---
title: wolof — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wolof» in the school dictionary: The Wolof are a people of West Africa, living mostly in Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wolof

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Wolof, people, adjective, millions, friend, Many Senegalese people · **What happens:** be, live, speak, not be, describe, teach · **To what, where:** people, Senegal, language, Wolof, things, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wolof» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [wolof in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wolof.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Wolof are a people of West Africa, living mostly in Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:m1:1
# text = The Wolof are a people of West Africa, living mostly in Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	West	West	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
11	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Senegal	Senegal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Gambia	Gambia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	Mauritania	Mauritania	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Wolof | a people |  |  |  | of West Africa | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | gerund | a people *not said here* |  |  | Senegal |  | mostly *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in senegal=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wolof is also their language, widely spoken in Senegal by many people, including those who are not Wolof.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:m2:1
# text = Wolof is also their language, widely spoken in Senegal by many people, including those who are not Wolof.
1	Wolof	wolof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	widely	widely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Senegal	Senegal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	including	including	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	20	obl	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wolof | their language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  | their language *not said here* |  | Senegal |  | widely *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is a** | present |  | Wolof |  |  |  | including those | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As an adjective it describes things of this people or language: «Wolof music».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:m3:1
# text = As an adjective it describes things of this people or language: «Wolof music».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Wolof	wolof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | adjective | things of this people or language |  |  |  | as a adjective | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wolof is spoken by millions of people in Senegal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x1:1
# text = Wolof is spoken by millions of people in Senegal.
1	Wolof	wolof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:agent	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Senegal	Senegal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present · passive | millions of people in Senegal | Wolof |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My friend from Dakar taught me to say hello in Wolof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x2:1
# text = My friend from Dakar taught me to say hello in Wolof.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Dakar	Dakar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
9	hello	hello	INTJ	UH	_	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | My friend from Dakar |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | My friend from Dakar *not said here* |  |  | Wolof |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent hello=Theme in wolof=Manner |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many Senegalese people speak Wolof and French.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x3:1
# text = Many Senegalese people speak Wolof and French.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	Senegalese	senegalese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | Many Senegalese people | Wolof and French |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Wolof people have a long tradition of griots, who sing family histories.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x4:1
# text = The Wolof people have a long tradition of griots, who sing family histories.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tradition	tradition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	griots	griot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	histories	history	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the Wolof people | a long tradition of griots |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tradition=Patient |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | griots | family histories |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location history=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Jërëjëf» means «thank you» in Wolof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x5:1
# text = «Jërëjëf» means «thank you» in Wolof.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Jërëjëf	Jërëjëf	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Jërëjëf |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you | Wolof |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The radio played a song in Wolof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wolof:x6:1
# text = The radio played a song in Wolof.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Wolof	Wolof	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the radio | a song |  | Wolof |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent song=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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