Duma lekk yàpp.
I don't eat meat.
Usage
Vegetarian declaration
Grammar Note
"du-" = 1sg negative
Maa ngi vegan, duma lekk dara bu jóge ci mala.
I'm vegan; I don't eat anything from animals.
Usage
Vegan declaration
Grammar Note
"jóge ci" = "originating from"
Dama jomlu gerte.
I have a peanut allergy.
Usage
Peanut allergy
Grammar Note
"jomlu" is the transitive verb "to be allergic to" (example: "Dama jomlu mééw." = "I'm allergic to milk"). Peanut is "gerte"; do not use "nawet", which means "rainy season"
Am ngeen menu bu amul gluten?
Do you have a gluten-free menu?
Usage
Gluten-free inquiry
Grammar Note
"ngeen" 2pl/formal "you"
Maa ngi Jullit, duma lekk yàppu porc.
I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.
Usage
Halal observance
Grammar Note
"yàpp-u" = "meat of"
Manuma naan meew.
I cannot drink milk.
Usage
Lactose intolerance
Grammar Note
"man" = able, neg "manuma"
Am naa alersi bu lekkug géej.
I'm allergic to seafood.
Usage
Seafood allergy
Grammar Note
"géej" = "sea"
Lan moo nekk ci ñam wii?
What's in this food?
Usage
Ingredient inquiry
Grammar Note
"ñam" belongs to noun class w, so the proximal demonstrative is "wii" ("this"). "ndax-lekk" is not a Wolof word
Mën nga koy defar te amul soble?
Could you make it without onion?
Usage
Request to omit ingredient
Grammar Note
"Mën nga" = "can you?"
Am naa alersi bu nen.
I have an egg allergy.
Usage
Egg allergy
Grammar Note
"bu" relativizer
Am ngeen lim bu allergen yi?
Do you have an allergen list?
Usage
Allergen menu request
Grammar Note
"yi" plural definite
Sama alersi mën na ma rey.
My allergy can kill me.
Usage
Severe allergy warning
Grammar Note
"sama" = "my"
Am na diw walla pepper ci biir?
Is there oil or pepper inside?
Usage
Asks about oil/spice
Grammar Note
"ci biir" = "inside"
Sama lekk mën na bokk ak yeneen?
Could my food get mixed with others?
Usage
Cross-contamination check
Grammar Note
"ak" = "with"
Jërëjëf lool ndax sa xel.
Thank you very much for your concern.
Usage
Formal thanks
Grammar Note
"ndax" = "because of"
Manuma lekk yàppu nag.
I cannot eat beef.
Usage
Specific food restriction
Grammar Note
"nag" = "cow"
Yàppu porc
Pork
Usage
Point at it to check a dish; pork is rare in mostly Muslim Senegal
Grammar Note
yàpp (meat) + the genitive linker -u + porc (pig; a French loanword). mbaam means donkey, so it is not used for pork
Yàppu nag
Beef
Usage
Point at it to check whether a dish contains beef
Yàppu ganaar
Chicken
Usage
Point at it to check a dish; the classic filling for yassa
Jën
Fish
Usage
For a fish allergy; the national dish ceebu jën is built on fish, so always check
Nen
Egg
Usage
For an egg allergy
Meew
Milk / Dairy
Usage
For a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance; also covers powdered milk and soured milk (soow)
Gerte
Peanut
Usage
Senegalese cooking is built on peanut paste (mafe and others) — always show this if you carry an EpiPen
Lekkug géej
Seafood
Usage
Covers shellfish and molluscs as well as fish; point at the actual item if you need to single one out
Sanggara
Alcohol
Usage
Point at it to avoid alcohol for religious or medical reasons; traditional Senegalese drinks are almost all alcohol-free. "Sanggara" is glossed "Le vin", synonym "biiñ"; also spelled "Sangara"
More Wolof phrases
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- Basic Nouns
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