasifar-ma-SEE
- Pharmacy
- Lopitaalloh-pee-TAAL
- Hospital
- Dama réerda-ma rehr
- I'm lost
- Sama yaram neexulSA-ma YA-ram nay-KHOOL
- I don't feel well
- Sàcc nañu kosach na-nyoo koh
- It was stolen
- Urgence laoor-ZHANS la
- It's an emergency
- Bàyyi maBAI-yee ma
- Leave me alone