Casino & Gambling

1. Fan la casino bi nekk?

   Where is the casino?

   Usage

   Asking where the casino is located

   Grammar Note

   "Fan la ... bi nekk?" = where is the ...? (location question; same pattern as "Fan la wanag bi nekk?")

2. Ñaata la mise minimum bi?

   What is the minimum bet at this table?

   Usage

   Asking about the minimum bet at the table

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata la ...?" = How much is ...? (the standard way to ask a price or amount). "mise" is a French loanword (stake)

3. Naka lañuy jënd jeton yi?

   How do I buy chips?

   Usage

   Asking how to purchase casino chips

   Grammar Note

   "Naka lañuy ...?" = How does one ...? (how-to question)

4. Dama bëgg fo blackjack / roulette / baccarat / poker / machine yi.

   I'd like to play blackjack / roulette / baccarat / poker / slots.

   Usage

   Expressing interest in specific casino games

   Grammar Note

   "Dama bëgg ..." = "I want to ...". The verb for playing a game is "fo" (the noun is "po"); the verb for gambling itself is "wure". Do not use "jooy", which means "to cry"

5. Jël / Taxaw / Dubbël (blackjack).

   Hit / Stand / Double down (blackjack terms).

   Usage

   Using blackjack game terms

   Grammar Note

   Game instruction terms. "To take / to select" is "jël" and "to stand" (stop drawing) is "taxaw" ("to stand up; to stop what one has been doing"). Note: "Dem ci kanam" means "go forward" — the exact opposite of standing pat. Note: "yëgël" (also written "yégél") actually means "to announce / to inform", not "to draw a card"

6. Dama bëgg soppi jeton yi ak xaalis.

   I'd like to cash out my chips.

   Usage

   Requesting to cash out casino chips

   Grammar Note

   "Dama bëgg soppi ..." = I want to exchange ... ("soppi" = to change/exchange). "jeton" is the French loanword for chip. "liggéey" means work, not chips

7. Am na code vestimentaire?

   Is there a dress code?

   Usage

   Asking if there is a dress code

   Grammar Note

   "Am na ...?" = Is there ...? (existence question). "Am naa" means "I have"; use "Am na" for "is there". "code vestimentaire" is the French term for dress code

8. Ndax mën naa am naan bu amul njëg?

   Can I get a complimentary drink?

   Usage

   Asking for a complimentary casino drink

   Grammar Note

   "bu amul njëg" = without a price, i.e. free ("amul" = there is none, "njëg" = price). "naan" is used for a drink as in "naan yu amul alkol". "mbind" means to write, not drinks

9. Ñaata la limiti yi ci taabal bi?

   What are the table limits?

   Usage

   Checking the table betting limits

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata la limiti yi ci ...?" = What are the limits at ...? ("Ñaata la" is the standard way to ask an amount)

10. Am na salon VIP?

    Is there a VIP room?

    Usage

    Asking if there is a VIP room

    Grammar Note

    "Am na ...?" = Is there ...? (existence check)

11. Doy na ngir guddi gi.

    I think I've had enough for tonight.

    Usage

    Deciding to stop playing for the night

    Grammar Note

    "Doy" means "Suffisant / Être suffisant", and "doy na : ça suffit" is also used; e.g. "Lii doy na tegtal ci leerug seen tànniinu buur". "Night" is "guddi" ("La nuit"; e.g. "guddi gi ñu farataale julli"). Note: "ëllëg" does not mean "night" but "tomorrow / the future" ("luy xewi ëllëg" = "what will happen tomorrow", "làkku ëllëg" = "the language of tomorrow"), and the "dëkk" of "dëkk bu di bok" means "to live / town", not "enough".

12. Aji-door laa — firil ma ni ñuy foowe?

    I'm a beginner — can you explain the rules?

    Usage

    Asking for an explanation of game rules as a beginner

    Grammar Note

    "Aji-door laa" = "I am a beginner". "Aji-door" is the term for débutant and "firi" is explain. Rather than use a noun for "rules", the sentence asks about "ni ñuy foowe" — how one plays

13. Ban waxtu la casino bi di tëju?

    What time does the casino close?

    Usage

    Asking when the casino closes

    Grammar Note

    "At what time" is "Ban waxtu" (example: "Ban waxtu moo jot?" = "What time is it?"). "To close" (intransitive) is "tëju"; the transitive "to close something" is "tëj". Note: "kanam" means "face / front" and is never a time question word, and "dëkk" means "to live / a town"

14. Fan la wanag yi nekk?

    Where are the restrooms?

    Usage

    Asking for restroom location in the casino

    Grammar Note

    "Fan la ... yi nekk?" = where are the ...? (plural location). Toilet is "wanag"

15. Ban po lañu am?

    What games do you have available?

    Usage

    Asking about available game types

    Grammar Note

    "Ban X lañu am?" = Which X do they have? "po" means game/play. "jëf" means deed, not game

16. Am na tournoi poker tey ci guddi?

    Is there a poker tournament tonight?

    Usage

    Asking if a poker tournament is scheduled tonight

    Grammar Note

    "Am na ...?" = Is there ...? (existence)

17. Mën naa soppi jeton yi ak xaalis ci caisse bi?

    Can I exchange chips for cash at the cashier?

    Usage

    Asking to exchange chips for cash at the cashier

    Grammar Note

    "Mën naa ..." = Can I ...? "soppi jeton yi ak xaalis" = exchange chips for money. "jeton" is chip ("liggéey" means work)

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