Basic Nouns

1. Ndox

   Water

   Usage

   Ask for drinking water; pair it with “bottle” if you want sealed water

2. Ñam

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat

3. Xaalis

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for paying and changing currency

4. Wanag

   Toilet

   Usage

   Combine it with the “where” question

5. Muswaar

   Tissue

   Usage

   Many toilets have no paper — use this word to buy some

   Grammar Note

   A loan from French "mouchoir" (handkerchief).

6. Garab

   Medicine

   Usage

   At a pharmacy; combine it with gestures for your symptom

7. Bagaas

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, carrying on, or reporting lost bags

   Grammar Note

   A loan from French "bagage."

8. Caabi

   Key

   Usage

   At hotel reception when collecting or returning it

9. Tiket

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets

10. Paaspoor

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check

11. Telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    When you need to borrow one or ask for a number

12. Sarsëër

    Charger

    Usage

    To borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one in a shop

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "chargeur."

13. Gaar

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "gare"; it also covers long-distance bus depots.

14. Loppitaan

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "l’hôpital."

15. Alkaati

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; combine it with “where?”

    Grammar Note

    "Alkaati" is the native word for a police officer; the French-derived "polis" is also understood.

16. Butig

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to buy something

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "boutique," used for a small corner shop.

17. Néeg

    Room

    Usage

    Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies

18. Yoon

    Road

    Usage

    The base word when asking the way

19. Njaboot

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way

20. Tur

    Name

    Usage

    For introductions and for giving your name at a counter

21. Bopp

    Head

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at where it hurts

22. Bët

    Eye

    Usage

    For pointing out an eye problem

23. Bëñ

    Tooth

    Usage

    For finding a dentist or pointing at an aching tooth; the final letter is ñ, not ŋ

24. Put

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; distinct from "baat", the outside of the neck

25. Biir

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    For stomach ache; "biir" also means "inside" and is a euphemism for pregnancy, so always hold your stomach as you show it

26. Ginnaaw

    Back

    Usage

    Wolof "ginnaaw" also means "behind" and "after", so always point at your back when you use it as a body part

27. Tànk

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot; point at the exact spot on your own body

28. Loxo

    Hand / Arm

    Usage

    Covers hand and arm alike; point at the exact spot for an injury

29. Dënn

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest, for chest pain or breathing trouble

30. Nopp

    Ear

    Usage

    For earache or trouble hearing

31. Baat

    Neck

    Usage

    Wolof "baat" also means "voice" or "word", so always point at your neck when using it as a body part

32. Baaraam

    Finger

    Usage

    For a cut or burn on a finger

33. Der

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, bites, or sunburn; "der" also means leather, so point at your own arm as you show it

34. Bakkan

    Nose

    Usage

    For a blocked nose or a nosebleed; "bakkan" figuratively also means "life"

35. Ooteel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it with your hotel name when asking the way back; borrowed from French "hôtel"

36. Aéroport

    Airport

    Usage

    For telling a taxi where you are heading; Wolof has no native word and uses the French one

Browse all TravelPhrases languages