At the Table in Wolof: Phrases to Invite, Compliment and Thank

This page gathers phrases recorded by our teachers to help you at mealtime: the invitation to eat, compliments on the dish, expressing fullness, saying thank you, and asking about tea.

You will find ready-to-use examples and a short mini-dialogue to practice.

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Inviting Someone to Eat: Kaay lekk

Kaay lekk means “Come and eat.” You can use it on its own or follow it with the name of the dish:

Click the button after a phrase to hear it spoken by a teacher.

  • Kaay lekk ceeb bi! - Come and eat the rice!
  • Kaay lekk! Ceeb u jen la. - Come and eat! It's thieboudienne.
  • Kaay lekk! ceeb u jenn la. - Come and eat! There's thieboudienne.
  • Kaay nu lekk! Ceeb u jenn laa togg. - Come, let's eat! I cooked thieboudienne.

Our recordings use several spellings for rice with fish: ceeb u jen, ceeb u jenn and ceebu jën. All three refer to the same dish.

One phrase recorded by our teachers speaks directly to guests: denga wara nangu. Su ñu la waxĂ© "kaay lekk", demal lekk. - “You must accept. If someone says 'come and eat', go and eat.”

Saying It's Good: Neex na

Neex na means “It's good.” Add lool and you get Neex na lool - “It's very good” or “It's delicious”:

  • Neex na lool! Yaa togg? - It's delicious! Did you cook this?
  • Neex na lool! Yaay dji moo ko togg. - It's very good! The mother cooked it.
  • Waaw, ceeb u jenn la. Neex na lool! - Yes, it's rice with fish. It's very good!

To ask “Is it good?”, you say Neex na? You can find it in Jereejef! mba Neex na? - “Thank you! Is it good?”

I'm Full and Thank You: Suur naa and Jereejef

Suur naa means “I'm full.” Our recordings pair it with thanks:

  • Suur naa! Jereejef. - I'm full! Thank you.
  • Suur naa. Alhamdulilah. Neex na lool! - I'm full. Thank God. It was very good!

Jereejef means “Thank you.” Our recordings also show the spelling jĂ«rejĂ«f: both forms mean the same word. To reply to a thank-you at the table: Ñoo ko bokk. Kaay lekk! - “You're welcome. Come and eat!”

Asking What Someone Wants to Eat

  • Lekk nga? - Have you eaten?
  • Lane nga bĂ«gg añÚ tay? - What do you want to eat at noon today?
  • Assalaamu alaykum ! Lane nga bĂ«gg a lekk tay? - Hello! What do you want to eat today?
  • Tantie Adja, lane nga togg tay? - Tantie Adja, what are you cooking today?

Tea: attaaya

Our recordings show several spellings for tea: attaaya, ataaya and attaya. Here are the recorded phrases:

  • Kaay naan ataaya keur ga - Come drink the tea at my place.
  • aprĂšs ma dĂ©fal la attaaya? - Ok. After the meal, some tea?
  • Waaw, dinaa nieuw. amna attaya? - Yes, I'm coming. With some tea?
  • Dalal ak jamm. Dengay naane attaaya? - Welcome. Some tea?

Mini-Dialogue

Here is a short exchange made up of phrases recorded by our teachers:

  • Kaay lekk ceeb bi! - Come and eat the rice!
  • Neex na lool! Yaa togg? - It's delicious! Did you cook this?
  • Neex na lool! Yaay dji moo ko togg. - It's very good! The mother cooked it.
  • Suur naa! Jereejef. - I'm full! Thank you.

FAQ

How do you say “come and eat” in Wolof?

You say Kaay lekk. To mention the dish, add its name, as in Kaay lekk ceeb bi! - “Come and eat the rice!”

How do you say “it's delicious” in Wolof?

Neex na means “It's good.” To emphasize, say Neex na lool - “It's very good” or “It's delicious.”

How do you say “I'm full” in Wolof?

You say Suur naa. The full phrase Suur naa! Jereejef. lets you express both fullness and gratitude: “I'm full! Thank you.”

How do you write “thank you” in Wolof?

Jereejef means “Thank you.” Our recordings also show the spelling jĂ«rejĂ«f: both forms refer to the same word.

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