Language Learning

1. Bëgg naa jàng Wolof

   I want to learn Wolof

   Usage

   Used to express desire to learn Wolof to locals

   Grammar Note

   "Jàng" broadly means to learn, read, or study in Wolof. Foreigners attempting to learn Wolof are greatly appreciated by Senegalese people

2. Lan la loolu wax ci Wolof?

   What does this mean in Wolof?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to say something in Wolof

   Grammar Note

   "Wax" is one of the most basic Wolof verbs meaning to say or speak. "Ci Wolof" is a prepositional phrase meaning "in Wolof"

3. Xam naa tuuti Wolof

   I know a little Wolof

   Usage

   Used to humbly express your limited Wolof ability

   Grammar Note

   "Xam" is an important verb meaning to know or have knowledge. Reduplicated "xam-xam" becomes a noun meaning knowledge or wisdom

4. Waxal ndànk, su la neexee

   Please speak slowly

   Usage

   Used when someone speaks too fast and you need them to slow down

   Grammar Note

   "Waxal ndànk, su la neexee" is a set phrase. "Ndànk" = "slowly", "su la neexee" = "please". Note: "dëgg" means "truth" and is a different word from "dégg" (to hear / understand)

5. Firil ma bi nga wax

   Explain to me what you said

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to explain what they just said

   Grammar Note

   "Firil" is the verb "to explain" (base form "firi"). "Bi nga wax" is a relative clause meaning "what you said"

6. Ndax Wolof dafa jafe?

   Is Wolof difficult?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the difficulty of learning Wolof

   Grammar Note

   "Jafe" means "difficult" (same root as "jafe-jafe" = trouble). The opposite is "yomb" (easy). "Dafa jafe" uses the predicate focus marker "dafa". Note: "wóor" means "certain", not "difficult"

7. Bëgg naa jàng Wolof ak yów

   I want to practice Wolof with you

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to be a language practice partner

   Grammar Note

   "Ak" is a conjunction meaning "with/and." "Yów" is the emphatic pronoun form used after prepositions

8. Tàmbali naa jàng léegi, waaye bëgg naa dem ci kanam

   I've just started learning but I want to continue

   Usage

   Used to explain you're a beginner but motivated to keep learning

   Grammar Note

   "To begin" is "tàmbali" ("Riisi dafa tàmbali xeex yu bari" = "Russia began many wars"). The first-person perfect is "tàmbali naa" ("tàmbali naa taw" = "it has begun to rain"; "Suwayli tàmbali naa nekk làkk wees" = "Swahili has begun to be a widespread language"). "Léegi" is "now / just now" (e.g. "ba léegi" = "up to now"). "Waaye" is the adversative conjunction (like English "but"). Note: "ci kanam" is an adverbial phrase and cannot stand as a predicate on its own; it needs the verb "dem" ("to go"), giving "dem ci kanam" ("to go forward" = to keep going). Note also that "Yàgg na ma jàng" does not mean "I have just started" but its exact opposite, "I have been studying for a long time": the verb "yagg" means "Durer" ("to last") and the adverb "bu yàgg" means "Depuis longtemps" ("since long ago"), and "yàgg na koo jiite" ("he led it for a long time") carries the same sense. Its proper use is "Yagg" = "old / long-standing"

9. Jàngaleen ma baat bu mujj

   Please teach me that word again

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to repeat or reteach a word or phrase

   Grammar Note

   "Jàngaleen" is the polite plural imperative of "jàng." The "-leen" suffix marks polite plural imperative. "Bu mujj" means "again/once more"

10. Jërejëf, jàng naa ci Wolof

    Thank you, I've learned about Wolof

    Usage

    A closing expression of gratitude after someone has taught you about Wolof

    Grammar Note

    "Jàng naa" combines "jàng" (to learn) + "naa" (first person perfective). This phrase expresses both gratitude and the result of learning

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