Time & Dates

1. Ban waxtu moo jot?

   What time is it?

   Usage

   Asking for the current time

   Grammar Note

   "Ban waxtu moo jot?" = "what time is it?". Note: "naka" means "how", not a way to ask the time

2. Ban bés la tey?

   What day of the week is it?

   Usage

   Asking what day of the week it is

   Grammar Note

   "Ban bés la tey?" = "which day is today?"; the answer is a weekday name. Note: "ayu-bés" means "week", not "day of the week"

3. Tay / Suba / Démb.

   Today / Tomorrow / Yesterday

   Usage

   Basic time reference words

   Grammar Note

   These are standalone temporal adverbs

4. Ayu-bés bii / ayu-bés bu ñëw / ayu-bés bi weesu.

   This week / Next week / Last week

   Usage

   Referring to weeks

   Grammar Note

   "Bii" = "this" (proximal demonstrative), "bu ñëw" = "coming", "bi weesu" = "that has passed". Note: "weex" means "white", not a word for "this week"

5. Ci suba / ci ngoon / ci guddi / ci gënn.

   In the morning / afternoon / evening / at night

   Usage

   Expressing time of day

   Grammar Note

   "ci" = preposition for location/time

6. Ban bés la tey?

   What is today's date?

   Usage

   Asking today's date

   Grammar Note

   "Ban" ("which") is an adjective, as in "Ban tali mooy dem … ?" ("Which road leads to …?"). "Bés" is "day" (example "bés bu nekk" = "every day"). "Tey" means "today". The literal reading is "which day is today", the ordinary way to ask the calendar date. Note: "dëkk" means "to live / village, town", not "day".

7. Kañ lañu ubbi / tëj?

   At what time does it open / close?

   Usage

   Asking opening and closing times

   Grammar Note

   "lañu" = "they" (3pl subject)

8. Jëm bi, ñaata waxtu lanu ko def?

   How long will it take to get there?

   Usage

   Asking how long the journey takes

   Grammar Note

   "lanu ko def" = "to do it"

9. Danuy daje ci ñetti waxtu ci ngoon.

   Let's meet at 3 pm.

   Usage

   Suggesting a meeting time

   Grammar Note

   "Danuy" = "we will / let's". "Daje" = "to meet"; "ñetti waxtu" = "3 o'clock" (the numeral takes -i before the noun, as in "Ñaari waxtu"). Note: "yégle" means "to announce", not "to meet"

10. Ñaari waxtu ag genn wall / Juróomi waxtu des na fukki minit ag juróom.

    It's half past two / quarter to five.

    Usage

    Expressing specific times

    Grammar Note

    "Half past X" is "X waxtu ag genn wall" ("Benn waxtu ag genn wall moo jot." = "It's one-thirty."). "N minutes to X" takes the following hour as the subject with "des na" ("it lacks"): "Ñaari waxtu des na ñaar fukki minit ag juróom." = "It's twenty-five minutes before two." Note: "ci kanam" means "later / in a while", not "before", and "xëm" means "to faint"

11. Dañuy ubbi ci Gaawu ak Dibéer?

    Is it open on weekends?

    Usage

    Asking if open on weekends

    Grammar Note

    The weekend is expressed as Saturday (Gaawu) and Sunday (Dibéer) joined by "ak" ("and"). Note: "weexoon" means "was white", not "weekend"

12. Kañ mu jóge / jeex?

    When does it start / end?

    Usage

    Asking about start/end times

    Grammar Note

    "mu" = 3sg subject marker

13. Dafa sañu wala dafa bari lool.

    It's too early / too late.

    Usage

    Expressing something is too early or too late

    Grammar Note

    "Dafa" = 3sg predicate focus

14. Ñaata fan / waxtu moo des ba ci...?

    How many days / hours until…?

    Usage

    Asking how much time is left until an event

    Grammar Note

    "To remain" is the verb "des" ("Ndox des na." = "There's still some water."). "Until" is "ba". Note: "kanam" is "face / front"; "di kanam" is not a possible verb phrase ("ci kanam" would be "in a while")

15. Ci Altine ba ci Àjjuma.

    From Monday to Friday

    Usage

    Stating the weekday range

    Grammar Note

    "Until" is "ba ci". Wolof day names derive from Arabic via Islamic tradition

16. Bëgg naa jël rendez-vous ci...

    I'd like to make an appointment for [date/time].

    Usage

    Scheduling an appointment

    Grammar Note

    "Bëgg naa" = "I would like"

17. Altine

    Monday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Monday.

18. Talaata

    Tuesday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Tuesday.

19. Àlarba

    Wednesday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Wednesday.

20. Alxames

    Thursday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Thursday.

21. Àjjuma

    Friday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Friday.

22. Gaawu

    Saturday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Saturday.

23. Dibéer

    Sunday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the day Sunday.

24. Tay

    Today

    Usage

    Use to point to or state today.

25. Suba

    Tomorrow

    Usage

    Use to point to or state tomorrow.

26. Démb

    Yesterday

    Usage

    Use to point to or state yesterday.

27. Léegi

    Now

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the present moment.

28. Guddi

    Night

    Usage

    Use to point to or state the night.

29. Gënn

    Late night

    Usage

    Use to point to or state late at night.

30. Ayu-bés bii

    This week

    Usage

    Use to point to or state this week.

31. Ayu-bés bu ñëw

    Next week

    Usage

    Use to point to or state next week.

32. Ayu-bés bi weesu

    Last week

    Usage

    Use to point to or state last week.

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