Wolof is a fascinating language spoken by over 10 million people, primarily in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. As the most widely spoken language in Senegal, learning Wolof will help you connect with the vibrant Senegalese culture and people.

In this dictionary, we've selected the 50 most useful words to get started with Wolof, including their pronunciation and English translation.

  1. Greetings and Politeness
  2. Essential Numbers
  3. Family
  4. Food
  5. Common Verbs

🗣️ Greetings and Politeness

Polite expressions are essential in Senegalese culture. Here are the basic greetings:

Wolof Greetings

  • Nanga def [nan-ga def] - Hello, how are you?
  • Asalaa maalekum [a-sa-la ma-le-koum] - Religious greeting (peace be upon you)
  • Baal ma [ba-al ma] - Excuse me, sorry
  • Jërëjëf [djé-ré-djef] - Thank you
  • Ba beneen [ba be-nène] - Goodbye, see you later
  • Waaw [wa-aw] - Yes
  • Déedéet [dé-dé-et] - No
  • Lu nekh [lou nèkh] - It's going well
  • Jamm rekk [djam rèk] - Peace only (polite response)
  • Ndeysaan [ndé-sa-an] - Please

🔢 Essential Numbers

Learning to count in Wolof will be very useful for shopping at the market:

Wolof Numbers

  • Benn [bèn] - One
  • Ñaar [gnar] - Two
  • Ñett [gnèt] - Three
  • Ñeent [gnè-ent] - Four
  • Juróom [djou-róm] - Five
  • Juróom-benn [djou-róm bèn] - Six
  • Juróom-ñaar [djou-róm gnar] - Seven
  • Juróom-ñett [djou-róm gnèt] - Eight
  • Juróom-ñeent [djou-róm gnè-ent] - Nine
  • Fukk [fouk] - Ten

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family

Family is very important in Wolof culture:

Wolof Family

  • Baay [ba-ay] - Father, dad
  • Yaay [ya-ay] - Mother, mom
  • Maam [ma-am] - Grandfather
  • Ndey [ndèy] - Grandmother
  • Doom [do-om] - Child
  • Mag [mag] - Older sibling
  • Xarit [kha-rit] - Friend
  • Jigéen [dji-gé-en] - Woman
  • Góor [go-or] - Man
  • Mbokk [mbok] - Family

🍽️ Food

Senegalese cuisine is delicious and diverse:

Wolof Food

  • Ceeb [tchèb] - Rice
  • Jën [djèn] - Fish
  • Yapp [yap] - Meat
  • Mburu [mbou-rou] - Bread
  • Ndox [ndokh] - Water
  • Ataaya [a-ta-ya] - Tea
  • Meew [mé-ew] - Milk
  • Koppar [ko-par] - Money
  • Lekk [lèk] - To eat
  • Neex [nè-ekh] - Delicious

⚡ Common Verbs

These basic verbs will help you express yourself:

Wolof Verbs

  • Dem [dèm] - To go
  • Ñëw [gnèw] - To come
  • Gis [gis] - To see
  • Wax [wakh] - To speak, to say
  • Dégg [dèg] - To hear, to understand
  • Jàng [djang] - To learn
  • Jox [djokh] - To give
  • Jël [djèl] - To take, to receive
  • Def [dèf] - To do, to make
  • Am [am] - To have

💡 Tips to Memorize This Vocabulary

🎯 Effective Learning Method

  • Daily repetition: Practice 10 words per day for 5 days
  • Simple sentences: Combine several words in short phrases
  • Senegalese music: Listen to mbalax and other genres to hear pronunciation
  • Oral practice: Repeat each word several times
  • Cultural context: Learn words in connection with Senegalese culture

🚀 Ready to Speak Wolof Fluently?

This dictionary is just the beginning! With Targumi, learn Wolof progressively and naturally through our interactive courses.

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Sources and References

Further Reading