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Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness in Wolof
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Wolof words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Wolof phrases in this lesson
- 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
The usual greeting, answered with Maalekum salaam (maa-LEH-koom sa-LAAM).
Literally did you spend the night in peace?
Literally did you spend the day in peace?
Literally I am leaving, a common way to take leave.
Until next time, the friendly sign-off.
Literally if it pleases you.
Literally it is not a problem.
Used when interrupting or asking to get past.