How to Ask “How Are You” in Wolof and How to Reply
In Wolof, asking how someone is doing is at the heart of every conversation. This page covers the essential phrases to ask the question, give a reply, and go further by asking about family, health and work.
All the phrases come from our recordings. You can use them as they are, without changing the spelling.
How to Say “How Are You” in Wolof
The phrase recorded by our teachers to ask how someone is doing is Nanga def?, which means “How are you?”. Another form, Naka nga def, carries the same meaning. When the question is addressed to several people, our recordings give nangen def, translated as “how are you?” (plural).
How to Reply to “Nanga def?”
Several answers appear in our recordings:
- Jaam rekk. - “In peace.”
- Maangi fi rekk, alhamdoulilah. - “I am here, thank God.”
- Maa ngi fi rekk. - “I am fine.”
- Alxamdulillaah! - “Thank God!”
You will notice two spellings for the same reply: Maangi fi rekk and Maa ngi fi rekk. Both forms appear in our recordings.
Asking About the Family
To ask about the other person's family, here are the phrases from our recordings:
Click the button after a phrase to hear it spoken by a teacher.
- Ana sa waa keur? - “How is your family?”
- naka sa waa keur? - “How is your family?”
- Sa waa kër gi naka la ñu def? - “How is your family?”
- Ana waa ker ga? - “And the family?”
Our recordings show three spellings for “family”: waa keur, waa kër and waa ker.
To reply to this question:
- Ñoo ngi ci jamm, jërejëf! - “They are well, thank you!”
- Ñu ngi ci jàmm, alxamdulillaah. - “They are well, thank God.”
- Waaw. Ñoom, sama waa kër yi, ñepp a ngi ci jàmm. - “Yes. My family, they are all well.”
Asking About Health
Our recordings give several ways to ask about someone's health:
- Naka yaram bi? - “How is your health?”
- Naka sa yaram? - “How is your health?”
- Naka yaram bi léegi? - “How are you feeling now?”
Asking About Work
To ask about someone's work, two phrases appear in our recordings:
- naka liggey bi? - “How is work?”
- lu bees ci liggey bi? - “Any news at work?”
Ready-to-Use Phrases
Here are five complete phrases recorded by our teachers, ready to memorize:
- Naka nga def? Lan moo lay metti? - “How are you feeling? What is wrong?”
- Jërejëf ci sa laaj bi. naka liggey bi? - “Thank you for asking. How is work?”
- Mangi doxal, jërejëf. Sa waa kër gi naka la ñu def? - “Things are moving along, thank you. How is your family?”
- Maangi fi rekk, alhamdoulilah. Yow nanga def? - “I am here, thank God. And you, how are you?”
- Wa alaykum saalam Moussa. Maa ngi fi rekk. Yaw, lu bees ci liggey bi? - “Hello Moussa. I am fine. And you, any news at work?”
A Short Dialogue
This dialogue is made up of phrases recorded by our teachers.
- assalaam aleykum! Nanga def, Omar? - “Hello! How are you, Omar?”
- Maangi fi rekk, alhamdoulilah. Yow nanga def? - “I am here, thank God. And you, how are you?”
- Jaam rekk. Ana sa waa keur? - “In peace. How is your family?”
- Waaw. Ñoom, sama waa kër yi, ñepp a ngi ci jàmm. - “Yes. My family, they are all well.”
FAQ
How do you say “how are you” in Wolof?
The phrase recorded by our teachers is Nanga def?, meaning “How are you?”. For a group, our recordings give nangen def, meaning “how are you?” (plural).
How do you reply to “Nanga def?” in Wolof?
Several replies appear in our recordings: Jaam rekk. (“In peace”), Maangi fi rekk, alhamdoulilah. (“I am here, thank God”) and Maa ngi fi rekk. (“I am fine”).
How do you ask about the family in Wolof?
Our recordings give several phrases: Ana sa waa keur?, naka sa waa keur? and Sa waa kër gi naka la ñu def?, all meaning “How is your family?”.
How do you ask about someone's health in Wolof?
Our recordings give Naka yaram bi? (“How is your health?”) and Naka yaram bi léegi? (“How are you feeling now?”).
