How to Say Thank You in Wolof: Essential Phrases and Replies
Click the button after a phrase to hear it spoken by a teacher.
In Wolof, the word for thank you is Jereejef or Jërejëf. These are two spellings of the same word, and you will find both in our recordings.
On this page, you will learn how to strengthen your thanks to say “thank you very much,” how to reply with “you're welcome,” and how to thank someone for something specific. Every example comes from phrases recorded by our teachers.
Jereejef: the basic expression
Jereejef ! is the core way to say thank you in Wolof. You can use it on its own or as part of a longer sentence. Our recordings translate it as both “Thank you” and “Thank you very much” depending on context. For example, Suur naa! Jereejef. means “I am full! Thank you,” while Jereejef ! on its own is recorded as “Thank you very much!”
Both spellings, Jereejef and Jërejëf, appear in our recordings with identical translations. You will encounter both depending on the source.
Saying “thank you very much”
Several phrases in our recordings reinforce the thanks:
- Jereejef lool! - Thank you very much!
- Jërejëf bu bari. - Thank you very much.
- Jereejef lool! Yalla na la Yalla fay. - Thank you very much! May God reward you.
- Jot naa ko, jërejëf lool. - I received it, thank you very much.
Saying “you're welcome”
Two expressions appear in our recordings as a reply to thanks:
- Amul solo. - You're welcome.
- Ñoo ko bokk. - You're welcome.
Ñoo ko bokk. appears at the start of longer phrases: Ñoo ko bokk. Kaay lekk! (You're welcome. Come eat!) and Ñoo ko bokk. Ba ci kanam! (You're welcome. See you soon!).
Thanking someone for something specific
Our teachers recorded several ways to thank someone for a particular thing:
- Jereejef ci teraanga bi. - Thank you for the hospitality.
- Jërejëf ci sa tektal bi. Léegi mangi tambali xam - Thank you for your explanation. I truly understand now.
- Jërejëf ci sa ndimbal . amal na ma ndiarigne loolu sax. - Thank you for your help. It means a lot to me.
- Jërejëf ci sa wax dji. Yeen, am ngen waxtaan tay? - Thank you for your words. Do you have a meeting today?
Ready-to-use examples
- Lekk naa, jereejef. Naan nga ndox? - Yes, I have eaten, thank you. Have you drunk water?
- Jërejëf! Insha Allah, dinaa ñëw suba. - Thank you very much! God willing, I will come tomorrow.
- Mangi doxal, jërejëf. Sa waa kër gi naka la ñu def? - It's going well, thank you. How is your family?
- Ñoo ngi ci jamm, jërejëf! Sama yaay ak sama baay ñu ngi ci kër gi. - They are well in peace, thank you very much! My mother and my father are at home.
A mini-dialogue made from phrases recorded by our teachers
- Jereejef ci teraanga bi. - Thank you for the hospitality.
- Ñoo ko bokk. Ba ci kanam! - You're welcome. See you soon!
FAQ
What is the difference between Jereejef and Jërejëf?
They are two spellings of the same word. Both appear in our recordings with identical translations. You will see both depending on the source you use.
Does Jereejef mean “thank you” or “thank you very much”?
Our recordings use it both ways. Jereejef ! alone is translated “Thank you very much!”, but in phrases like Suur naa! Jereejef. or Lekk naa, jereejef. the translation is simply “Thank you.”
How do you say “you're welcome” in Wolof?
Two expressions work as a reply to thanks: Amul solo. and Ñoo ko bokk. Both are present in our recordings with the same meaning.
How do you thank someone for something specific?
Our recordings show phrases like Jereejef ci teraanga bi. (Thank you for the hospitality.) and Jërejëf ci sa ndimbal . amal na ma ndiarigne loolu sax. (Thank you for your help. It means a lot to me.).
