Key Wolof consonants, nasal and geminate sounds, and vowel quality for accurate pronunciation. Front: the sound pattern or example word. Back: meaning plus a plain-English pronunciation note.
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- X sound
- A voiceless fricative made far back in the throat, like the "ch" in Scottish "loch". Example word: xaalis (money).
- Ñ sound
- Like the Spanish "ñ" or the "ny" in English "canyon". Example word: ñaar (two).
- Ng sound at word start
- Pronounced like the "ng" in English "sing", but Wolof allows it to begin a word, which is hard for English speakers. Example word: ngelaw (wind).
- C sound
- Pronounced like the "ch" in English "chair". Example word: ceeb (rice).
- J sound
- Pronounced like the "j" in English "jam". Example word: jën (fish).
- Ë sound
- A short, neutral central vowel, like the "u" in English "but". Example word: rekk (only).
- À sound
- An open back vowel, like the "a" in English "father". Example word: àll (forest).
- É sound
- A closed mid front vowel, similar to the vowel in French "été" without a glide. Example word: réew (country).
- Ó sound
- A closed mid back vowel, similar to the vowel in French "eau". Example word: moom (him, her).
- Vowel length: xar vs xaar
- Xar (sheep) has a short vowel, while xaar (to wait) has a long vowel; holding the vowel longer changes the word's meaning.
- Prenasalized clusters
- Word-initial clusters like mb-, nd-, ng-, and nj- are pronounced as a single blended sound, not as separate syllables. Example words: mbedd (street), ndox (water).
- Word stress
- Wolof stress typically falls on the first syllable of a word.
- R sound
- A light, quick tap of the tongue tip, similar to a Spanish single "r". Example word: rekk (only).
- W and Y as consonants
- W and Y function as consonants at the start of a syllable, not just as vowel glides. Example words: weer (moon), yaay (mother).
- Nasalized vowels
- A vowel placed right before a nasal consonant often takes on a nasal quality.
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