Yëksil Xi Djäm from Sénégal: Conversation Starters in Wolof

French is Sénégal’s official language. However, if you make your way to the market or any other place where natives frequent in Dakar, the language you are most likely to hear – the lingua franca –is Wolof.

Yëksil Xi Djäm

To tell someone welcome you say, Yëksil Xi Djäm.

nö Tödö

To ask for someone’s name [What is your name?], you say, nö Tödö.

[Name] lä Tödö

To give your name [My name is…], you say, [Name] lä Tödö.

Nagadef

To ask how someone is doing [How are you?], you say, Nagadef.

Män güi Rëk

To respond to Nagadef, you can say, Män güi Rëk [I am fine].

waw

To say yes, say, waw.

dëdët

To say no, say, dëdët.

güir Yallah

To say please, say, güir Yallah.

Dieureudieuf

To say Thank you, say, Dieureudieuf.

Namenala

To tell someone you miss them, say, Namenala [I miss you].

Dä mä la beug

To tell someone you love them, say, Dä mä la beug [I love you].