Conjugation of the Wolof Verb "def" — to do / to make

def

to do / to make

Type

Action verb

Paradigms

5 focus forms

Perfect (Completed)

The perfect paradigm expresses completed actions. The verb comes first, followed by the subject marker. This is the most neutral way to state that something happened.

Person	Wolof
man (I)	def naa
yow (you sg.)	def nga
moom (he/she)	def na
nun (we)	def nañu
yeen (you pl.)	def ngeen
ñoom (they)	def nañu

Presentative (Progressive)

The presentative paradigm describes a current state or action in progress. The subject marker with "ngi" comes before the verb, similar to "I am (doing)" in English.

Person	Wolof
man (I)	maa ngi def
yow (you sg.)	yaa ngi def
moom (he/she)	mu ngi def
nun (we)	nu ngi def
yeen (you pl.)	yéena ngi def
ñoom (they)	ñu ngi def

Emphatic (Verb Focus)

The emphatic paradigm highlights the action itself. The "da-" prefix fuses with the subject marker before the verb. Used for emphasis or in narrative contexts.

Person	Wolof
man (I)	dama def
yow (you sg.)	danga def
moom (he/she)	dafa def
nun (we)	dañu def
yeen (you pl.)	dangeen def
ñoom (they)	dañu def

Negative

The negative paradigm negates the action. The "du-" prefix fuses with the subject marker. Covers both "don't" (habitual) and "won't" (future).

Person	Wolof
man (I)	duma def
yow (you sg.)	doo def
moom (he/she)	du def
nun (we)	dunu def
yeen (you pl.)	dungeen def
ñoom (they)	duñu def

Future

The future paradigm expresses actions that will happen. The "dina-" prefix fuses with the subject marker before the verb.

Person	Wolof
man (I)	dinaa def
yow (you sg.)	dinga def
moom (he/she)	dina def
nun (we)	dinañu def
yeen (you pl.)	dingeen def
ñoom (they)	dinañu def

Imperative (Commands)

Singular uses the bare verb stem. Plural adds the suffix -leen.

Form	Wolof
Singular (you)	Def!
Plural (you all)	Defleen!

Example Sentences

Lan ngay def?

What are you doing?

Def naa ko.

I did it.

Lan moo def?

What happened? (lit. What did it?)