6. Waññi – Counting: How To Easily Count in Wolof

Welcome to the sixth and second last Wolof Class: Waññi – Counting. Yesterday, I taught you how to talk about colors in Wolof. Today, we are going to continue and talk about NUMBERS! It has almost been a week since we celebrated the independence of Senegal, but we are not done yet. When I think about numbers in Wolof, I usually think about counting to ten, or counting in French. It is a bit similar to the colors, but also a bit more complicated. However, before we get into the subject: don’t forget to join the SeneGambia Vibes Club on ClubHouse where we do a Wolof class each Saturday! Until Saturday, I will be posting a Wolof class on YouTube. The video will contain a dialogue about the subject of that class and then we will dissect it. I will also share additional information on my Instagram and a downloadable syllabus in each blog for the class! – Let’s get into the second class: Waññi – Counting.

Counting in Senegal

Even though I don’t hear people count in Wolof that much, unless it is money or small numbers. I have to say that counting in Wolof is actually really fun! Actually, a couple weeks ago we had a ClubHouse class about numbers that inspired me to include it. Additionally, when I put together this class I learned a lot about numbers too. Some of the cool things about numbers in Wolof is that the word for month fanweer is the same word for 30! Another fun fact is that counting in numbers and counting in money is different. In Wolof, money is multiplied by five. Yes, the number for 100 is téeméer, but once you talk about téeméer in money, it becomes 500. Yes! That means that fanweer in money is not 30, but 150! The exact price for 1 kilo mburu, bread (baguette). Which is a good thing to know right!? Let’s get into some numbers!

Waññi – Counting

Like I said before, counting in Wolof is a bit complicated. Mostly, because at some point it will look like maths. It is similar as to counting in French. For example 93 is literally 4(x)20-13 quatre-vingt-treize. In Wolof it is similar, if I want to say I’m 28 I say ñaari fukk ak juróom ñett 2(x)10+8. However, the number eight is already written out like 5+3. It may seem complicated at first, but if you take a look at the syllabus, you’ll get the hang of it! Let’s take a look at the basis of counting in Wolof too. I think that the basis of counting lies in the numbers one to five. Benn (1), ñaar (2), ñett (3), ñent (4) and juróom (5). When it comes to for example six to ten, you just say juróom benn (6), and continue by counting up after saying juróom. So juróom ñaar (7), juróom ñett (8) etc. until ten, because that is a new word: fukk. If you want to count onwards from 10 it’s idem ditto.

I think it is best to check out the video below for more insights about Waññi – Counting. If you have any questions, definitely reach out to me on Instagram and I will answer your questions :).

Don’t forget to download the syllabus Waññi – Counting for more numbers! I specifically created it for this class. The idea was to only share a one-page stencil or worksheet. However, I was so consumed by creating this syllabus and this is the result! If you find it hard to listen to Wolof, definitely read the dialogue between me and Nafissa while watching my video. Enjoy and see you tomorrow, ba suba, In Sha Allah.

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