Wolof (Wollof)

Wolof is a Niger-Congo language with about 7 million speakers in Senegal, France, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania. Wolof is one of the six national languages of Senegal (Senegaal / سِنِڭَالْ), along with Serer, Mandinka, Pulaar, Diola and Soninke.

The Wolof orthography using the Latin alphabet was standardised in 1974. Before then Wolof was usually written with a version of the Arabic script known as Wolofal, which is still used by many older men in Senegal.

Wolof pronunciation

Sample text in Wolof

Doomi aadama yépp danuy juddu, yam ci tawfeex ci sag ak sañ-sañ. Nekk na it ku xam dëgg te ànd na ak xelam, te war naa jëflante ak nawleen, te teg ko ci wàllu mbokk.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Language courses for Wolof (en français)

Links

The Wolof people of Senegal - includes information about Wolof culture and language
http://www.bcconline.org/wolof/

Online Wolof lessons
http://www.wolofonline.com
http://www.toutlewolof.com
http://www.chez.com/afroweb/wolo_frm.htm

Other Niger-Congo languages

Akan, Bambara, Bemba, Chichewa, Duala, Ewe, Ewondo, Ga, Ganda, Herero, Igbo, Kirundi, Kpelle, Lingala, Mende, Shona, Southern Sotho, Swahili, Twi, Wolof, Xhosa, Yorùbá, Zulu

Other languages written with the Latin alphabet