Soninke (also written sarakholé or soninkara) is the language of the Soninke people, one of the founding peoples of the Ghana Empire , the first great empire of West Africa, which flourished from the 4th to the 13th century. Today, approximately 2 million people speak Soninke (Ethnologue) in Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. The language is also very present in France, where the Soninke diaspora is one of the largest from sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Paris region.

Speaking a few words of Soninke forges a strong bond with a people proud of their merchant history and culture of excellence.

Explore our African language resources on Targumi and our Soninke language page to continue.

An tara , The Essential Greeting

An tara (pronounced an tara) is the most common Soninke greeting. Literally it means "you have arrived" , a poetic way of saying "welcome" or "hello." In Soninke culture, someone's arrival is always celebrated.

Pronunciation

  • An: nasal "an", like in "fan"
  • tara: "ta-ra" , two equal syllables, slightly rolled "r"

Responses

  • Haayi (ha-yi) = "Yes / Thank you" (warm acknowledgment)
  • N tara (n tara) = "I have arrived" (classic response)
  • Nba (nba) = "Yes, that's good" (positive confirmation)

Maa ni sogoma , Good Morning

Maa ni sogoma (pronounced maa ni sogoma) = "Good morning"

  • Maa = "people, folks"
  • ni = "with, of"
  • sogoma = "morning"

Used from waking until the end of the morning. Can address a group or an individual.

Response: Sogoma nba (sogoma nba) = "Good morning to you too"

Greetings by Time of Day

Afternoon: Maa ni tile

Maa ni tile (maa ni tile) = "Good afternoon"

  • Tile = "sun, daytime"

Response: Tile nba = "Good afternoon to you too"

Evening: Maa ni wulare

Maa ni wulare (maa ni wou-laré) = "Good evening"

  • Wulare = "evening, dusk"

Response: Wulare nba = "Good evening to you too"

How Are You?

I haayi ? (i ha-yi) = "How are you?" (literally "are you at peace?")

Responses:

  • Haayi = "Fine, at peace"
  • N haayi, n haayi = "Very well"
  • N haayi nba, fo i ? = "I'm well, and you?"

Quick Reference

Expression Pronunciation Translation
An tara an tara Hello / Welcome
Maa ni sogoma maa ni sogoma Good morning
Maa ni tile maa ni tile Good afternoon
Maa ni wulare maa ni woulare Good evening
I haayi ? i hayi How are you?
Haayi hayi Fine / At peace

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Sources and References

Further Reading