Definition

Noun 1. A Niger-Congo language: Wolof is a West Atlantic language belonging to the Niger-Congo language family. It is the native language of the Wolof people. 2. A major language of Senegal: Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, serving as a lingua franca even for many who are not ethnic Wolof.

Usage Examples

• As a language name:
  • She is learning Wolof to communicate better during her trip to Dakar.
  • Wolof has a rich tradition of oral poetry and storytelling.
• Referring to its linguistic properties:
  • The grammar of Wolof is quite different from that of English.
  • Many French loanwords are integrated into modern Wolof.

Advanced Usage

• In academic contexts: Wolof is often studied in linguistics for its noun class system and its role in urban vernaculars in West Africa.
  • The researcher published a paper on verb serialization in Wolof.

Variants and Related Words

• Wolof language: The full term for the language.
• Wolof people: The ethnic group who are native speakers of the Wolof language.
• Fula (or Fulani): A related language within the West Atlantic branch, as mentioned in the reference definition.

Synonyms

• Senegalese lingua franca (contextual): This describes one of Wolof's primary functions in Senegal, though it is not a direct synonym for the language itself.

Notes on Different Meanings

The word "Wolof" primarily refers to the language. In other contexts, it can also refer to the ethnic group (the Wolof people) or things pertaining to them (e.g., Wolof culture). The core definition provided here focuses on its meaning as a language.

Noun

1. the West African language of the Wolof in Senegal; related to Fula