English – Official language, widely spoken in tourist areas
Wolof – Most widely spoken local language
Mandinka – Major ethnic language (from Lamin Ceesay Dictionary)
Fula – Spoken by Fulani people
Jola – Spoken in southern regions
🗣️ Wolof Phrases (Most Useful)
Wolof is the lingua franca – most Gambians understand it!
English
Wolof
Pronunciation
Hello / Peace be with you
Salaam Aleikum
sah-LAAM ah-LAY-koom
Reply: And with you
Maleikum Salaam
mah-LAY-koom sah-LAAM
How are you?
Na nga def?
nah-ngah-DEF
I’m fine
Mangi fi rekk
MAHN-gee fee REK
Good morning
Jamm nga fanaan?
jahm-ngah-fah-NAHN
Good evening
Jamm nga yendoo?
jahm-ngah-yen-DOH
English
Wolof
Pronunciation
Thank you
Jërëjëf
jeh-reh-JEF
Please
Bu la neexee
boo-lah-NEE-khee
You’re welcome
Amul solo
ah-MOOL soh-loh
Sorry / Excuse me
Baal ma
bahl-MAH
No problem
Baax na
bahkh-NAH
Goodbye
Ba beneen
bah-beh-NEEN
English
Wolof
Pronunciation
How much?
Ñaata la?
nyah-TAH-lah
Too expensive!
Dafa seer!
DAH-fah seer
Reduce the price
Wañi ko
WAH-nyi koh
I want…
Dama bëgg…
DAH-mah behg
I don’t want
Bëgguma
beh-GOO-mah
That’s the last price?
Prix bu mujj la?
pree-boo-MOOJ-lah
English
Wolof
Pronunciation
I want to go to…
Faan naa dem…
fahn-nah-DEM
Stop here
Taxaw fi
tah-KHAW-fee
Where is…?
Fan la…?
fahn-LAH
Near
Jege
JEH-geh
Far
Sori
SOH-ree
English
Wolof
Pronunciation
Yes
Waaw
wow
No
Déedéet
day-DAYT
Good / Nice
Baax
bahkh
Very good!
Baax na torop!
bahkh-nah-toh-ROP
Water
Ndox
ndokh
Food
Lekk
lek
Friend
Xarit
khah-REET
Foreigner/Tourist
Toubab
too-BAHB
🎵 Mandinka Phrases
Mandinka is the language of the largest ethnic group in The Gambia. These phrases are from the Lamin Ceesay
Mandinka-English Dictionary (13,848 entries):
English
Mandinka
Notes
Peace be upon you (Hello)
Salaamaleekum
Islamic greeting, universal
Good morning
I saama
ee-SAH-mah
Good afternoon
I tiinya
ee-TEEN-yah
Good evening
I wulaara
ee-woo-LAH-rah
Good night
Kaa sutoo diiyaa
Also: Foo samaa!
Peace be with you
Kayira bee
Common greeting
How are you?
Kori tanante?
Also: I be di?
I am fine
Tanante / N be jee
Literally: “I am here”
How is your family?
Sumolu bee?
Important to ask!
They are fine
Sumolu tanante
Response to above
What is your name?
I too mu munne ti?
ee-TOO moo MUN-nay tee
My name is…
N too mu … le ti
E.g., N too mu Lamin le ti
Goodbye / See you
Fo waatoo doo
Until another time
See you later
M be jee la
I’ll see you
See you tomorrow
M be jee la saama
Tomorrow farewell
English
Mandinka
Notes
Thank you
Abaraka
ah-bah-RAH-kah
Thank you very much
Abaraka baake
Very grateful
Yes
Haa
Affirmative
No
Hani
Negative
OK
Yoo / Acha
Agreement
Please
Dukare
I beg you
Sorry / Excuse me
Haketo
Pardon
Help me
N maakoy
Request for help
Welcome
Kontondiroo
Greeting/salutation
Bless you
Ala baraka
God bless you
English
Mandinka
Notes
How much?
Nying mu jelu le ti?
Essential for markets!
It’s too expensive
A daa mang diyaa
The price is not good
I want to buy
N lafita … sang na
I want to buy…
To buy
Sang
Purchasing
To sell
Waafi
Selling
Market
Marisee
mah-ree-SAY
Shop
Kumfaa
Store/boutique
Money
Kodoo
koh-DOH
Cloth/Fabric
Bayoo
For buying textiles
This one
Nying
Pointing to items
English
Mandinka
Notes
Where are you going?
I be taa la mintoo?
Common question
Where is…?
… be mintoo?
Asking directions
I’m going to…
N be taa la…
E.g., N be taa la Banjul
I come from…
N bota … le
E.g., N bota Banjul le
Car/Vehicle
Motoo
Car, truck, lorry
Bicycle
Weloo
WEH-loh
Boat/Ferry
Baraa
For river crossings
Road
Siloo / Kiloo
Path, way
Village/Town
Saatee
sah-TAY
To go
Taa
Going
To come
Naa
Coming
To arrive
Futa
Reaching destination
English
Mandinka
Notes
Water
Jiyo
JEE-yoh
Rice
Manoo
Staple food
Bread
Mbuuru
mm-BOO-roo
Fish
Nyee
nyay
Meat
Suboo
soo-BOH
Egg
Kiliyoo
kee-lee-YOH
Milk
Nonoo
noh-NOH
Tea
Tii
Attaya (green tea)
Salt
Koo
koh
Sugar
Sukaaroo
soo-KAH-roh
To eat
Domo
DOH-moh
To drink
Mindi / Ming
Drinking
I’m hungry
N be konkoring
I am hungry
It’s delicious!
A diyaata!
It’s good/tasty!
English
Mandinka
Notes
Today
Bii
bee
Tomorrow
Saama / Sini
SAH-mah
Yesterday
Kunung
koo-NOONG
Now
Saaying
At this moment
Later
Nooma
Afterwards
Morning
Soomandaa
Morning time
Evening
Wulaaroo
Evening time
Sunday
Alahadoo
ah-lah-HAH-doh
Monday
Tenengo
teh-NENG-oh
Tuesday
Talaatoo
tah-LAH-toh
Wednesday
Araboo
ah-RAH-boh
Thursday
Araamisoo
ah-rah-MEE-soh
Friday
Arajumoo
Prayer day
Saturday
Sibitoo
see-BEE-toh
Number
Mandinka
Pronunciation
1
Kiling
kee-LING
2
Fula
FOO-lah
3
Saba
SAH-bah
4
Naani
NAH-nee
5
Luulu
LOO-loo
6
Wooro
WOH-roh
7
Woruwula
woh-roo-WOO-lah
8
Sey
say
9
Kononto
koh-NON-toh
10
Tang
tahng
20
Muwong
moo-WONG
100
Keme
KEH-meh
English
Mandinka
Notes
Mother
Baamaa
BAH-mah
Father
Faamaa
FAH-mah
Child
Dingo
DING-oh
Children
Dingolu
Plural
Brother
Baarinkewo
Male sibling
Sister
Baarimmusoo
Female sibling
Grandmother
Mamamusoo
Grandma
Grandfather
Mamakee
Grandpa
Wife
Musoo
Also means woman
Husband
Keema
KAY-mah
Friend
Teerimaa
tay-ree-MAH
Guest/Stranger
Luntango
Visitor
English
Mandinka
Notes
What?
Mung?
moong
Where?
Mintoo?
meen-TOH
When?
Waati jumaa?
What time?
Why?
Munaakendi?
For what reason?
Who?
Jonding?
Which person?
Which?
Jumaa?
joo-MAH
What is this?
Munne mu nying ti?
Pointing at something
What is wrong?
Munne be i la?
What’s the matter?
English
Mandinka
Notes
Come here
Naa jang
nah jahng
Help!
Deemaaroo!
Call for help
I am sick
N kuranta
I am ill
Doctor
Dokitaroo
doh-kee-TAH-roh
Medicine
Furoo / Mangboroo
Traditional/modern
I have a headache
Kungdimoo be n na
Head pain
I have a stomachache
Konodimoo be n na
Stomach pain
It is better
A fisiata
Improving
🔢 Numbers
1 – Benn (ben)
2 – Ñaar (nyahr)
3 – Ñett (nyet)
4 – Ñeent (nyent)
5 – Juróom (joo-ROHM)
10 – Fukk (fook)
100 – Téeméer (tay-MAYR)
💬 Cultural Tips
💡 Communication Tips
Greetings are important! Always greet before asking anything
Take your time – Long greetings are normal and polite
Right hand – Use the right hand for greetings and eating
Smile! – Gambians love friendly, smiling tourists
“Toubab” – You’ll hear this (means foreigner) – not rude!
Try any phrase – Locals love it when tourists try!
