Transportation

1. Yóbbu ma Dakar, su la neexee

   Please take me to Dakar

   Usage

   Used to tell a driver your destination in a taxi or rideshare

   Grammar Note

   "To take someone somewhere" is "yóbbu" (example "yóbbu ma marse" = "take me to the market" has exactly this shape). Politeness is added with "su la neexee". Transport in Senegal commonly uses car rapide minibuses and shared taxis.

2. Ñaata la?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask the fare for a taxi or shared transport

   Grammar Note

   "Ñaata la?" is the shortest way to ask a price; a noun can be fronted ("Trajet bi ñaata la?"). "fukk" is the numeral "ten" and never means "price". Senegal uses the CFA franc (XOF), and haggling is normal in markets and informal transport.

3. Maa ngi wut gare bi

   I am looking for the bus station

   Usage

   Used to ask for or find the bus terminal or taxi stand

   Grammar Note

   "gare" is borrowed from French for bus terminal. "To look for" is "wut" (same shape as "Maa ngi ko wut"). Dakar's Gare Routière is a major transport hub.

4. Taxawal fii, su la neexee

   Stop here please!

   Usage

   Used to tell the driver to stop at your destination

   Grammar Note

   "Taxawal" is the imperative of "to stop / stand" (same as in "Taxawal fii, su la neexee"). Politeness is added with "su la neexee". Essential phrase for getting off transport in Senegal.

5. Fan mooy aéroport bi?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Used to ask directions to Dakar's Blaise Diagne International Airport

   Grammar Note

   "fan mooy...?" (where is...?) is the standard question for locations. "bi" is the definite article like "the".

6. Am nga kaar bu dem Saly?

   Is there a bus going to Saly?

   Usage

   Used to ask about transport to Saly, Senegal's popular beach resort

   Grammar Note

   "kaar" is borrowed from French "car" (intercity bus). Dakar's Gare de Baux Maraîchers is the main bus hub

7. Yóbbu ma ci gare bi

   Take me to the station

   Usage

   Used to direct a taxi or transport driver to the bus or train station

   Grammar Note

   "yóbbu" means "to transport/bring". "ci" is the directional preposition "to/towards"

8. Ndax gaawantu nga?

   Is it urgent? / In a hurry

   Usage

   Used to check whether the other person is in a hurry; in a taxi it is usually the driver asking the passenger

   Grammar Note

   "Ndax …?" forms a yes/no question (example "ndax yoon wi baax na?" = "is the road good?"). Verb + "nga" is the 2nd person singular, the same frame as "Ndax am nga saabu foot?" and "Ndax mën nga ma dimbali?" "To hurry" is "gaawantu" ("Se dépêcher"; there is also the imperative "Gaawantu leen jëm ca yiw wa" = "hurry towards the good"). Note: "yagg" means only "Durer" (to last) — the exact opposite of hurrying. "Yagg" = old / long-standing, and "yàgg" means "to take a long time", which would reverse the sense in an emergency. The adverb "bu yàgg" is likewise "Depuis longtemps" ("since long ago"), nothing to do with speed

9. Xam nga Dakar Dem Dikk bi?

   Do you know the Dakar Dem Dikk bus?

   Usage

   Used to ask about Dakar's public bus system called Dem Dikk

   Grammar Note

   "Dem Dikk" means "go and return" in Wolof — the name of Dakar's main public bus operator

10. Dellusi fii

    Come back here / Return here

    Usage

    Used to ask a driver to return to pick you up later

    Grammar Note

    "dellusi" means "to come back". "fii" is the adverb "here". Combined: "come back here". Note: "weesu" means "past / gone by", not "return"

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