🇬🇳Sénégambie · Guinée · Guinée-Bissau
Mandinka vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Mandinka vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I be soma? | How are you? (good morning) | Culture: En mandingue, les salutations varient selon le moment de la journée et incluent toujours des vœux pour la famille. |
| Tana si | Nothing wrong (response) | |
| Wo diya fo | Thank you (lit. it's good to say) | |
| Abaraka | Thank you | |
| I fo | I greet you | |
| Aw fo | I greet you all | |
| Ka kanu | Goodbye (go well) | |
| Hani kana to | See you soon | |
| A si ban | Sorry | |
| Nba | Yes |
Food & drinks
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Domo | Food | |
| Jii | Water | |
| Soo | Meat | |
| Jege | Fish | |
| Benachin | Fish rice | Culture: Le benachin (thiéboudiène en wolof) est le plat national de la Sénégambie. |
| Domoda | Peanut stew | |
| Tii | Tea | |
| Nono | Milk | |
| Sugaroo | Sugar | |
| Sombo | Rice |
Family
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fa | Father | |
| Ba | Mother | |
| Dingo | Child | |
| Koro | Elder sibling | |
| Dogo | Younger sibling | |
| Kee | Husband / Man | |
| Muso | Wife / Woman | |
| Nfaa | Grandfather | |
| Nba | Grandmother | |
| Fadinyaa | Cousin |
Human body
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kuno | Head | |
| Niyo | Eye | |
| Nooro | Nose | |
| Da | Mouth | |
| Tulo | Ear | |
| Bolo | Hand / Arm | |
| Se | Foot / Leg | |
| Tulo tulo | Heart | |
| Kono | Stomach | |
| Joli | Blood |
Numbers (1-20)
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kiling | One | |
| fula | Two | |
| saba | Three | |
| naani | Four | |
| loolu | Five | |
| wooro | Six | |
| woorowula | Seven | |
| sey | Eight | |
| kononto | Nine | |
| tang | Ten | |
| tang ning kiling | Eleven | |
| tang ning fula | Twelve | |
| tang ning saba | Thirteen | |
| tang ning naani | Fourteen | |
| tang ning loolu | Fifteen | |
| tang ning wooro | Sixteen | |
| tang ning woorowula | Seventeen | |
| tang ning sey | Eighteen | |
| tang ning kononto | Nineteen | |
| mugan | Twenty |
Colors
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| jee | White | |
| fing | Black | |
| wuleng | Red | |
| buluu | Blue | |
| gwe | Green | |
| sana | Yellow | |
| sene | Grey | |
| kɔngɔ | Brown |
Animals
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Jata | Lion | |
| Sano | Elephant | |
| Wolu | Dog | |
| Jakato | Cat | |
| Kono | Bird | |
| Naa | Cow | |
| Saga | Sheep | |
| Baa | Goat | |
| Jege | Fish | |
| Nankoo | Hippopotamus |
Home & daily life
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Soo | House | |
| Daa | Door | |
| Lubang | Room | |
| Lumo | Market | |
| Karanso | School | |
| Wariko | Money | |
| Fano | Cloth | |
| Tulo | Fire | |
| Baara | Work | |
| Togo | Name |
Time & weather
| Mandinka / Mandingo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bi | Today | |
| Kono | Yesterday | |
| Sini | Tomorrow | |
| Tilo | Sun | |
| Su | Night | |
| Sanji | Rain | |
| Samakono | Cold | |
| Kelen | Heat | |
| Fon | Wind | |
| Samiyaa | Rainy season |
Learn Mandinka with a native teacher
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