Conjugation of the Wolof Verb "wax" — to speak / to say

wax

to speak / to say

Type

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

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

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

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

Imperative (Commands)

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

Form	Wolof
Singular (you)	Wax!
Plural (you all)	Waxleen!

Example Sentences

Wax Wolof nga?

Do you speak Wolof?

Lan moo wax?

What did he/she say?

Wax ma!

Tell me!