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<div class="pg_page_title">Wolof Grammar - Nouns</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">Wolof Grammar - Nouns</div>
Hi Wolof learners! 😊<br>In today's lesson, we will be discussing the basics of Wolof nouns. We will cover the different types of nouns, how to form plurals, and how to use nouns in sentences. By the end of this lesson, you should have a good understanding of Wolof nouns. __TOC__


== Types of Nouns ==
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/wolof Wolof] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, you will learn about Wolof nouns. Understanding nouns is essential for building correct sentences in any language, and Wolof is no exception.


In Wolof, there are two main types of nouns: common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns refer to general things, such as people, places, animals, and objects. Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things.
__TOC__


=== Common Nouns ===
== Introduction to Nouns ==
Common nouns can be divided into two categories: animate and inanimate. Animate nouns refer to living things, such as people, animals, and plants. Inanimate nouns refer to non-living things, such as objects, ideas, and concepts.


=== Proper Nouns ===
In Wolof, a noun represents a person, place, thing, or idea. Most nouns in Wolof are not gendered, unlike many European languages.  
Proper nouns are always capitalized in Wolof. They refer to specific people, places, or things. Examples of proper nouns include names of people (e.g. Mamadou), places (e.g. Dakar), and things (e.g. The Eiffel Tower).  


== Plural Nouns ==
Nouns are the basic building blocks of language, and they can be used to create simple or complex sentences. Wolof nouns are classified into five categories based on their prefixes, which act like articles.


In Wolof, nouns can be singular or plural. To form the plural of a noun, you add the suffix -e to the end of the word. For example, the plural of ndaw (dog) is ndawe (dogs).
Here are the five noun categories:
* bu- : non-physical objects like ideas or concepts
* ci- : physical objects, places, or abstract qualities
* ga- : people or animals
* ji- : liquids, grains, or sand
* lu- : body parts or clothing


== Using Nouns in Sentences ==
Each category has its own rules regarding pluralization and agreement with verbs and adjectives.


Nouns are used in sentences to refer to people, places, animals, and objects. For example:
== Singular and Plural ==


* Mamadou jëfandikoo ndaw (Mamadou is walking the dog).
In general, Wolof forms the plural of a noun by adding -na to the end of the word. Here are some examples:
* Ndawe yàgg nañu ci biir (The dogs are running in the park).
* Yàlla benn gàtt bi (Let's go to the store).  


<hr>If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Plural form !! English
|-
| mi  || mina || tree(s)
|-
| ci  || cina || thing(s)
|-
| sama  || samana || mine(s)
|}


However, some nouns have irregular plural forms that need to be memorized.


==Related Lessons==
== Agreement with Verbs ==
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
 
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Possessive-pronouns|Possessive pronouns]]
In Wolof, verbs agree with the subject of the sentence in terms of number and noun class. For example, the verb "to eat" (ñeb) would have a different form depending on the noun class that the subject belongs to.
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Plural-Nouns-—-Indefinite-article|Plural Nouns — Indefinite article]]
 
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]
Here are some examples:
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
 
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Simple-negation|Simple negation]]
* Nouns beginning with bu-: the verb takes the suffix -lu to agree with the subject, e.g. bu nekk "honesty", bu ñëw "discipline".
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
 
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Am-(to-have)-in-the-present-tense|Am (to have) in the present tense]]
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]]
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
* [[Language/Wolof/Grammar/Conditional|Conditional]]
|-
| Bu nekk na yobu-lu  || /bu'nek na 'jobulu/ || Honesty is essential.
|}
 
* Nouns beginning with ci-: the verb takes the suffix -mu to agree with the subject, e.g. ci mbër "table", ci mbob "rock".
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ci mber mu nga fukk  || /si 'mber mu ŋa fukk/ || You eat at the table.
|}
 
* Nouns beginning with ga-: the verb takes the suffix -nu to agree with the subject, e.g. ga weesu "cat", ga ndaw "friend".
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ga weesu nu amul  || /ga 'we:su nu a'mul/ || The cat catches mice.
|}
 
* Nouns beginning with ji-: the verb takes the suffix -lu to agree with the subject, e.g. ji nawle "water", ji woy "salt".
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ji nawle lu yëg  || /ʤi 'nawle lu je:g/ || Water is important.
|}
 
* Nouns beginning with lu-: the verb takes the suffix -mu or -nu to agree with the subject, depending on whether it refers to body parts (mu) or clothing (nu), e.g. lu jigéen "arm", lu gegënaar "sock".
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Lu jigéen mu nekk  || /lu ʤi'ge:en mu nek/ || My arm hurts.
|}
 
== Possessives ==
 
Possession is usually shown with the particle "mu" which follows the possessive. The noun that is being possessed follows the particle. The possessive particle will change depending on the class of the noun. Here are some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Wolof !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Mel mu rëy  || /mel mu 'rej/ || My mother is coming
| Ndaw mu ñuul  || /ndaw mu 'ɲu:l/ || Her friend lost
|}
 
== Dialogue ==
 
Here is a dialogue to practice using Wolof nouns in context.
 
* Person 1: Am naa ngi fekki wolof? (Do you speak Wolof?)
* Person 2: Waaw, mi ngi wax Wolof ci yoon wi (Yes, I speak Wolof a little bit)
* Person 1: Ci mbër senegal. (This is a table from Senegal.)
* Person 2: Waaw, ci mbër nga tey. (Yes, this is your table.)
* Person 1: Mel mu rëy nga yokk ci ëksal. (My mother is waiting for you at the exit.)
* Person 2: Ba beneen jëf ci nakk. (Thank you very much.)
 
== Conclusion ==
 
Now you have a basic understanding of Wolof nouns! To improve your Wolof Grammar, you can also use the [https://polyglotclub.com Polyglot Club] website. [https://polyglotclub.com/find-friends.php?search=send&d=0&f=36&offre1=142 Find native speakers] and ask them any [https://polyglotclub.com/language/wolof/question questions]!
 
Check out more Wolof grammar topics on the [[:Language/Wolof/Grammar|Grammar]] page. Happy learning! 😄
 
<hr>➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
 
== Sources ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolof_language Wolof Language Wiki]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolof_grammar Wolof Grammar Wiki]
 
 
{{#seo:
|title=Wolof Grammar - Nouns
|keywords=wolof nouns, plural, agreement, possessives, wolof language
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about Wolof nouns. Understanding nouns is essential for building correct sentences in any language, and Wolof is no exception.
}}


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{{Wolof-Page-Bottom}}

Revision as of 20:11, 4 March 2023

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Wolof Grammar - Nouns

Hi Wolof learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn about Wolof nouns. Understanding nouns is essential for building correct sentences in any language, and Wolof is no exception.

Introduction to Nouns

In Wolof, a noun represents a person, place, thing, or idea. Most nouns in Wolof are not gendered, unlike many European languages.

Nouns are the basic building blocks of language, and they can be used to create simple or complex sentences. Wolof nouns are classified into five categories based on their prefixes, which act like articles.

Here are the five noun categories:

  • bu- : non-physical objects like ideas or concepts
  • ci- : physical objects, places, or abstract qualities
  • ga- : people or animals
  • ji- : liquids, grains, or sand
  • lu- : body parts or clothing

Each category has its own rules regarding pluralization and agreement with verbs and adjectives.

Singular and Plural

In general, Wolof forms the plural of a noun by adding -na to the end of the word. Here are some examples:

Wolof Plural form English
mi mina tree(s)
ci cina thing(s)
sama samana mine(s)

However, some nouns have irregular plural forms that need to be memorized.

Agreement with Verbs

In Wolof, verbs agree with the subject of the sentence in terms of number and noun class. For example, the verb "to eat" (ñeb) would have a different form depending on the noun class that the subject belongs to.

Here are some examples:

  • Nouns beginning with bu-: the verb takes the suffix -lu to agree with the subject, e.g. bu nekk "honesty", bu ñëw "discipline".
Wolof Pronunciation English
Bu nekk na yobu-lu /bu'nek na 'jobulu/ Honesty is essential.
  • Nouns beginning with ci-: the verb takes the suffix -mu to agree with the subject, e.g. ci mbër "table", ci mbob "rock".
Wolof Pronunciation English
Ci mber mu nga fukk /si 'mber mu ŋa fukk/ You eat at the table.
  • Nouns beginning with ga-: the verb takes the suffix -nu to agree with the subject, e.g. ga weesu "cat", ga ndaw "friend".
Wolof Pronunciation English
Ga weesu nu amul /ga 'we:su nu a'mul/ The cat catches mice.
  • Nouns beginning with ji-: the verb takes the suffix -lu to agree with the subject, e.g. ji nawle "water", ji woy "salt".
Wolof Pronunciation English
Ji nawle lu yëg /ʤi 'nawle lu je:g/ Water is important.
  • Nouns beginning with lu-: the verb takes the suffix -mu or -nu to agree with the subject, depending on whether it refers to body parts (mu) or clothing (nu), e.g. lu jigéen "arm", lu gegënaar "sock".
Wolof Pronunciation English
Lu jigéen mu nekk /lu ʤi'ge:en mu nek/ My arm hurts.

Possessives

Possession is usually shown with the particle "mu" which follows the possessive. The noun that is being possessed follows the particle. The possessive particle will change depending on the class of the noun. Here are some examples:

Wolof Pronunciation English
Mel mu rëy /mel mu 'rej/ My mother is coming Ndaw mu ñuul /ndaw mu 'ɲu:l/ Her friend lost

Dialogue

Here is a dialogue to practice using Wolof nouns in context.

  • Person 1: Am naa ngi fekki wolof? (Do you speak Wolof?)
  • Person 2: Waaw, mi ngi wax Wolof ci yoon wi (Yes, I speak Wolof a little bit)
  • Person 1: Ci mbër senegal. (This is a table from Senegal.)
  • Person 2: Waaw, ci mbër nga tey. (Yes, this is your table.)
  • Person 1: Mel mu rëy nga yokk ci ëksal. (My mother is waiting for you at the exit.)
  • Person 2: Ba beneen jëf ci nakk. (Thank you very much.)

Conclusion

Now you have a basic understanding of Wolof nouns! To improve your Wolof Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Check out more Wolof grammar topics on the Grammar page. Happy learning! 😄

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources



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