Markets & Souvenirs

1. Ñaata la?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata la?" = "How much is it?". Note: "jënd" is the verb "to buy"; the noun "price" is "njëg"

2. Mën naa waxaale?

   Can I bargain / negotiate the price?

   Usage

   Requesting price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Mën naa" = "I can"

3. Maa ngi jëfandikoo... francs rëk.

   I'll offer … francs only.

   Usage

   Making a lower price offer

   Grammar Note

   "rëk" = limiting particle "only"

4. Mën nga ko wàññi?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Mën nga" = "can you?"

5. Ndax loolu fait main la, walla produit local la?

   Is this handmade or locally made?

   Usage

   Asking about product origin

   Grammar Note

   "walla" = "or"

6. Lan moo ko def?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material

   Grammar Note

   "moo" = focus marker

7. Mën nga ko emballer ngir cadeau?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Asking for gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "ngir" = "for"

8. Fan la marché bu guddi bi nekk?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking for the night market location

   Grammar Note

   "Fan la … nekk?" = "where is…?"

9. Mën naa jël reçu bi?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "Mën naa" = "may I?"

10. Kañ la marché bi di ubbi ak tëj?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Asking about market hours

    Grammar Note

    "To open" is "ubbi" ("Ouvrir") and "to close" is "tëj" ("Fermer"; "to close, lock"). The pair appears together: "tëj bunti sawara, du ñu ci ubbi benn, ubbi bunti àjjana" ("the gates of hell are shut and none of them opened; the gates of paradise are opened"). The frame "Kañ la + subject + di + verb?" matches "Kañ la hadyu di war ajkat bi?" ("when does the hajj become obligatory for the pilgrim?"). Note: "dëkk ak dem" is "to live/town" plus "to go", not "open and close".

11. Maa ngi gis rekk, jërëjëf.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Indicating you are just browsing

    Grammar Note

    "Maa ngi" = present progressive marker

12. Mën naa fay ak carte?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checking card payment acceptance

    Grammar Note

    "fay" = to pay, "ak" = with (e.g. "fay ak carte"). Note: "jënd" + "-andoo" is "buy" + "together", which does not mean paying

13. Maa ngi jënd lii ngir souvenir.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Stating you are buying a souvenir

    Grammar Note

    "ngir" = "as / for"

14. Mën naa yónnee lii ci bitim réew?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "bitim réew" = "abroad". Note: "dëkk" means "town / village", not "country"

15. Lan moo gëna baax fi?

    What's your best / freshest item?

    Usage

    Asking for the best item

    Grammar Note

    "gëna" = comparative/superlative marker

16. Dafa seer lool.

    This is too expensive.

    Usage

    Saying the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "dafa" = 3sg predicate marker

17. Doomu garab

    Fruit

    Usage

    For finding the fruit stalls; literally "child of a tree"

    Grammar Note

    doom (child) + the genitive linker -u + garab (tree); note that "garab" also means medicine

18. Soble

    Onion

    Usage

    Yassa is built on onions — point at this before ordering if you avoid them

19. Laaj

    Garlic

    Usage

    Wolof "laaj" is a homonym of the verb "to ask", so point at the actual bulb when you show this

20. Kaani

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    Point at it to check for heat; small very hot chillies are often simmered whole in Senegalese dishes

21. Soow

    Soured milk (drinking yoghurt)

    Usage

    The soured milk sold at markets and stalls; it is drunk rather than eaten, unlike Western yoghurt

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