Language/Wolof/Vocabulary/Common-Greetings

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Wolof → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and Introductions → Common Greetings

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.

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?)

Table of Contents - Wolof Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction to Wolof

Greetings and Introductions

Wolof Cultural Norms

Nouns and Pronouns

Family and Relationships

Family and Social Structure

Verbs and Tenses

Food and Dining

Wolof Cuisine and Dining Etiquette

Adjectives and Adverbs

Travel and Transportation

Travel and Tourism in Wolof-Speaking Countries

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