Directions

1. Xam nga?

   Do you know? (Do you know the way?)

   Usage

   Used to check if someone knows the way before asking for directions

   Grammar Note

   "Nga" is the second-person singular subject ("you"). The first-person "naa" ("I") would turn this into "Do I know?". Questions are distinguished by rising intonation rather than a structural change

2. Fan la X nekk?

   Where is X?

   Usage

   The core phrase for asking where a specific place is. Replace X with the destination name

   Grammar Note

   "Fan la...nekk?" is the standard where-question in Wolof. "Nekk" functions as a locative verb similar to "to be located" in English

3. Dem ci kanam

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   The basic direction instruction meaning go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Dem" is Wolof's core motion verb. Directions: "ci kanam" (forward), "ci ginnaaw" (backward), "ci ndijoor" (to the right), "ci càmmoñ" (to the left)

4. Jël ci ndijoor

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used to instruct someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   Wolof directions: "ndijoor" (right), "càmmoñ" (left). "Jël" (to take) combined with direction gives the meaning of turning

5. Jël ci càmmoñ

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used to instruct someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Càmmoñ" means left in Wolof. Pronunciation may vary slightly by region. The preposition "ci" introduces directions in navigation instructions

6. Jëm ci areet bus bi

   Head to the bus stop

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to a bus stop or asking for directions to one

   Grammar Note

   Wolof's definite article "bi" follows the noun. "Jëm" implies purposeful movement toward a destination, while "dem" is a more general go/travel verb

7. Ñaata kilomet la sore fii?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask how far away a destination is

   Grammar Note

   "Far" is "sore" (adverb "Loin", verb "Être éloigné"). The thing one is far from follows directly, with no preposition — the same shape as "Abila sore woon na Damas ... lu tollu 29 kilomet" ("Abila was 29 km from Damascus") and "fu gën a sore Aten 40 kilomet" ("a place 40 km farther than Aten"). "Ñaata" is the interrogative "how much / how many", and the frame "ñaata + noun + la" matches "ñaata yoon la xew-xew bi di am" ("how many times does the event occur"). "Fii" is the near-speaker locative. Note: "yaatu" does not mean "far" but "wide, broad, extensive". Its uses are all about breadth ("ci tekki bu yaatu" = "in a broad sense", "xam-xam bu yaatu" = "a wide-ranging science", "Xeetu Lawbe yaatu na" = "the Lawbe people are numerous/broad"). Its derivative "yaatoo" states surface area — "yaatoo 21 011 km2" ("it covers 21,011 km²") — and the causative "yaatal" is "to widen" ("yaatal suufam" = "to extend its territory"). None of these is a distance. Note also that "ca" is the distal, not the proximal, demonstrative; "here" is "fii"

8. Dëkk bi ci kanam la

   The town center is ahead

   Usage

   Used to indicate that the town center is in the direction ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Dëkk" is a versatile word for village, town, or area. Dakar's center is called "dëkk bi" colloquially or "Plateau" by the district name. Note: "ahead" is the adverbial "ci kanam"; bare "kanam" without "ci" is the noun "face"

9. Dama réer

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used when you are lost and need someone to help you find your way

   Grammar Note

   "réer" is the verb "to get lost"; the verb-focus marker "dama" gives "I am lost". "leer" is a different word meaning "to be bright / to shine". Note also that "soxor" means "to be mean, cruel" — not "to be in trouble"

10. Jërëjëf ci yëgël ma yoon wi

    Thank you for showing me the way

    Usage

    Used to thank someone after they have given you directions

    Grammar Note

    "Yoon" means road, way, or method. "Wi" is the definite article that attaches to certain noun classes in Wolof. "Yoon wi" means "the (right) way"

11. Ndijoor

    Right

    Usage

    A single word the driver can read at a glance; Dakar drivers also understand the French "à droite"

    Grammar Note

    The initial nd is a single prenasalised consonant

12. Càmmoñ

    Left

    Usage

    A single word the driver can read at a glance; the French "à gauche" also works

    Grammar Note

    The final letter is ñ (U+00F1), not ŋ — they are distinct letters in Wolof

13. Jubal

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it to say keep going without turning

    Grammar Note

    "Jub" = to be straight; the suffix "-al" makes it an imperative

14. Dellul

    Go back

    Usage

    For asking a driver to turn back after overshooting

15. Taxawal

    Stop

    Usage

    Show it where you want to get out — more reliable than shouting in a car rapide

16. Bëj-gànnaar

    North

    Usage

    For matching a map or a road sign

17. Bëj-saalum

    South

    Usage

    For matching a map or a road sign; the same word as the Saloum region

18. Penku

    East

    Usage

    Rooted in the direction of sunrise; for matching a map or a sign

19. Sowu

    West

    Usage

    Rooted in the direction of sunset; Dakar sits at the westernmost point of the continent

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