Wolof people use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings.
Check out these Senegalese proverbs and quotes below to gain some insight into Wolof beliefs and ways of thinking.
Below I’ve listed famous Wolof quotes, inspiring Wolof sayings and common Wolof proverbs.
Table of Contents
Famous Wolof Proverbs & Wolof Sayings
Below I’ve listed the most famous Wolof proverbs as well as some common Wolof sayings. These are used often in day to day life.
- Saabu du foot boppam – Soap does not do laundry alone.
This Wolof proverb is about working together. The soap cannot wash the clothes on its own, it needs help from other people.
- Soo demee dëkk fekk ñépp di fecce benn tànk defal na ñoom – If you go to a village where everyone dances on one leg, you should do the same.
This funny Wolof proverb is similar to the English saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’.
It means that when you visit a place, you should follow the local customs.
- Ku bëgg lem, ñeme yamb – Whoever wants honey must brave the bees.
This Wolof proverb teaches us to be courageous. To succeed, you need to face tough challenges first.
- Ndankndank mooy japp golo ci ñaay – Slowly does one grab a monkey in the forest.
This Wolof proverb is similar to the English version ‘slow and steady wins the race’.
- Nit nitay garabam – People are a person’s medicine.
This Wolof quote means that everyone must rely on the company and comfort of others in order to thrive.
- Bul sa loxo ubbiku ndax nangu te téju ndax maye – Do not let your hands be open to receive and closed to give.
- Jangal nit ki napp moo gën di ko may xaalis – Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him money.
This Wolof saying means that it is better to teach people how to do something themselves than to just do it for them.
- Xamxam dafay weey, xaalis dày jeex – Knowledge remains, money gets used up.
This proverb means that knowledge is valuable as it can’t be taken away from you.
- Bor du am rakk – Debt does not have a younger sibling.
This Wolof proverb teaches us to pay off our debts before taking on more debt.
- Duma jënd jaar ci pax – I won’t buy a chipmunk in a hole.
This saying means that you should never buy something without seeing it first.
- Ku am kuddu du làkk – Whoever has a spoon will not be burned.
This Wolof quote means that you will be ok if you have somebody to help you.
- Yakkamti yàkkule – Those in a hurry break things.
This proverb teaches us not to act hastily. Take your time to complete tasks properly.
- Nen du bëreek doj – An egg should not wrestle with a rock.
This quote teaches us not to fight with someone much stronger than us.
- Àkk àkkum gaynde, song songum bukki – Charge with the spirit of a lion but attack like a hyena.
This Wolof proverb means that you should be enthusiastic before you take action and act with composure at the moment of action.
- Benn loxo du tàccu – One hand cannot clap.
This proverb teaches the value of teamwork. We need to work together to achieve common goals.
- Coonooy njalbéenug njariñ – Difficulties are the beginning of success.
- Pëndub tànk a gën pënduw taat – Dust on the feet is better than dust on the behind.
This proverb means that taking action is better than sitting doing nothing.
- Boroom làmmiñ du réer – Someone with a tongue will not get lost.
This Wolof saying means that you should always ask when you don’t know something.
- Lu kenn mën, ñaar a ko ko dàq – What one person can do, two can do better.
This proverb is used to say that people can do things more quickly and easily when they work together.
- Ku boot bukki, xaj baw la – Whoever carries a hyena on his back, the dogs will bark at you.
This quote means that if you hang around with bad people, other people will dislike you too.
- Mën ko, defoo ko, tëlee ko gën – It is better to be incapable of doing something, than to be capable and not do it.
Beautiful Wolof Quotes & Wolof Proverbs
Below I’ve listed a range of famous and inspirational Wolof quotes and Senagalese proverbs.
- Taar tigi ci jikko lay ne – True beauty is found in one’s character.
- Xamxam du doy – Knowledge is not enough.
This Wolof quote highlights that knowledge is not always enough. You also need to take action to accomplish things.
- Yalla yalla bay sa tool – It’s better to farm your field than to pray for it.
This saying means that you can’t just sit around and expect things to happen, you have to make them happen by taking action.
- Doomu ndey dañu mel na baaraamu benn loxo – Siblings of the same mother are like the fingers of a single hand.
- Xamul aay na, wante laaj te wela ko yées – Not knowing is bad, but not asking is worse.
This Wolof proverb teaches us to ask when we don’t know something.
- Yàgg du sabbu waaye dina fóot – Time isn’t soap, but it will clean clothes.
This saying means that time heals all wounds.
- Ku yàgg ci teen bagg fekk la fa – Whoever spends time at the well can soon find a bucket.
This Wolof proverb teaches us the value of patience. If you are patient, good things will come to you eventually.
- Liibarub mbokk, moo gën kilób jaambur – Half a kilo of family is better than a kilo of others.
- Ku bëgg akara dangay ñeme kaani – Whoever wants accra must brave the peppers.
This Wolof quote means that nothing worth having comes easily.
Accra, a popular food in Senegal, is made up of powdered, fried black-eyed peas.
- Taarub kanam taarub xol a ko gën – A beautiful heart is better than a beautiful face.
- Xifuma wante samay bët suruñu – I’m not hungry but my eyes aren’t full.
This Wolof quote is used to say that you are not hungry anymore but because Senegalese food is so delicious you just want more.
- Màggatum guddi, ku ko gisul mu gis boppam – The adult who only acts in the dark, even if others do not see him, can see himself.
This proverb means that if you do bad things, even if nobody knows, your conscience will be heavy.
- Lu metti yàggul te ku muñ muuñ – Whatever is painful does not last, and whoever perseveres smiles.
This Wolof quote teaches us to keep going as dark times don’t last forever.
- Toog di jàmbat te defoo dara du maye dara – To sit and complain without doing anything will not achieve anything.
- Def ca ba ngay man – Do it while you can.
This saying means that you should do something when the opportunity arises or you may miss out.
- Maa la men deesu ko wax, dees koy jëf – ‘I am better than you’ is not something which is said, it is shown by action.
This Wolof proverb means that actions speak louder than words.
- Nit la mu jëf la du la mu wax – A man is measured by what he does, not what he says.
This proverb is similar to the previous one and means that your actions define who you are.
- Yàq a gëna yomb defar – It is easier to destroy than to build.
- Ku la ne “sangul”, sab taar la bëgg – Whoever tells you to go and bathe wants you to be beautiful.
This Wolof quote means that people who truly have your best interests at heart will always be honest with you.
- Mer, noonub boroom la – Anger is the enemy of his owner.
This proverb means that anger will make you do things that you will regret later.
- Joori waay bu mu la tax a sànni say sagar – Seeing the beautiful clothes of someone else is not a reason to throw away your own rags.
- Toxal dëkk a gën a yomb toxal jikko – It is easier to move a village than change a character.
This Wolof quote means that people do not change who they are.
- Gannaaw ay, jàmm – After a conflict comes peace.
- Kenn du gàlli dee – No one can avoid death.
- Këll bu ne am na mberoom – Every calabash bowl has its lid.
This Wolof quote about love means that every person has a match.
- Dof sonnul, bokk yaa sonn – A fool does not suffer, it is his relatives who suffer.
Best Wolof Idioms & Wolof Expressions
Below I’ve listed the most well-known Wolof idioms and expressions. Many of these have hidden meanings.
- Xaaral ba ginaar sax bëñ – Wait until the chicken grows teeth.
This Wolof idiom is used to tell someone no. For example, if someone asks you to do something you could use this idiom to say ‘no, I’ll never do that’.
- Tere, tere, mu të, bàyyil mu gis – Prohibit, prohibit, he refuses to listen, leave him to see.
This Wolof saying is used when someone refuses to listen to advice.
- Bul xeeb nit ndax tuutaayam – Do not scorn someone because of his small size.
This Wolof idiom is similar to the English saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.
- Kuy xalam di ca jaayu – The one who plays the guitar should be the first to enjoy it.
This saying means that when you do something, you should be the first to profit from it.
- Saabu du fóot boppam – Soap does not wash itself.
This Wolof idiom is used to say that a person shouldn’t boast or praise themself too much.
- Gumba du jiite yoon – A blind person does not lead anyone along the path.
This saying is used to say that someone who is incompetent should never be a leader.
- Xel du namm fu mu xamul – The mind does not miss the place it does not know.
This Wolof idiom is similar to the English version ‘ignorance is bliss’ meaning you can’t crave something you don’t know.
- Guy dina jur i dég – A baobab can produce thorns.
This Wolof idiom is used to describe a bad person who has come from a good, respectable family.
Thanks for reading this post on the best Wolof quotes about life, famous Wolof sayings and fascinating Wolof proverbs.
These Wolof quotes & sayings give an interesting insight into the Wolof beliefs and language.
Related Posts: