The Wolof course
Learn Wolof ten words at a time
Wolof
Ten games of ten words: the hundred 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.
Wolof challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Wolof · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Salaam aleekumsah-LAHM ah-LAY-koom
- Hello
- Na nga defnah ngah DEF
- Hi
- Jaam nga fanaanJAHM ngah fah-NAHN
- Good morning
- Jaam nga yendooJAHM ngah yen-DOH
- Good night
- Jërejëf looljeh-reh-JOFF lohl
- Thank you very much
- Jërejëfjeh-reh-JOFF
- Thanks
- Amul soloah-MOOL SOH-loh
- You're welcome
- Soo bëggeesoh beh-GEE
- Please
- Baal maBAHL mah
- Excuse me
- Mangi demMAHN-gee dem
- Goodbye
Wolof · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Ben biir, soo bëggeeben BEER soh beh-GEE
- One beer, please
- Ben yi, soo bëggeeben YEE soh beh-GEE
- One of these, please
- Ben ataya, soo bëggeeben ah-TAH-yah soh beh-GEE
- One tea, please
- Ñaar, soo bëggeeNYAHR soh beh-GEE
- Two, please
- Ben wayé, soo bëggeeben wah-YEH soh beh-GEE
- One more, please
- Nanga jëm?NAHN-gah jem
- How much is it?
- Maandam, soo bëggeeMAHN-dahm soh beh-GEE
- The bill, please
- Nek ma...?nek mah
- May I...?
- Santé!san-TAY
- Cheers!
- Yërmandeyur-MAHN-deh
- Bless you
Wolof · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- Waawwahw
- Yes
- DaagaDAH-gah
- No
- AwaAH-wah
- Okay
- Amul solo, rekkah-MOOL SOH-loh rek
- Sure, no problem
- Janga soxlaJAN-gah SOH-lah
- I don't know
- Janga seetalJAN-gah SAY-tahl
- I don't understand
- Tulli angale?TOO-lee ahn-gah-LEH
- Do you speak English?
- Littlit
- A little
- Tof toftof tof
- Of course
- Gainde gaindegah-YIN-deh gah-YIN-deh
- Everything is fine
Wolof · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Benben
- One
- ÑaarNYAHR
- Two
- Ñettnyet
- Three
- ÑeentNYEN-t
- Four
- Juróomjoo-ROHM
- Five
- Fukktook
- Ten
- Teemedereteh-meh-DEH-reh
- One hundred
- Francfrank
- CFA Franc
- Par cartepar cart
- By card
- Comptantcom-TAHN
- In cash
Wolof · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Painpan
- Bread
- Laitleh
- Milk
- Fromagefroh-MAHJ
- Cheese
- Ndoxn-DOKE
- Water
- Plasty?PLAS-tee
- A bag?
- Naa am...?NAH ahm
- Do you have...?
- Fanaan...?fah-NAHN
- Where is...?
- Biyyibee-YEE
- This one
- Rekkrek
- Nothing else
- Jam ngaJAHM ngah
- Have a nice day
Wolof · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Taabi ben yi xel ñaarTAH-bee ben yee kel NYAHR
- A table for two
- Listu yoon, soo bëggeeLIS-too yohn soh beh-GEE
- The menu, please
- Ben kahawa, soo bëggeeben kah-HAH-wah soh beh-GEE
- One coffee, please
- Gara ndox, soo bëggeeGAH-rah n-DOKE soh beh-GEE
- A glass of water
- BiirBEER
- Beer
- Thieboudiennechay-boo-JEN
- Thieboudienne
- Rekk na jeexrek nah JEEK
- It's delicious
- Limbante minglim-BAHN-teh ming
- Without onion
- Ngorngor
- To take away
- Baaxbahks
- Keep the change
Wolof · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Naka nga def?NAH-kah ngah DEF
- How are you? (polite)
- Na nga def?nah ngah DEF
- How are you? (casual)
- Mangui fi rekkMAHN-gee fee rek
- I'm fine
- Eneen?eh-NEYN
- And you?
- Nanga sene?NAHN-gah SEH-neh
- What's new?
- Ayeyu rik, je?ah-YAY-yoo rick jeh
- Nice weather, huh?
- Ba beneenbah beh-NEYN
- See you soon
- Jam nga gaaleJAHM ngah GAH-leh
- Have a nice evening
- Hilis wer yihee-LEES wair yee
- Say hi to the family
- Baax na gaindebahks nah gah-YIN-deh
- All the best
Wolof · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Fanaan biis?fah-NAHN BEES
- Where is the toilet?
- Katkaht
- Left
- Telimteh-LIM
- Right
- Liggéeylee-GAY
- Straight ahead
- Toontohn
- Here
- Tegeenteh-GAYN
- There
- Carcar
- Bus
- Garegar
- Train station
- Ben tike, soo bëggeeben TEE-keh soh beh-GEE
- One ticket, please
- Toon, soo bëggeetohn soh beh-GEE
- Stop here, please
Wolof · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Taytah
- Today
- SubaSOO-bah
- Tomorrow
- JumeJOO-meh
- Yesterday
- Taaliftah-LEAF
- Now
- Ci waxchee waks
- Later
- Naka jam?NAH-kah JAHM
- What time is it?
- Altineahl-TEE-neh
- Monday
- Aljumaahl-JOO-mah
- Friday
- Asubaah-SOO-bah
- Saturday
- Asuba ak aljumaah-SOO-bah ahk ahl-JOO-mah
- The weekend
Wolof · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Jamm!JAHM
- Help!
- Telyul sawleteh-LYOOL SAH-leh
- Call a doctor
- Gendarmeriejen-dar-muh-REE
- Police
- Pharmaciefar-mah-SEE
- Pharmacy
- Hopitalop-ee-TAL
- Hospital
- Janga ay kareJAN-gah ah kah-REH
- I'm lost
- Janga nafiJAN-gah nah-FEE
- I don't feel well
- Talifatah-LEE-fah
- My phone
- Jang dëkkjang DEK
- It was stolen
- Day facetday fah-SET
- It's urgent