ba beneen
ba beneen is the Wolof way to say bye.
You may also hear the variation Ba beneen yoon, which is an expression used among friends to mean 'see you later' or 'until we meet again.'
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ba beneen literally means 'until the next' or 'until the next time'. The word ba is a preposition meaning 'until' and beneen means 'next' or 'another'.
When do people say it?
In family settings, you might encounter the phrase Jamm ak jamm, which translates to 'peace and peace.'
Did you know?
- In many Senegalese social contexts, saying 'bye' is rarely a sudden event but a prolonged process of exchanging several well-wishes.
- If you are leaving a group, it is customary to wait for others to acknowledge your departure with a blessing before you actually walk away.
- Depending on the region, the phrase ba beneen may be followed by an Islamic blessing, blending traditional Wolof greetings with religious expressions of goodwill.
Examples in context
- Ba beneen yoon!See you later!
- Jamm ak jamm!Peace and peace!
- Ba beneen.Bye.
- Jërëjëf, ba beneen.Thank you, bye.
Example conversation
Two friends are parting ways after a meeting.
- AbdoulayeBa beneen, Khadija!Bye, Khadija!
- KhadijaBa beneen, Abdoulaye!Bye, Abdoulaye!
- AbdoulayeMa ngi lay jox ba beneen.I'll see you next time.
- KhadijaWaaw, ba beneen!Yes, bye!
