Conjugation of the Wolof Verb "dégg" — to hear / to understand

dégg

to hear / to understand

Type

Perception 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)	dégg naa
yow (you sg.)	dégg nga
moom (he/she)	dégg na
nun (we)	dégg nañu
yeen (you pl.)	dégg ngeen
ñoom (they)	dégg 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 dégg
yow (you sg.)	yaa ngi dégg
moom (he/she)	mu ngi dégg
nun (we)	nu ngi dégg
yeen (you pl.)	yéena ngi dégg
ñoom (they)	ñu ngi dégg

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 dégg
yow (you sg.)	danga dégg
moom (he/she)	dafa dégg
nun (we)	dañu dégg
yeen (you pl.)	dangeen dégg
ñoom (they)	dañu dégg

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 dégg
yow (you sg.)	doo dégg
moom (he/she)	du dégg
nun (we)	dunu dégg
yeen (you pl.)	dungeen dégg
ñoom (they)	duñu dégg

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 dégg
yow (you sg.)	dinga dégg
moom (he/she)	dina dégg
nun (we)	dinañu dégg
yeen (you pl.)	dingeen dégg
ñoom (they)	dinañu dégg

Imperative (Commands)

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

Form	Wolof
Singular (you)	Dégg!
Plural (you all)	Déggleen!

Example Sentences

Dégg nga?

Do you understand?

Duma ko dégg.

I don't understand it.

Dégg naa li nga wax.

I heard what you said.