Conjugation of the Wolof Verb "nelaw" — to sleep

nelaw

to sleep

Type

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

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

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

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

Imperative (Commands)

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

Form	Wolof
Singular (you)	Nelaw!
Plural (you all)	Nelawleen!

Example Sentences

Xale bi mu ngi nelaw.

The child is sleeping.

Nelaw naa bu baax.

I slept well.

Manuma nelaw.

I couldn't sleep.