Language/Wolof/Grammar/Pronouns
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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.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Static verbs, Conjugation, Give your Opinion & Adjective Agreement.
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
Other Lessons
- Simple negation
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- Pronouns and How to ask questions
- Nouns
- Gender
- How to Use Have
- Plural Nouns — Indefinite article
- Conjugation
- Static verbs
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