Difference between revisions of "Language/Wolof/Vocabulary/Common-Greetings"
m (Quick edit) |
m (Quick edit) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<span pgnav> | |||
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav" | |||
|[[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure|◀️ Basic Sentence Structure — Previous Lesson]] | |||
|[[Language/Wolof/Vocabulary/Introducing-Yourself|Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️]] | |||
|} | |||
</span> | |||
{{Wolof-Page-Top}} | {{Wolof-Page-Top}} | ||
Line 84: | Line 91: | ||
{{Wolof-Page-Bottom}} | {{Wolof-Page-Bottom}} | ||
<span links></span> | <span links></span> | ||
<span pgnav> | |||
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav" | |||
|[[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure|◀️ Basic Sentence Structure — Previous Lesson]] | |||
|[[Language/Wolof/Vocabulary/Introducing-Yourself|Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️]] | |||
|} | |||
</span> |
Revision as of 22:14, 2 April 2023
◀️ Basic Sentence Structure — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️ |
Wolof is a language spoken by millions of people in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. As a Wolof language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to the language and culture of the Wolof people. In this lesson, we will focus on common Wolof greetings and expressions for saying hello, goodbye, and asking how someone is.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Time & Animals.
Basic Greetings
Let's start with the basics. Here are some common Wolof greetings:
Wolof | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
jam nga fën | jamm nga faan | How are you? (literally "Are you at peace?") |
mang fi rekk | maŋ fi rek | I'm fine (literally "I'm alone") |
ndëgg naa | ndeŋ naa | Goodbye |
To greet someone in Wolof, you can say "jam nga fën" which means "how are you?" or "are you at peace?" It's a common courtesy to ask this question to start a conversation with someone. The response to this question is "mang fi rekk" which means "I’m fine". Alternatively, you can simply say "na nga def?" which is a more casual way of asking "how are you?". The response to this is "mi ñuul" which means "I'm good". To say goodbye, you can use "ndëgg naa".
Introducing Yourself
If you want to introduce yourself in Wolof, you can say "nga tudd mi?" which means "do you know me?" and then give your name. Here are some examples:
Wolof | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
nga tudd mi? jamono Mamadou | nga tu(dd) mi? jamono Mamadou | Do you know me? My name is Mamadou. |
ngaa def? ngay waxtu Djenaba | nga def? nga(y) wa(k)stu Djenaba | How are you? My name is Djenaba. |
ma ngi ci horror talibe | ma ŋi ci xoor talibe | I work with talibé children. |
In Wolof language and culture, it's considered polite to introduce yourself by telling your name, where you're from, and what you do. To say "My name is [name]", you can say "jamono [name]". To say "I'm from [place]", you can say "mangi ci [place]". To say "I work [job/occupation]", you can say "ma ngi ci [job/occupation]".
Other Common Expressions
Here are some additional common Wolof expressions you may find useful:
- "Akk naa" - Welcome
- "Jërëjëf" - Thank you (often accompanied with "jamm rekk" which means "I'm still fine")
- "Ba beneen yoon" - Excuse me (to get someone's attention)
- "Ndank ndank" - Slowly, take it easy (often used in response to "how are you?" to indicate things are going well)
- "Yàlla naa béb" - God willing (used to express hope for the future)
It's worth noting that the Wolof language has many words that are borrowed from French and English, as a result of colonialism and cultural exchange.
Practice Makes Perfect
Now that you've learned some common Wolof greetings and expressions, it’s time to start practicing! Try incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations, and don't be afraid to ask Wolof-speaking friends or colleagues for help with pronunciation and usage. The more you practice, the more natural these expressions will become to you.
Remember that greetings are an important part of Wolof culture, and taking the time to say hello and ask about someone's well-being can go a long way in building positive relationships. So go ahead and try it out – jam nga fën! (How are you?)
Other Lessons
- Weather
- Health
- Travel Vocabulary
- Useful phrases for beginners
- Food
- Family Members
- City Places and Directions
- Education
- Common Foods
- Common Dishes
Sources
- 21 Essential Wolof Phrases You'll Need in Senegal
- Useful phrases in Wolof
- Basic Wolof Phrases – Janga Wolof
◀️ Basic Sentence Structure — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️ |