This Wolof course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Mauritania. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Wolof language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
Contents
Lesson 1 – The Alphabet
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| Letter(s) | As In |
|---|---|
| i | Kit |
| e | Met |
| é | No equivalent |
| ë | Fun |
| a | But |
| à | Fat |
| o | Pot |
| u | Book |
| ii | Meat |
| ee | Fair |
| éé | No equivalent |
| ëë | Girl |
| aa | Far |
| oo | Boy |
| óó | Goat |
| uu | Food |
| b | Bad |
| c | Chair |
| d | Door |
| f | Father |
| g | Good |
| j | Job |
| k | Kit |
| l | Like |
| m | Mother |
| n | Noon |
| ñ | Señor (in Spanish) |
| ? | Sing |
| p | Part |
| q | No equivalent |
| r | Rice |
| s | Sit |
| t | Talk |
| w | Word |
| x | Juan (in Spanish) |
| y | Yes |
| mb | No equivalent |
| nd | No equivalent |
| ng | No equivalent |
| nj | No equivalent |
Lesson 2 – Vocabulary 1
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Man | I |
| Yow | You |
| Moom | He |
| Moom | She |
| Nun | We |
| Yéen | You |
| Ñoom | They |
| Jigéen | A woman |
| Ay jigéen | Women |
| Góor | A man |
| Ay góor | Men |
| Xale bu jigéen | A girl |
| Xale yu jigéen | Girls |
| Xale bu góor | A boy |
| Xale yu góor | Boys |
| Xale | A child |
| Ay xale | Children |
| Waa kër | A family |
| Yaay | Mother |
| Baay | Father |
| Jabar | Wife |
| Jëkkër | Husband |
| Mag bu jigéen | Elder sister |
| Rakk bu jigéen | Younger sister |
| Mag bu góor | Elder brother |
| Rakk bu góor | Younger brother |
| Suba | Morning |
| Bëccëg | Noon |
| Ngoon | Afternoon |
| Guddi | Night |
| Ndekki | Breakfast |
| Añ | Lunch |
| Reer | Dinner |
Lesson 3 – Greetings
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Salaamaalekum | Peace be upon you (use at any time of the day) |
| Maalekum salaam | And on you, too (reply to the above greeting) |
| Jamm nga fanaan | Good morning |
| Jamm nga yendu | Good afternoon |
| Jamm nga yendu | Good evening |
| Mbaa yaangi ci jamm? | Are you in peace? |
| Jamm rekk | Peace only |
| Nanga def? | How are you? |
| Maangi fi rek | I am fine |
| Naka waa kër ga? | How is the family? |
| Ñunga fa | They are fine |
| Naka liggéey bi? | How is the work? |
| Jamm rekk, imdilaay | It is fine |
| Nanga def ak coono? | How are you with tiredness? |
| Jamm rekk | I am fine |
| Naka Mary? | How is Mary? |
| Mary mungi ci jamm | Mary is fine |
| Naka xale yi? | How are your children? |
| Ñunga fa | They are fine |
| Bisimila! | Welcome! |
| Mba! | Thank you! |
Lesson 4 – Numbers
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Benn | One |
| Ñaar | Two |
| Ñatt | Three |
| Ñeent | Four |
| Juróom | Five |
| Juróom benn | Six |
| Juróom ñaar | Seven |
| Juróom ñatt | Eight |
| Juróom ñeent | Nine |
| Fukk | Ten |
| Fukk ak benn | Eleven |
| Fukk ak ñaar | Twelve |
| Fukk ak ñatt | Thirteen |
| Fukk ak ñeent | Fourteen |
| Fukk ak juróom | Fifteen |
| Fukk ak juróom benn | Sixteen |
| Fukk ak juróom ñaar | Seventeen |
| Fukk ak juróom ñatt | Eighteen |
| Fukk ak juróom ñeent | Nineteen |
| Ñaar fukk | Twenty |
Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 2
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Taabal | A table |
| Siis | A chair |
| Bunt | A door |
| Palanteer | A window |
| Istilo | A pen |
| Kereyo | A pencil |
| karne | A notebook |
| Téeré | A book |
| Saak | A bag |
| Kare | Chalk |
| Tablo | Chalk board |
| Palaat | A plate |
| Kuddu | A spoon |
| Paaka | A knife |
| Bale | A broom |
| Lal | A bed |
| Mbajj | A blanket |
| Darab | A bed sheet |
| Ndes | A mat |
| Yëre | Clothes |
| Simis | A shirt |
| Tubey | Pants |
| Ay dall | Shoes |
| Welo | Bike |
| Lunett | Eye glasses |
| Ndox | Water |
| Attaaya | Tea |
| Kafe | Coffee |
| Meew | Milk |
| Suukër | Sugar |
| Xorom | Salt |
| Ceeb | Rice |
| Jën | Fish |
| Yàpp | Meat |
Lesson 6 – Vocabulary 3
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Ekool | School |
| Kalaas | Classroom |
| Wanag | Toilet |
| Waañ | Kitchen |
| Mbaar | Hangar (Straw roof that you sit under |
| Kër | House |
| Néeg | Room |
| Xayma | Tent |
| Dispañseer | Dispensary |
| Marse | Market |
| Bitik | Shop |
| Biro | Office |
| Dex | River |
| Teen | A well |
| Pomp | Pump |
| Sardeñ | Garden |
| Tool | Field |
| Liggéeyu kaay | Working place |
| Jakk | Mosque |
| Bànk | Bank |
| Kaar | Bus |
| Aeroport | Airport |
Lesson 7 – Days of the Week and Time
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| Altine | Monday |
|---|---|
| Talaata | Tuesday |
| Allarba | Wednesday |
| Alxamis | Thursday |
| Ajjuma | Friday |
| Aseet | Saturday |
| Dibeer | Sunday |
| Bes bu nekk | Every day |
| Suba su nekk | Every morning |
| Ngoon su nekk | Every afternoon |
| Guddi gu nekk | Every night |
| Altine bu nekk | Every Monday |
| Ajjuma ju nekk | Every Friday |
| Bes | Day |
| Ayu bes | Week |
| Weer | Month |
| At | Year |
| Ayu bes bu nekk | Every week |
| Weer wu nekk | Every month |
| At mu nekk | Every year |
Lesson 8 – Introducing Yourself
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Maam laa tudd | My name is Maam |
| Baas laa sant | My last name is Baas |
| Nanga tudd? | What’s your name? |
| Nanga sant? | What’s your last name? |
| Waa Moritani laa | I am from Mauritania |
| Sama jabar waa Moritani la | My wife is from Mauritania |
| Yow waa fan nga? | Where are you from? |
| Sa jabar waa fan la? | Where is your wife from? |
| Moom waa fan la? | Where is she from? |
| Moom waa fan la? | Where is he from? |
| John la tudd | His name is John |
| Hogan la sant | His last name is Hogan |
| John du waa Moritani. Waa amerik la | John is not from Mauritania. He is from America |
| Waa Amerik nga? | Are you from America? |
| Déedéet, du ma waa Amerik. | No, I am not from America. |
| Waa Moritani nga? | Are you from Mauritania? |
| Waaw, waa Moritani laa | Yes, I am from Mauritania. |
| Jangalekat laa | I am a teacher |
| Sama jabar du jangalekat | My wife is not a teacher |
| John wolonteer la | John is a volunteer |
| Jabaram du wolonteer | His wife is not a volunteer |
| Jabaru John doctoor la | John’s wife is a doctor |
Lesson 9 – Saying Goodbye
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Ci jamm! | Good-bye! |
| Ba beneen yoon! | See you! |
| Yendul ak jamm | Have a good day |
| Fanaanal ak jamm | Have a good night |
| Nu fanaan ak jamm | May we have a good night |
| Ci jamm! | Stay in peace |
| Aamiin! | Amen! |
| Ba ëllëg ci suba | See you in the morning |
| Ba ngoon | See you in the afternoon |
| Ba booru bëccëg | See you around noon |
| Ba guddi | See you in the evening |
| Ba ëllëg | See you tomorrow |
| Ba ci kanam | See you soon |
| Ba ci fan yii | See you later |
Lesson 10 – Useful Expressions
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| Wolof | English |
|---|---|
| Dama sonn | I am tired |
| Dama gëmentu | I am sleepy |
| Dama xiif | I am hungry |
| Xiif-u ma | I am not hungry |
| Dama mar | I am thirsty |
| Mar-u ma | I am not thirsty |
| Dafa tang | It’s hot |
| Tang-ul | It’s not hot |
| Dafa sedd | It’s cold |
| Sedd-ul | It’s not cold |
| Baal ma | Excuse me |
| Baal naa la | You are excused |
| Fan nga jëm? | Where are you going? |
| Maa ngi jëm kër ga | I am going home |
| Maa ngi jëm ekool | I am going to school |
| John mungi jëm marse | John is going to the market |
| Mungi jëm ci bitik bi | He is going to the shop |
| Jëm-uma biro ba | I’m not going to the office |
| Degg nga Wolof? | Do you speak Wolof? |
| Waaw, degg naa Wolof tuuti rekk | Yes, I speak Wolof a little bit |
| John degg-ul Wolof | John doesn’t speak Wolof |
| Bëgg-uma français | I don’t like French |
| Bëgg-uma kafe | I don’t like coffee |
| Jennifer dafa bëgg lakk Wolof | Jennifer likes Wolof |
| Damay jang | I study |
| Damay lekk | I eat |
| Damay liggéey | I work |
| Moom jang-ul | He doesn’t study |
| Moom lekk-ul | She doesn’t eat |
| Ñoom liggéey-uñu | They don’t work |
| Damay nelaw tuuti | I am having some sleep |
| Liggéey-uma léegi | I don’t work now |
| Dama bëgg noppalu | I want to rest |