Language/Wolof/Grammar/Pronouns

Wolof Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Wolof learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Pronouns in the Wolof language. Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence. They are essential for clear communication and proper sentence construction.

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to replace the noun that performs the action of the sentence. They can also be the subject of the sentence. In Wolof, subject pronouns are:

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Mii	mii	I
Ngir	ñir	You
Yi	yi	He/She/It
-am	We
-an	You (plural)
Yaa	yaa	They

For example:

• Person 1: Mii jëkkë? (Do I eat?)
• Person 2: Waaw, ñuul. (Yes, you eat)

• Person 1: Yi yën? (Is he coming?)
• Person 2: Déedéet. (Yes, he is)

• Person 1: Am jëkkë? (Are we eating?)
• Person 2: Waaw, jëkkëtë. (Yes, we are eating)

• Person 1: Yaa mëna? (Are they here?)
• Person 2: Déedetë. (Yes, they are)

Object Pronouns

Object pronouns replace the noun that receives the action of the sentence.

In Wolof, object pronouns are:

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Mii	mii	Me
Ñu	ñu	You
Yi	yi	Him/Her/It
Ñami	ñami	Us
Ñuy	ñuy	You (plural)
Yi	yi	Them

For example:

• Person 1: Mii seen? (Do you see me?)
• Person 2: Waaw, seen. (Yes, I see you)

• Person 1: Ngir gi dëkk? (Did you beat him?)
• Person 2: Waañëë, dëkk. (No, I did not beat him)

• Person 1: Yi ñettali? (Does he like them?)
• Person 2: Waaw, ñett. (Yes, he likes them)

• Person 1: Ñami jàmm? (Do they love us?)
• Person 2: Waaw, jàmm. (Yes, they love us)

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession in a sentence.

In Wolof, there are two types of possessive pronouns:

Dependent possessive pronouns =

Dependent possessive pronouns are used before the noun they possess.

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Ma	ma	My
Ñeel	ñeel	Your (singular)
Ci	ci	His/Her/Its
Amul	amul	Our
Ñeelul	ñeelul	Your (plural)
Yi	yi	Their

For example:

• Person 1: Ma junni? (Is this my phone?)
• Person 2: Waaw, junni ma. (Yes, this is your phone)

• Person 1: Ngir ñeel nan moo rab? (Did you visit your mother yesterday?)
• Person 2: Waaw, rab ci far bu ñu. (Yes, she is at the farm)

• Person 1: Amul palais yi taxaw? (Is our palace big?)
• Person 2: Waaw, waxtu bi xam-xam. (Yes, that place is huge)

Independent possessive pronouns =

Independent possessive pronouns can be used alone and don't need a noun to follow.

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Maay	ma-aï	Mine
Ñuutee	ñu-teu	Yours (singular)
Sàmmi	sa-mmi	His/Her/Its one
Amna	am-na	Ours
Ñuuteelu	ñu-teu-telu	Yours (plural)
Senni	senn-i	Their one

For example:

• Person 1: Seen maay. (This is mine)
• Person 2: Dinaa ñeent see lëkk. (Take your own bag)

• Person 1: Ñuutee ngay waa gen mu? (Is this yours?)
• Person 2: Waaw, ñu wooñ. (Yes, it's mine)

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same.

In Wolof, reflexive pronouns are:

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Mooñ	mo-oñ	Myself
Ñuñ	ñu-oñ	Yourself
Yiñ	yi-oñ	Himself/Herself/Itself
Amñañ	am-na-oñ	Ourselves
Ñuyñañ	ñu-na-oñ	Yourselves
Yiñnañ	yi-na-oñ	Themselves

For example:

• Person 1: Ngir mooñ ak dëkk? (Did you hit yourself?)
• Person 2: Waaw, mu dëkkjee. (Yes, I hit myself)

• Person 1: Amñañ yi wër? (Did we hurt ourselves?)
• Person 2: Waaw, benn amnaa cu yàqar. (Yes, one of us fell down)

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions.

In Wolof, interrogative pronouns are:

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
Bu ci	bu ci	Who
Ganaar	ga-naar	What
Ñaañee	ñaa-ñee	Whose
Dànga	da-nga	Where
Deet	deet	When
Wàññi	wa-ñi	Why
Jàngal	jang-gal	How

For example:

• Person 1: Bu ci jàmm? (Who loves you?)
• Person 2: Ñama jàmm. (My mother loves me)

• Person 1: Ganaar ma jëkk na? (What am I eating?)
• Person 2: Xëru. (Rice)

• Person 1: Ñaañee junni ñeel mu? (Whose phone is this?)
• Person 2: Ñeel am sama ñyyi. (It belongs to my friend)

• Person 1: Danga gu amul jàmm? (Where is our house located?)
• Person 2: Ngalma. (In the village)

• Person 1: Deet bi? (When is it?)
• Person 2: Njaxës. (Tomorrow)

• Person 1: Wàññi ñetti golo? (Why do they like football?)
• Person 2: Ji ci analoo ci ñeeb. (Because it's fun and competitive)

• Person 1: Jàngal ma jëkk na? (How am I cooking?)
• Person 2: Tëpp, bu yombi. (Slowly, with patience)

It takes time and a lot of practice to master the use of pronouns in the Wolof language. To improve your Wolof Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Pronoun
• Wolof language
• Interrogative pronouns