5 Love poems in wolof

1) “Ndank-ndank” (Slowly, surely)

Poem (Wolof)
Ndank-ndank laa la bëgg,
ndank-ndank laa la roy.
Su ma la gis, sama xol di feeñ,
mel ni suba bu leer ci kaw dëkk.

Dama la bëgg, du wax rekk,
dama koy def ci jëf.
Ma topp sa yoon, ma taxawaale,
ba faw, ci sunu mbëggeel.

Translation (English)
I love you quietly, steadily—
little by little, I carry you with me.
When I see you, my heart lights up,
like a bright morning over the city.

I love you, not just with words—
I prove it through what I do.
I walk your path and I stay,
forever, in our love.

Helpful words: ndank-ndank (little by little), xol (heart), mbëggeel (love)

2) “Sa bët yi” (Your eyes)

Poem (Wolof)
Sa bët yi, ay leer lañu,
ñu tax sama xel daldi jàmm.
Boo ma xoolee, sama baat di féex,
te sama càmmooñ daldi neex.

Dama la bëgg ci lu néew,
ci sa rires, ci sa taxawaay.
Su jamono jóggee, ma la wut,
ndax yaw nga sama dëkk bu biir.

Translation (English)
Your eyes are little lights
that calm my mind.
When you look at me, my words settle—
even silence feels gentle.

I love you in the smallest details:
in your laugh, in your presence.
When time stretches out, I go looking for you,
because you’re my home—on the inside.

Helpful words: bët (eye), jàmm (peace), biir (inside)

3) “Jàmm ci sama kër” (Peace in my home)

Poem (Wolof)
Boo duggée ci sama kër,
jàmm lañu topp, mel ni tànk ci suuf.
Sa baat dafay wér,
te sama xol dafay dëgër.

Dama la bëgg, sama moroom,
ci bés bu nekk, ci guddi bu nekk.
Su nu amee lu metti,
nu séq, nu xool, nu wóolu mbëggeel.

Translation (English)
When you step into my home,
peace follows you like footsteps on the ground.
Your voice reassures me,
and my heart grows stronger.

I love you, my partner,
every day, every night.
And when life gets hard,
we come closer, we look at each other, we call on love.

Helpful words: kër (home/house), dëgër (strong/steady), guddi (night)

4) “Yoon wi nu bokk” (The road we share)

Poem (Wolof)
Yoon wi nu bokk du yomb,
waaye du nu jàppee ba noppi.
Dama la jël ci sama loxo,
te ma wax: “Nu dem.”

Su taw bii dee, nu jeexal ko,
su tànk yi soree, nu noppaliku.
Yaw nga sama doole,
te sama ndam, ci sa kanam.

Translation (English)
The road we share isn’t always easy,
but we don’t let go.
I take your hand
and I say, “Let’s go.”

If the rain falls, we walk through it.
If the tiredness comes, we rest.
You are my strength,
and my victory—right there in your eyes.

Helpful words: yoon (road/path), loxo (hand), doole (strength)

5) “Bés bu bees” (A new day)

Poem (Wolof)
Bés bu bees, dama la bëggaat,
ni sama xol day jàngaat sa tur.
Lu dul wér, yaw nga koy wéral,
lu dul leer, yaw nga koy leerel.

Boo ma ñaanee, ma ñaane la,
boo ma réyee, ma réy la.
Ci suuf si, ci kaw asamaan,
yaw nga sama mbëggeel bu seddul.

Translation (English)
With every new day, I love you again—
as if my heart is relearning your name.
What feels unsteady, you steady it.
What feels unclear, you make it bright.

If you pray for me, I pray for you.
If you carry me, I carry you too.
On the earth, under the sky,
you are my love that never grows cold.

Helpful words: bés bu bees (new day), asamaan (sky), sedd (cold)

Short Wolof love phrases

• Dama la bëgg — I love you

• Sama mbëggeel — My love

• Jàmm rekk — All good / just peace

• Yaw nga sama xol — You are my heart (very poetic)

To go further, see 3 ways to say “I love you” in Wolof.

FAQ

How do you say “I love you” in Wolof?
The most common phrase is “Dama la bëgg.”

Does Wolof vary by region?
Yes—some vocabulary and expressions can change from place to place. Most learners can still follow along easily, especially when using standard spelling.