Updated
November 5, 2000
Dictionaries for Wolof and Mandinka are available in Adobe Acrobat
format from
The Gambia Resource Site
Because there are a number of tribes represented in The Gambia, there are also an equal number of languages and due to the British influence many Gambians speak English.
Although Wolof is probably the most spoken African language in the Gambia, GTS concentrates on Mandinka. The Mandinka language is spoken widely throughout West Africa and many of the GTS workers are of Mandinka origin.
The local people are most amused at our attempts to speak Mandinka and we are producing a one word & phrase Mandinka sheet which we hope will be useful.
Here are a few basic words
of Mandinka to get you started
Hanni means NO
Haa means YES (double
letters emphasise the sound - Haar)
Abaraka means THANK YOU
Barchie means VERY so
Abaraka barchie barchie means thanks very much
Domading means SLOWLY
or A LITTLE
Dave Anderson, a GTS member has sent the following starter words in Wolof, he says they are spelt as they sound rather than correctly.
Fanla
Brufet...where is Brufet
Dema Fily...go away
Ow mar hallis...I hav'nt got any money
Bar u mar...leave me alone
Danga dof...you're crazy
Dama hiff... I'm hungry
Dema booga wetchy hallis...I want to change money
Daffa barry...its too much (as in the cost of something)
More Wolof words...
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