Post Office

1. Fan la poste bi nekk?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to the post office

   Grammar Note

   "Poste" is a French loanword. Senegal's postal service is operated by "La Poste Sénégal"

2. Bëgg naa yónni lettre bi ci Japon

   I want to send this letter to Japan

   Usage

   Used at the post office to request sending a letter internationally

   Grammar Note

   "Yónni" is the Wolof verb for "to send." "Lettre" is a French loanword. Wolof extensively borrows from French

3. Timbre bi ñaata la?

   How much is the stamp?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a postage stamp

   Grammar Note

   "Timbre" comes from French "timbre" (stamp). Prices are asked with "noun + ñaata la?"

4. Bëgg naa yónni colis bi ci France

   I want to send this parcel to France

   Usage

   Used to request international parcel shipping at the post office

   Grammar Note

   "Colis" is from French for parcel/package. Senegalese post offices offer international parcel services

5. Ñaata fan la ko jëm?

   How many days will it take to arrive?

   Usage

   Used to ask about estimated delivery time

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata" asks about quantity (how many). "Jëm" means to go/head toward. "Ko" is third person object pronoun

6. Bëgg naa yónni argent ci Orange Money

   I want to send money via Orange Money

   Usage

   Used to request mobile money transfer service at post offices or shops

   Grammar Note

   "Argent" is French for money. Orange Money and Wave are widely used mobile payment services in Senegal, also available at post offices

7. Ñu yónnee ko ci lu gaaw.

   Please send it express

   Usage

   Used to request express mail service

   Grammar Note

   "To send" is "yónnee" ("man a yónnee ab bataaxal" = "can send a letter"; "la waa Union Sovietique yónnee nit ku njëkka dem jawwu ji" = "the Soviet Union sent the first man into space"). "Right away / quickly" is "ci lu gaaw" (from "gaaw", "Rapide / Être rapide"), which appears verbatim in "Soxlo naa doktoor ci lu gaaw". Note: the similar-looking word "sore" = "far" (adverb "Loin", verb "Être éloigné"), which has nothing to do with speed. And "dëkk" means "to live / village, town", not "to send".

8. Waaw, jërejëf ci ndimbal bi

   Yes, thank you for the help

   Usage

   Used to thank post office staff for their assistance

   Grammar Note

   "Waaw" is Wolof "yes" (also "dëgg" is used). "Ndimbal" is a noun meaning help or support. "Ci ndimbal bi" = "for this help"

9. Bëgg naa numéro de suivi bi

   I want the tracking number

   Usage

   Used to request a package tracking number

   Grammar Note

   "Numéro de suivi" is a French technical term used directly. Package tracking is available via La Poste Sénégal website or SMS notifications

10. Yónni ci bitim réew moo gëna seer

    International shipping costs more

    Usage

    Used to confirm or explain that international postage is more expensive

    Grammar Note

    "Yónni" is the verb "to send". "Bitim réew" is "abroad / outside the country" (politik bitim réew = foreign policy; dund ca bitim réew = to live abroad). Comparatives and superlatives are built with "moo gëna" plus a verb (same shape as "moo gëna baax"). "Expensive" is "seer" (as in "Dafa seer" and "Dafa seer lool"). Note: "xar" means "sheep", not a price (its other senses are "to cut in half" and "piece, portion"). The noun for price is "njëg" (example njëg li ñaata la?). Note also that "yaatu" in the sense of "expensive" is uncertain

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