Business & Work

1. Mën nga jox ma kaart bi?

   Can you give me your business card?

   Usage

   Requesting a business card in a professional setting

   Grammar Note

   "jox ma" is a verb phrase with indirect object meaning "give to me"

2. Am naa rendez-vous.

   I have an appointment.

   Usage

   Informing that you have a scheduled appointment

   Grammar Note

   "rendez-vous" is borrowed from French and widely used in Senegal for appointments

3. Fan la salle réunion bi nekk?

   Where is the meeting room?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the meeting room

   Grammar Note

   Both "salle" (room) and "réunion" (meeting) are borrowed from French

4. Nanu wax ci budget bi.

   Let's discuss the budget.

   Usage

   Proposing to discuss the budget

   Grammar Note

   "Nanu wax" means "let's talk/discuss together" — a proposal structure

5. Xaatimleen kontara bi, su la neexee.

   Please sign the contract.

   Usage

   Requesting a signature on the contract

   Grammar Note

   "To sign" is "xaatim". It is used for signing a document — "genn dëppoo mujj nañu ko xaatim ca Siggicoor" ("they finally signed an agreement at Ziguinchor"), "la xaatim ag kóllare ak tubaay yi atum 1881" ("he signed a treaty with the French in 1881"), "ñu xaatim juboo gi ci Pari" ("they signed the peace in Paris"). The polite plural imperative adds -leen to the stem, exactly as in "Wooleen polis yi!". "Su la neexee" ("if it pleases you") is the "please" added to a request. "Kontara" is borrowed from French "contrat"; the native word is "kóllare" (pact, covenant), which collocates with this very verb in "xaatim ag kóllare". Note: "dëkk" means "to live / village, town", never "to need".

6. Lan la mot de passe Wi-Fi bi?

   What is the Wi-Fi password?

   Usage

   Asking for the Wi-Fi password at an office or venue

   Grammar Note

   "mot de passe" is French for "password" — widely used in Senegal

7. Mën nga jox ma reçu bi?

   Can you give me the receipt?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "reçu" is from French meaning "receipt/proof of payment"

8. Dama ñëw ngir liggéey.

   I came for a business trip.

   Usage

   Explaining that you are here for a business trip

   Grammar Note

   "ngir" means "for" and "liggéey" means work. There is no dedicated word for "business trip" here; it is said as "I came for work"

9. Dinaa yónnee yenn email ci kanam.

   I will send a follow-up email.

   Usage

   Informing that you will send a follow-up email

   Grammar Note

   "Dinaa + verb" expresses the near future "I will/am going to"

10. Dinaa la yónnee présentation bi.

    I will send you the presentation.

    Usage

    Informing that you will send the presentation materials

    Grammar Note

    "la" is the object pronoun "you" placed before the verb "yónnee" (to send), as in "dinaa la yónnee foto bi" on another card

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