Laundry

1. Fan la laverie bi nekk?

   Where is the laundry?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to a laundry

   Grammar Note

   The standard "where is …" frame is "Fan la … nekk?", with the verb "nekk" ("to be located") at the end — the same pattern as "Fan la wanag bi nekk?". In Senegalese towns the shop is known by the French word "laverie"

2. Bëgg naa ñu foot sama yére yi

   I want to have my clothes washed

   Usage

   Used to request clothes washing service

   Grammar Note

   "Foot" is the verb used specifically for washing clothes (dishes take "raxas"). "Bëgg naa" followed by a clause with a different subject means "I want someone to …" (Dama bëgg mu dem = "I want him to go"). "Yére" is a class-b noun and takes the plural article "yi"

3. Ñetti fan la

   It takes three days

   Usage

   Used to communicate how many days laundry will take

   Grammar Note

   Numerals take "-i" before a noun (ñett → ñetti). "Fan" here is the class-w noun for "day (span of time)", a different word from the question word "fan" ("where"). Sentence-final "la" is the copula

4. Lii dafa tilim

   This is dirty

   Usage

   Used to indicate a dirty item that needs washing

   Grammar Note

   "Tilim" is the verb "to be dirty" (as a noun, "dirt"); its opposite is "set" ("to be clean"). "Lii" is the demonstrative for something near the speaker

5. Bëgg naa yére yi set

   I want the clothes to be clean

   Usage

   Used to request that clothes be cleaned properly

   Grammar Note

   "Set" is a stative verb ("to be clean") that stands alone as a predicate. Placing a clause with its own subject after "bëgg naa" expresses "I want X to be …"

6. Ndax mën naa indi yére yi fii?

   Can I bring the clothes here to you?

   Usage

   Used to ask if you can bring laundry to a person or service

   Grammar Note

   "Indi" means "to bring (something) along". Note that "dëkk" means "to live / town" and cannot be used for "to deliver". "Fii" is the near-speaker locative

7. Ñaata la?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   A concise way to ask how much something costs

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata la?" is the shortest way to ask a price. A noun can be fronted: "Tiket bi ñaata la?" ("How much is the ticket?")

8. Yére yi dañu set

   The clothes are clean

   Usage

   Used to confirm that the laundry is clean and done

   Grammar Note

   "Dañu" is the third-person plural predicate focus marker. "Yére" is a class-b noun, so it takes "bi" in the singular and "yi" in the plural

9. Ndax am nga saabu foot?

   Can I have the laundry soap?

   Usage

   Used to ask for laundry soap

   Grammar Note

   "Saabu" (soap, from French "savon") is a class-b noun; "saabu foot" specifies laundry soap. A washing machine is "masinu foot"

10. Foot naa yére yi

    I have finished washing the clothes

    Usage

    Used to report that laundry washing is complete

    Grammar Note

    The perfect marker "naa" already conveys "have done", so it alone expresses "I have finished washing". Note that "fey" means "to pay", not "to finish", and must not be used here

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