Wolof phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Wolof phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Wolof with translation. | Free & useful

Wolof phrases - Most common phrases for everyday life

Wolof phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Wolof culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Wolof phrases you should know

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Wolof phrases and dialogues today.

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Greet someone in Wolof

If you want to greet someone in Wolof, it’s actually quite easy:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Welcome! in Wolof Dalal ak jàmm! [dalal ak ɟamː]
Good day to you! in Wolof Baax na la yendoo! [baːx na la jɛndɔː]
Good morning to you! in Wolof Suba saangi nii rekk! [suba saːŋɡi niː rɛkː]
Good evening! in Wolof Guddi gaangi nii rekk! [ɡudːi ɡaːŋɡi niː rɛkː]
Good to see you. in Wolof Bég naa la gis. [bɛːɡ naː la ɡis]
I’m glad to see you. in Wolof Dama bég ci sama gis la. [dama bɛːɡ tʃi sama ɡis la]

If you are greeted in Wolof, the best way to respond is as follows:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Have a nice day too! in Wolof Yow itam, yendu ak jàmm! [jɔw itam jɛndu ak ɟamː]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Wolof Jërëjëf, man itam bég naa la gis. [ɟərədʒəf man itam bɛːɡ naː la ɡis]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
How are you doing? in Wolof Nanga def? [naŋɡa dɛf]
Are you doing well? in Wolof Yaa ngi ci jàmm? [jaː ŋɡi tʃi ɟamː]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Thank you for asking, I am fine. Jërëjëf ci laaj bi, maa ngi fi rekk. [ɟərədʒəf tʃi laːdʒ bi maː ŋɡi fi rɛkː]
Thank you, I am fine. Jërëjëf, maa ngi fi rekk. [ɟərədʒəf maː ŋɡi fi rɛkː]
Thank you, I am not doing so well. Jërëjëf, dama gëmmentu tuuti. [ɟərədʒəf dama ɡəmːɛntu tuːti]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing? Jërëjëf, maa ngi fi. Yow nag, nanga def? [ɟərədʒəf maː ŋɡi fi jɔw naɡ naŋɡa dɛf]

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Wolof?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Wolof is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Goodbye! in Wolof Ba beneen yoon! [ba bɛnɛn joːn]
Take care of yourself! in Wolof Teeyal sa bopp! [teːjal sa bɔpː]
Goodbye in Wolof Ba ci kanam! [ba tʃi kanam]
See you tomorrow in Wolof Ba suba! [ba suba]
See you soon in Wolof Ba ci lu gaaw! [ba tʃi lu ɡaːw]
See you later in Wolof Ba ca kanam! [ba tʃa kanam]
Good night in Wolof Fanaanal ak jàmm! [fanaːnal ak ɟamː]
Sleep well in Wolof Nelaw bu baax! [nɛlaw bu baːx]
Talk to you later. in Wolof Dinañu waxaat ci kanam. [dinanju waxaːt tʃi kanam]
Nice to have met you! in Wolof Bég naa ci xamante bi! [bɛːɡ naː tʃi xamantɛ bi]

How do I introduce myself in Wolof?

When travelling in Senegal, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Wolof and know who you’re talking to.

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
My name is Jonas. Maa ngi tudd Jonas. [maː ŋɡi tudː dʒɔnas]
What is your name? Naka nga tudd? [naka ŋɡa tudː]
What is your surname? Naka sa sant? [naka sa sant]
What is your first name? Naka sa turu jëkk? [naka sa turu ɟəkː]
What is your surname? Naka sa sant? [naka sa sant]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Where do you come from? Fan nga joge? [fan ŋɡa dʒɔɡɛ]
I am from London. Dama joge London. [dama dʒɔɡɛ london]
Are you from Birmingham? Ndax Birmingham nga joge? [ndax bərmiŋəm ŋɡa dʒɔɡɛ]
No, I’m from Madrid. Déedéet, dama joge Madrid. [deːdeːt dama dʒɔɡɛ madrid]
Great, I’m from Madrid too. Baax na, man itam dama joge Madrid. [baːx na man itam dama dʒɔɡɛ madrid]
Where do you live? Fan nga dëkk? [fan ŋɡa dəkː]
I live in Berlin. Dama dëkk Berlin. [dama dəkː bɛrlin]

If you have problems with your Wolof, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Do you speak English? Ndax wax nga Angale? [ndax wax ŋɡa aŋɡalɛ]
Yes, I speak English. Waaw, dama wax Angale. [waːw dama wax aŋɡalɛ]
Yes, I speak some English. Waaw, dama wax tuuti Angale. [waːw dama wax tuːti aŋɡalɛ]
No, I do not speak any English. Déedéet, waxuma Angale. [deːdeːt waxuma aŋɡalɛ]
I only speak English. Angale rekk laay wax. [aŋɡalɛ rɛkː laːj wax]
I understand some Wolof. Dégga naa tuuti Wolof. [dɛɡːa naː tuːti wɔlɔf]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Wolof and express your wishes and concerns:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
I am English. in Wolof Angale laa. [aŋɡalɛ laː]
I am injured. in Wolof Dama gaañu. [dama ɡaːɲu]
I am here. in Wolof Maa ngi fi. [maː ŋɡi fi]
I am hungry. in Wolof Dama xiif. [dama xiːf]
I am thirsty. in Wolof Dama mar. [dama mar]
I am a single person. in Wolof Dama jombul. [dama dʒombul]
I need help! in Wolof Soxla naa ndimbal! [sɔxla naː ndimbal]
I am tired. in Wolof Dama sonn. [dama sɔnː]
I am happy. in Wolof Dama bég. [dama bɛːɡ]
I am sad. in Wolof Dama tiis. [dama tiːs]
I am in love. in Wolof Dama bëgg. [dama bəɡː]
I am ill. in Wolof Dama feebar. [dama feːbar]
I am ready. in Wolof Dama pare. [dama parɛ]
I am busy. in Wolof Dama jàpp. [dama ɟapː]
I am lost. in Wolof Réer naa. [reːr naː]
I am a tourist. in Wolof Turist laa. [turist laː]
I am new here. in Wolof Dama bees fii. [dama beːs fiː]
I am confident. in Wolof Am naa yaakaar ci sama bopp. [am naː jaːkaːr tʃi sama bɔpː]
I am proud. in Wolof Am naa réy. [am naː reːj]
I am a teacher. in Wolof Jàngalekat laa. [ɟaŋɡalɛkat laː]
I am late. in Wolof Dama yeex. [dama jeːx]
I am 30 years old. in Wolof Am naa fanweer ak fukki at. [am naː fanweːr ak fukːi at]

Apologising in Wolof

Here’s how to apologise to a Wolof speaker:

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
I apologise. Baal ma. [baːl ma]
Sorry, that was not the intention. Baal ma, du woon sama bopp. [baːl ma du wɔːn sama bɔpː]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose. Baal ma, defuma ko ci mbir. [baːl ma dɛfuma ko tʃi mbir]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me. Baal ma, dama toroxlu lool. [baːl ma dama tɔrɔxlu loːl]

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Useful signs and notices in Wolof

Useful signs and messages in Wolof that you will often see.

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Entrance in Wolof Buntu daje [buntu dadʒɛ]
Toilet in Wolof Wanag [wanaɡ]
Exit in Wolof Buntu génn [buntu ɡɛnː]
Attention! in Wolof Teeyal! [teːjal]
Police in Wolof Polis [polis]
Emergency services in Wolof Ndimbal bu gaaw [ndimbal bu ɡaːw]
Fire brigade in Wolof Jambur bu safaan [dʒambur bu safaːn]
Passage forbidden. in Wolof Deful dara jaar fii. [dɛful dara dʒaːr fiː]
Caution! in Wolof Teeyal sa bopp! [teːjal sa bɔpː]
This building is under video surveillance. in Wolof Kër gii dañu koy seetaan ak kamera. [kər ɡiː daɲu koj sɛːtaːn ak kamera]

Numbers to 25 in Wolof

Counting in Wolof is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Wolof from 1 to 25.

Number (English) Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
One in Wolof Benn [bɛnː]
Two in Wolof Ñett [ɲɛtː]
Three in Wolof Ñaar [ɲaːr]
Four in Wolof Ñeent [ɲeːnt]
Five in Wolof Juróom [dʒuːrːoom]
Six in Wolof Juróom benn [dʒuːrːoom bɛnː]
Seven in Wolof Juróom ñett [dʒuːrːoom ɲɛtː]
Eight in Wolof Juróom ñaar [dʒuːrːoom ɲaːr]
Nine in Wolof Juróom ñeent [dʒuːrːoom ɲeːnt]
Ten in Wolof Fukk [fukː]
Eleven in Wolof Fukk ak benn [fukː ak bɛnː]
Twelve in Wolof Fukk ak ñett [fukː ak ɲɛtː]
Thirteen in Wolof Fukk ak ñaar [fukː ak ɲaːr]
Fourteen in Wolof Fukk ak ñeent [fukː ak ɲeːnt]
Fifteen in Wolof Fukk ak juróom [fukː ak dʒuːrːoom]
Sixteen in Wolof Fukk ak juróom benn [fukː ak dʒuːrːoom bɛnː]
Seventeen in Wolof Fukk ak juróom ñett [fukː ak dʒuːrːoom ɲɛtː]
Eighteen in Wolof Fukk ak juróom ñaar [fukː ak dʒuːrːoom ɲaːr]
Nineteen in Wolof Fukk ak juróom ñeent [fukː ak dʒuːrːoom ɲeːnt]
Twenty in Wolof Ñaar fukk [ɲaːr fukː]
Twenty-one in Wolof Ñaar fukk ak benn [ɲaːr fukː ak bɛnː]
Twenty-two in Wolof Ñaar fukk ak ñett [ɲaːr fukː ak ɲɛtː]
Twenty-three in Wolof Ñaar fukk ak ñaar [ɲaːr fukː ak ɲaːr]
Twenty-four in Wolof Ñaar fukk ak ñeent [ɲaːr fukː ak ɲeːnt]
Twenty-five in Wolof Ñaar fukk ak juróom [ɲaːr fukː ak dʒuːrːoom]

The colours in Wolof

The most common colours in Wolof with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

Colour (English) Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
White in Wolof Weex [weːx]
Black in Wolof Ñuul [ɲuːl]
Red in Wolof Xonq [xɔŋq]
Blue in Wolof Bulo [buːlo]
Yellow in Wolof Mboq [mbɔq]
Green in Wolof Wert [wɛrt]
Orange in Wolof Orans [oɾans]
Purple in Wolof Yolet [jolɛt]
Pink in Wolof Roos [ruːs]
Brown in Wolof Sokola [sɔkɔla]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Wolof

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Wolof and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Wolof.

English Expression Wolof Translation IPA Transcription
Monday in Wolof Altine [alˈtin]
Tuesday in Wolof Talata [taˈlata]
Wednesday in Wolof Alxames [alˈxames]
Thursday in Wolof Alxamiis [alxaˈmiːs]
Friday in Wolof Àjuma [ˈadʒuma]
Saturday in Wolof Àsibiti [asiˈbiti]
Sunday in Wolof Dibéer [diˈbeːr]
January in Wolof Zanvye [zãˈvije]
February in Wolof Fevriye [fevˈriːjɛ]
March in Wolof Maars [maːrs]
April in Wolof Avríl [aˈvil]
May in Wolof Mee [meː]
June in Wolof Juun [juːn]
July in Wolof Juléet [juˈleːt]
August in Wolof Ut [ut]
September in Wolof Sektãb [sɛpˈtãːb]
October in Wolof Oktob [ɔkˈtɔb]
November in Wolof Novãb [noˈvãːb]
December in Wolof Disãb [diˈsãːb]
Spring in Wolof Rabi‘ [raˈbiːʕ]
Summer in Wolof Sayf [saif]
Autumn in Wolof Khariif [xaˈriːf]
Winter in Wolof Shetaa [ʃiˈtaː]

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these Wolof phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Wolof phrases and dialogues.

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More information about the Wolof Business Course.

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More information about the Wolof Course for Children.