Greetings

1. A jaaraama.

   Thank you (to one person) / Hello

   Usage

   Used both to thank someone and as an any-time-of-day hello. To elders, strangers or several people say "On jaaraama" (respectful/plural)

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary jaaraama: 1 "merci" (example "A jaaraama mi weltike buy!"), 2 "salut" (any time of day). Singular A becomes plural/respectful On. The Peace Corps guide writes jaraama; the dictionary writes jaaraama (long aa).

2. Jam tun.

   Fine, thanks (only peace)

   Usage

   The standard reply to any greeting question. Even when asked about health, family or work, you first answer "Jam tun"

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary example under jam: "Ko jam tun!" (all is well, thanks); tun = "only". Literally "only peace". Pulaar and other varieties may write tan; Fuuta Jaloo Pular writes tun.

3. No wa'i?

   How are you? / How's it going?

   Usage

   The usual "how's it going?" Answer with "Jam tun"

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary wa'ugol 1: "No wa'i?" = "Comment ça va?". The apostrophe (U+0027) marks the glottal stop and is written only word-internally. "Kori tanaa alaa ton?" (is there no trouble there?) is an equivalent greeting, also in the dictionary.

4. Si Alla jaɓii.

   God willing

   Usage

   A set phrase added to promises, plans and farewells whenever the future is mentioned

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary jaɓugol 2 example: "Si Alla jaɓii." (S'il plaît à Dieu, incha'Allah). The guide OCR loses the hook and reads "jabi".

5. On hiirii e jam!

   Good evening

   Usage

   An evening greeting. It uses the plural On, so it is polite and suits elders and strangers. Answer with "Jam tun"

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary example under jam: "On hiirii e jam!" (Bonsoir à vous!). Literally "you spent the evening in peace". hiirugol = "to arrive (of evening); to spend the evening".

6. Kori a finii e jam?

   Good morning (did you wake up well?)

   Usage

   A morning greeting. With an elder, replace a with the plural on (Kori on finii e jam?)

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary finugol 1 example: "Kori a finii e jam?" (did you wake up well? another way to say good morning). The plural version with on is composed by regular substitution.

7. Kori jam?

   Is everything fine? / How are things?

   Usage

   A short check-in. Answer with "Jam tun"

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary example under kori: "Kori jam?" (Is all well? What is going on?). kori is a question particle placed at the start of the sentence.

8. Kori hiɗon e jam?

   I hope you are well? (respectful)

   Usage

   Asks after the health of an elder or stranger in the respectful plural. Answer with "Jam tun"

   Grammar Note

   A respectful greeting from the Peace Corps guide (OCR reads hidon). Bah dictionary hiɗon = "vous (progressive)". The guide OCR loses the hook on ɗ, so the spelling follows Bah (composed).

9. En janngo.

   See you tomorrow

   Usage

   A parting phrase. In the evening "En bimmbi" (see you in the morning) is also used

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary lists the idiom "en janngo" (à demain) under janngo, and "En bimmbi." (à demain, good night) under bimmbi. The guide writes jango.

10. Waalen e jam.

    Good night (let us sleep in peace)

    Usage

    Said before bed. To elders the respect-vocabulary form "Beloden e jam" is used

    Grammar Note

    A phrase from the Peace Corps guide. Bah dictionary waalugol = "passer la nuit". The ending -en is the inclusive "let us" imperative (same form as Bah "yahen", let's go). The guide also gives the respectful Beloden e jam; Bah marks belagol as respect vocabulary (composed).

11. Baaba, on belike e jam?

    Papa, did you sleep well?

    Usage

    A respectful morning greeting to a father or elder. belagol is respect vocabulary (défér) and is not used for juniors or peers

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary belagol (défér = "se coucher") example: "Baaba on belike e jam?" (Papa, did you sleep well?). The sentence is taken as written.

12. A jaaraama, mi weltike buy!

    Thank you, I am very pleased!

    Usage

    For thanking someone for a gift or a kindness. With elders or several people use "On jaaraama"

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under jaaraama (Merci à toi, je suis très satisfait!). weltike is the stative form of weltugol (to be pleased).

13. On jaaraama buy.

    Thank you very much

    Usage

    A polite thank-you to elders, strangers or several people. To one friend say "A jaaraama"

    Grammar Note

    The phrase appears inside the Bah dictionary example under albarka: "Awa albarka, on jaaraama buy." (Merci beaucoup).

14. Awa albarka.

    Thanks (after a meal or a gift) / No thank you, I'm fine

    Usage

    Said to the host at the end of a meal, on receiving a gift, and also as a polite way to decline

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary albarka: "merci (surtout à la fin d'un repas ou à l'occasion d'un don ou cadeau); peut servir aussi de formule de refus poli". awa is an Arabic-derived interjection (OK).

15. En yettii Alla.

    Thanks be to God

    Usage

    Used to answer how you are and to respond to good news, giving thanks to God for being well

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary yettugol (to praise, thank; to greet) example: "En yettii Alla." (Dieu soit loué). yettugol (praise) and ƴettugol (take) are different words, kept apart by the hooked ƴ.

16. Yo Alla welnu laawol ngol!

    Have a good journey! (may God make the road pleasant)

    Usage

    A blessing said to someone setting off on a journey

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary laawol 1 example: "Yo Alla welnu laawol ngol!" (Bon voyage!). yo is the optative particle used in blessings; ngol is the class article of laawol.

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