Hot Springs & Baths

1. Fan la sangukaay bu tàng bi nekk?

   Where is the hot spring / public bath?

   Usage

   Asking for the hot spring or public bath location

   Grammar Note

   "Fan la … nekk?" = "where is …?". A bathing place is "sangukaay" ("shower stall, bathtub"). "wuute" means "to be different", not "hot" ("hot" is "tàng")

2. Kañ lañu ubbi ngir sangukaay bi?

   What are the bathing hours?

   Usage

   Asking about bathing hours

   Grammar Note

   "lañu" = "they" (3pl) and "ubbi" = "to open". A bathing place is "sangukaay" ("shower stall, bathtub")

3. Ndax ku am tatoo mën na dugg ci sangukaay bi?

   Are people with tattoos allowed?

   Usage

   Asking about the tattoo policy

   Grammar Note

   "The one who …" is the relative pronoun "ku" ("ku am ak ku ñàkk" = "those who have and those who lack"). "Can enter" is "mën na dugg". Note: "jën" means "fish", not "to enter" (that is "dugg"), and "xam-xam" means "knowledge". A bathing place is "sangukaay"

4. Sangukaay yi, ndax góor ak jigéen dañu bokk walla dañu wuute?

   Are the baths mixed-gender or separated?

   Usage

   Asking if baths are mixed or gender-separated

   Grammar Note

   "walla" = "or" and "ndax" introduces a yes/no question. "To share" is "bokk" ("Ñoo ko bokk." = "They are sharing it."), used here for mixed bathing, and "to be different" is "wuute" for gender-separated. Note: a bathing place is "sangukaay", and "jar" means "to cost / to sell well", nothing to do with sharing

5. Am na sangukaay ngir kenn?

   Is there a private bath / room available?

   Usage

   Checking availability of a private bath

   Grammar Note

   "Am na" = "is there …?". A single Wolof word for "private" is uncertain, so this is expressed as "a bath for one person" ("ngir kenn"). A bathing place is "sangukaay" ("shower stall, bathtub"). "solo" means "importance / value", not "private"

6. Ñaata la ndox mi tàng?

   What is the water temperature?

   Usage

   Asking about the water temperature

   Grammar Note

   "Water" is "ndox" (noun class m, so the article is "mi") and "hot" is the stative verb "tàng". The pattern is "Ñaata" + "la" + subject + stative verb. Note: "jën" means "fish" — never water and never a bath, and "wuute" means "to be different", not "heat"

7. Dañu jox serviette walla mën naa ko abb?

   Are towels provided or available to rent?

   Usage

   Asking about towel provision or rental

   Grammar Note

   "walla" = "or". "To borrow (with the understanding that the same item will be returned)" is "abb"

8. Fan laa wara sangu balaa may dugg ci sangukaay bi?

   Where should I wash before entering the bath?

   Usage

   Asking where to wash before entering the bath

   Grammar Note

   "Fan laa wara" = "where should I …?". "Before" a future event is "balaa" plus the imperfective "di" (example: "Lekkal balaa ngay dem." = "Eat before you go."), with "ma" + "di" contracting to "may". Note: "bu kanam" cannot mean "before" ("ci kanam" points forward in time instead); "sëriñ" is the title of a Koranic teacher or marabout, never "to wash"; and "jën" means "fish"

9. Lan moo wuute ci sangukaay bu biir ak bu biti?

   What are the differences between the indoor and outdoor pools?

   Usage

   Asking about indoor vs outdoor bath differences

   Grammar Note

   "To differ" is the verb "wuute" ("wute ag" = "to be different from"). "Inside" is "biir" and "outside" is "biti". Note: "yokk" means "to add more / to exaggerate", not "to differ"

10. Ndox mi dafa tàng lool — Am na sangukaay bu sedd?

    The water is very hot — is there a cooler pool?

    Usage

    Asking for a cooler pool when water is too hot

    Grammar Note

    "Dafa" is the 3sg predicate marker. "Water" is "ndox" (noun class m, so the article is "mi"), "hot" is "tàng", and "cold" is "sedd". A bathing place is "sangukaay" ("shower stall, bathtub"). Note: "jën" means "fish", not "water", and "wuute" means "to be different", not "hot"

11. Ban minerale la ndox mi am?

    What minerals are in this spring?

    Usage

    Asking about mineral content of the spring

    Grammar Note

    "Which …" is "Ban" plus a noun (examples: "Ban xeet la?" = "What race is he?", "Ban waxtu moo jot?" = "What time is it?"). "minerale" is a French loanword. Note: "jën" means "fish" — never water and never a bath. Note: a Wolof word for a thermal "spring / source" is uncertain, so this says "ndox mi" ("the water")

12. Naka ngay jëfandikoo casier bi?

    How do I use the locker?

    Usage

    Asking how to use the locker

    Grammar Note

    "Naka ngay" = "how do you?"

13. Bul indi sa téléphone walla sa appareil photo ci biir.

    Please don't bring your phone or camera inside.

    Usage

    Asking guests not to bring phones/cameras inside

    Grammar Note

    Negative imperatives are "bul" plus a verb ("don't (sg. neg. imper.)"; example "Bu ñu xool!" = "Don't look at us!"). "To bring" is "indi", "inside" is "ci biir", and "your" is "sa". Note: "këlifa" (also written "kilifa") means "head of a household / dignitary", not "facility"

14. Ñaata waxtu laa wara nekk ci ndox mi?

    How long should I soak?

    Usage

    Asking how long to soak

    Grammar Note

    "laa wara" = "I should". "Water" is "ndox" (noun class m, so the article is "mi"). Note: "jën" means "fish" — never water and never a bath

15. Ñaata la ngir dugg ci sangukaay bi?

    What is the entry fee?

    Usage

    Asking about the entry fee

    Grammar Note

    Prices are asked with "Ñaata la?". "To enter" is "dugg" and "for" is "ngir". Note: "jënd" is the verb "to buy", not "price" (the noun for price is "njëg"). Note: "jën" means "fish" — never water and never a bath

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