yaw
The English word 'you' is translated to Wolof as yaw.
yaw is used as a subject pronoun to refer to the person being addressed.
Meaning: subject pronoun: the person being addressed (pron)
Did you know?
- In many Wolof-speaking communities, addressing someone older than you with the singular yaw can be perceived as a sign of disrespect or a lack of proper upbringing.
- In Wolof, there is no distinction between a formal 'you' and an informal 'you', unlike the 'tu' and 'vous' found in French, which is a primary colonial language in Senegal.
- In some contexts, the concept of 'you' is expressed through verb suffixes rather than a standalone pronoun like yaw, making the pronoun optional for certain emphasis.
Examples in context
- Yaw laa bëgg.It is you that I want.
- Yaw rekk laa tànn.I chose only you.
- Yaw, lan la nga bëgg?You, what do you want?
Example conversation
Modou and Mariama are discussing who will cook dinner.
- ModouYaw, bëgg nga lekk?You, do you want to eat?
- MariamaWaaw, bëgg naa.Yes, I want to.
- ModouYaw la jëm cook dinner.You are the one to cook dinner.
- MariamaDama xam, ma def ko.I know, I will do it.
