Language/Wolof/Vocabulary/Eating-and-Drinking

Wolof → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Dining → Eating and Drinking

In this lesson, you will learn the Wolof vocabulary related to eating and drinking. This includes common meal times, utensils, and beverages. Wolof cuisine and dining etiquette will also be discussed. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to talk about food and dining in Wolof with confidence.

Meal Times

Meals are an important part of Wolof culture, and there are specific words used to describe meal times.

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
jerëjef	jeh-reh-jef	Thank you (after finishing a meal)
suba	soo-bah	Morning
fajr	fah-jer	Before sunrise (for Muslims fasting during Ramadan)
bërëf	beh-reh-f	Noon
nàgg	nahg	Evening
guddi	goo-dee	Night

• Breakfast is not a traditional meal in Wolof culture, but it is becoming more common in urban areas.
• Lunch is the main meal of the day, and it is usually eaten around noon.
• Dinner is typically eaten late in the evening, around 8 or 9 pm.

Utensils

Wolof cuisine relies heavily on hands-on eating, and utensils are not always used. However, there are still important words to know related to utensils and table settings.

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
buur	boor	Spoon
mbokk	em-bokk	Bowl
laate	laa-teh	Fork
seer	seer	Cup

• Meals are often served on a large communal plate, and everyone eats with their hands from the same dish.
• Forks and knives are not commonly used, but spoons can be used for soups and stews.

Beverages

Beverages play an important role in Wolof culture, and there are several Wolof words for different types of drinks.

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
ñaar	nyar	Water
ataya	ah-tie-yah	Sweet mint tea served in three rounds
bennéfé	ben-neh-feh	Hibiscus tea
bu-weer	boo-weh-r	Coffee
mangoos	man-goos	Mango juice

• Ataya is an important beverage in Wolof culture and is often ceremoniously served to visitors.
• Mango juice is also a popular beverage in Wolof cuisine.

Wolof Cuisine

Wolof cuisine is known for its flavorful stews and rice dishes. Here are some common Wolof dishes to know:

Wolof	Pronunciation	English
thiéboudienne	cheh-boo-jen	Senegalese national dish of fish, rice, and vegetables
yassa	yah-sah	Chicken or fish cooked in onion and mustard sauce
mafé	mah-fay	Stew made with peanut sauce and served with rice
pastels	pas-tels	Fried dough stuffed with fish and vegetables

• Wolof cuisine has been influenced by different cultures, including French and North African cuisine.
• Meals are often served with a side of couscous or millet.

Dining Etiquette

In Wolof culture, dining is an important social event and is often done communally. Here are some dining etiquette tips to keep in mind:

• When eating with others, it is important to wait for everyone to arrive before beginning the meal.
• It is polite to use your right hand to eat or drink, as the left hand is considered unclean in Wolof culture.
• When sharing a communal plate, it is customary to eat only from the section in front of you instead of reaching across the plate.
• It is polite to say "jerëjef" (thank you) after finishing your meal.

With these tips in mind, you should feel confident in your ability to dine with Wolof speakers and enjoy their delicious cuisine.

Table of Contents - Wolof Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Wolof

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Wolof Cultural Norms

• Politeness and Respect
• Greetings and Social Etiquette

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Classes
• Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Terms

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Family and Social Structure

• Family Roles
• Social Hierarchy

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Tenses

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating and Drinking

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Wolof Cuisine and Dining Etiquette

• Traditional Dishes
• Dining Etiquette

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Describing Actions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

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Travel and Tourism in Wolof-Speaking Countries

• Popular Destinations
• Travel Tips

Related Lessons

• Modes of Transportation
• Useful phrases for beginners
• Family Members
• Transportation
• Prepositions
• Fruits
• How to say Good Bye?
• Clothes
• Geography
• Shopping Vocabulary