Pharmacy & Health

1. Am nga garab ngir metitu bopp?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in Senegal

   Grammar Note

   "Garab" means both medicine and tree in Wolof. A headache is "metitu bopp" — "metit" (pain) + genitive "-u" + "bopp" (head); "am metitu bopp" = "to have a headache". Note "xol" means heart, not head

2. Dama soxlo garab ngir metitu biir

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Soxlo" (variants soxla / soxle) is the verb "to need". Do not use "soxor", which is a different word meaning "to be mean, cruel". "Metitu biir" is "stomach pain"; "am metitu biir" = "to have a stomach ache"

3. Dama soxlo garab ngir biir buy daw

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   Wolof has no single word for diarrhea: it is expressed as "biir buy daw" ("a belly that runs"), as in "am biir buy daw" or "Sama biir dafay daw" ("I have diarrhea")

4. Am naa fièvre

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Fièvre" is borrowed from French. Senegal uses French as official language, Wolof mixes with it

5. Am naa allergie

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Allergie" is borrowed from French. Many Wolof medical terms come from French

6. Dama soxlo pansement

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Soxlo" (variants soxla / soxle) is the verb "to need". "Pansement" is the French word for bandage/dressing; French is used in pharmacies in Senegal

7. Dama soxlo répulsif anti-moustiques

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   In Senegal, French "répulsif anti-moustiques" is the standard pharmacy term for mosquito repellent

8. Dama soxlo crème solaire

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   French "crème solaire" is the standard term for sunscreen in Senegalese pharmacies

9. Naka laa wara naan garab bii?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Naka" is the Wolof question word "how". "Naan" means "to drink" (spelled with a double a). "Laa wara" is "I must"

10. Ndax war naa am ordonnance?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Ordonnance" is the French word for prescription. Common in Wolof as a French loanword

11. Farmasi

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    For asking the way; shopfronts read the French "PHARMACIE" under a green cross

12. Ordonnance

    Prescription

    Usage

    For asking whether a prescription is required; all Senegalese medical paperwork is in French

13. Préservatif

    Condom

    Usage

    For buying one at a pharmacy; Wolof has no native word and uses the French form

Browse all TravelPhrases languages