SemaSoma
Fula overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Fula

25 essential Fula phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Hello

Jam waali

/jam WAH-lee/

Thank you

A jaaraama

/a jaa-RAH-ma/

Goodbye

En jaaraama

/en jaa-RAH-ma/

Yes

Eey

/EH-ay/

No

Alaa

/a-LAH/

Please

Njaafo

/n-JAA-foh/

Welcome

Jaɓɓaama

/ja-BAH-ma/

Sorry

Yaafo mi

/YAA-foh mee/

How are you?

No mbaɗɗaa?

/no m-BAD-daa/

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First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • Jam waaliHello/jam WAH-lee/
  • A jaaraamaThank you/a jaa-RAH-ma/
  • JaɓɓaamaWelcome/ja-BAH-ma/
  • En jaaraamaGoodbye/en jaa-RAH-ma/
  • EeyYes/EH-ay/
  • AlaaNo/a-LAH/
  • NjaafoPlease/n-JAA-foh/
  • Yaafo miSorry/YAA-foh mee/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Innde am AmaraMy name is Amara/IN-deh am a-MA-ra/
  • No innde maa woni?What is your name?/no IN-deh maa WO-nee/
  • No mbaɗɗaa?How are you?/no m-BAD-daa/
  • Jam tanI am fine/jam TAN/
  • NdiyamWater/n-DEE-yam/
  • ÑaamduFood/NYAAM-doo/
  • GiɗoFriend/GEE-doh/
  • SuuduHouse/SOO-doo/

Counting

Numbers one to five and market basics

  • GootoOne/GOH-toh/
  • ƊiɗiTwo/DEE-dee/
  • TatiThree/TA-tee/
  • NayiFour/NA-yee/
  • JoyiFive/JOH-yee/
  • LuumoMarket/LOO-mo/
  • NdiyamWater/n-DEE-yam/
  • Ko foti?How much is it?/ko FOH-tee/
  • KaalisMoney/KAA-lees/

Questions people ask about Fula

How do you say "hello" in Fula?

"Hello" in Fula is Jam waali, pronounced /jam WAH-lee/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "thank you" in Fula?

"Thank you" in Fula is A jaaraama, pronounced /a jaa-RAH-ma/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Fula?

"How are you?" in Fula is No mbaɗɗaa?, pronounced /no m-BAD-daa/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

Is Fula hard to learn?

  • More than twenty noun classes, which is a lot even for the region.
  • Consonants at the start of words shift depending on the class.
  • Regional varieties differ enough that learners usually pick one.

Where is Fula spoken?

Across the Sahel from Senegal to Sudan — around 35 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet (Adlam and Arabic script also in use).

Can I learn Fula for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

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