Mandinka (also called Mandingue, Mandingo, or Malinke depending on the region) is the main language of Gambia, spoken by approximately 40% of the population (Ethnologue: ~1.9 million speakers). It is also found in Senegal (Casamance), Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

A language of the Mande family (like Dioula, Bambara, and Soninke), Mandinka belongs to the Manding language group , a linguistic continuum spanning a large swath of West Africa. The Mandinka people are historically known as traders, warriors, and griots, carriers of the oral tradition of the great Mali Empire (13th-15th century).

Explore our West African language resources and our Mandinka language page to go further.

Basic Greetings in Mandinka

The Islamic Greeting: Salamaleekum

In Gambia, a 90% Muslim country, the first greeting you will hear is Salamaleekum (sa-la-ma-lé-koum) , a local adaptation of the Arabic "As-salamu alaykum."

Response: Maleekumsalam (ma-lé-koum-sa-lam) , "And peace be upon you"

Traditional Mandinka Greeting: I be di ?

The traditional Mandinka greeting is I be di ? (pronounced i bé di) , "How are you?" / "Are you there?"

Response: Tibo (ti-bo) , "Fine" / "Good"

Or: N be di (n bé di) , "I'm well" (direct response)

Greetings by Time of Day

Morning:

  • Subaaku (sou-ba-kou) , "Good morning"
  • Response: Subaaku nding (sou-ba-kou nding) , "Good morning"

Afternoon:

  • Tiilaa (ti-la) , "Good afternoon"

Evening:

  • Wulalaa (wou-la-la) , "Good evening"

Welcome: Woore ke

Woore ke (wo-ré ké) or I woore (i wo-ré) , "Welcome"

Pronunciation Guide

Mandinka uses tones (high and low) but they are less strict than in some other African languages. Key rules:

  • Double vowels aa, ee, ii, oo are long vowels (pronounced twice as long)
  • ng at the end or middle of a word is nasal
  • ny sounds like "ny" (as in "canyon")
  • j sounds like "dj"
Word Pronunciation Meaning
Salamaleekum sa-la-ma-lé-koum Hello (Islamic)
I be di ? i bé di How are you?
Tibo ti-bo Fine
Subaaku sou-ba-kou Good morning
Woore ke wo-ré ké Welcome
Kaarang ka-rang Thank you

Respect and Culture

The Age Hierarchy

As in all Mande societies, respect for elders is paramount in Mandinka culture. Respectful terms:

  • Faa (fa): father / sir (for any adult man)
  • Naa (na): mother / madam (for any adult woman)
  • Karamoo (ka-ra-mo): marabout / religious teacher (highly respected)

The Role of Griots

In Mandinka culture, jali (griots) have a crucial social role: they are keepers of historical memory and masters of the spoken word. A griot's greeting can last several minutes and include the complete genealogy of the greeted person.

Gambia: The Smiling Coast

Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, a narrow strip of land along the Gambia River, surrounded by Senegal. What the country lacks in size, it more than makes up for in human warmth.

Quick Reference

Expression Pronunciation Translation Context
Salamaleekum sa-la-ma-lé-koum Peace upon you Islamic greeting
Maleekumsalam ma-lé-koum-sa-lam And upon you peace Response
I be di ? i bé di How are you? General greeting
Tibo ti-bo Fine Response
Subaaku sou-ba-kou Good morning Morning
Wulalaa wou-la-la Good evening Evening
Woore ke wo-ré ké Welcome Receiving guests
Kaarang ka-rang Thank you Gratitude

Discover West African languages on Targumi

Sources and References

Further Reading