AFFIRMATIVE 1

Damay jàng wolof.  I am learning Wolof.
Dangay jàng wolof.  You are learning Wolof.
Dafay jàng wolof.  He is learning Wolof.
Danuy jàng wolof.  We are learning Wolof.
Dangeen di jàng wolof.  You are learning Wolof.
Dañuy jàng wolof.  They are learning Wolof.



AFFIRMATIVE 2

Maa ngiy jàng wolof.  I am learning Wolof right now.
Yaa ngiy jàng wolof. You are learning Wolof right now.
Mu ngiy jàng wolof.  He is learning Wolof right now.
Nu ngiy jàng wolof.  We are learning Wolof right now.
Yéena ngiy jàng wolof.  You are learning Wolof right now.
Ñu ngiy jàng wolof. They are learning Wolof right now.



Affirmative 1 and Affirmative 2 have the same negation :

NEGATIVE

Jànguma wolof.  I am not learning Wolof.
Jànguloo wolof.  You are not learning Wolof.
Jàngul wolof.  He is not learning Wolof.
Jàngunu wolof.  We are not learning Wolof.
Jànguleen wolof.  You are not learning Wolof.
Jànguñu wolof. They are not learning Wolof.



N.B. The particules dama, danga, dafa, danu, dangeen, dañu are used to justify a fact, an action having a cause and effect relationship.

Looy def?  What are you doing?
Damay jàng.  I am studying.

Lu tax ngay dem?  Why are you going?
Damay yàkkamti.  I am in a hurry.



N.B. The particule oon added to a verb marks the antecedence and corresponds to the plus-que-parfait form in French.

With a verb of being :

Dama feebaroon.  I was sick.
Feebaruma woon.  I was not sick.

With an action verb :

Dama demoon Dakaar.  I had gone to Dakar.
Demuma woon Dakaar.  I hadn't gone to Dakar.



EXAMPLES :

AFFIRMATIVE

– Dangay jàng wolof?  Are you learning Wolof?
– Waaw, damay jàng wolof.  Yes, I am learning Wolof.

– Dangeen di dem Dakaar?  Are you (pl.) going to Dakar?
– Waaw, danuy dem Dakaar.  Yes, we are going to Dakar.

– Damay jàngale wolof?  Do I teach Wolof?
– Waaw, dangay jàngale wolof.  Yes, you teach Wolof.

– Yaa ngiy jàng wolof?  Are you learning Wolof?
– Waaw, maa ngiy jàng wolof?  Yes, I am learning Wolof.

– Yéena ngiy jàng wolof?  Are you (pl.) learning Wolof?
– Waaw, nu ngiy jàng wolof.  Yes, we are learning Wolof.



NEGATIVE

– Dangay dem Dakaar?  Are you going to Dakar?
– Déedéet, demuma Dakaar.  No, I am not going to Dakar.

–  Yaa ngiy lekk ceebu-jën?  Are you eating ceebu-jën.
– Déedéet, lekkuma ceebu-jën.  No, I am not eating ceebu-jën.

– Danga feebaroon?  Were you sick?
– Déedéet, feebaruma woon.  No, I was not sick.

– Danga demoon France?  Had you gone to France?
– Déedéet, demuma woon France.  No, I had not gone to France.

– Jàngoon nga wolof?  Had you studied Wolof?
– Déedéet, jànguma woon wolof.  No, I had not studied Wolof.

– Maa ngiy jàngale pulaar?  Am I teaching Pular?
– Déedéet, jàngalewuloo pulaar.  No, you are not teaching Pulaar.

– Dangeen di jàng pulaar? Are you (pl.) learning Pular?
– Déedéet, jàngunu Pulaar. No, we are not learning Pulaar.



CULTURAL EXPLANATION :

Ceebu jën (rice and fish) is Senegal's national dish. If the rice is cooked with tomato paste, the dish is called ceebu xonq (red rice), due to the red color. If not, it is called ceebu weex (white rice).

Dakar is the bustling capital city of Senegal, the center of commerce and international affairs. Population : 2,384,000 inhabitants in 2002. The first capital of Senegal under the French was Saint-Louis. However the capital changed to Dakar in 1958.

Pulaar, spolen by over 2 million Senegalese, is one of the six official languages of Senegal. Pulaar communities are also found in the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Mauretania.

Abdoulaye Dial