A Quick Guide to Senegalese French

French is the official language of Senegal, but you will hear a lot of Wolof spoken, too.

The Wolof are the largest ethnic group in Senegal, and the language is widely spoken despite years of French colonial rule. Everyone still has to learn French in school, which means the two languages are often used interchangeably.

For visitors it might be easier to brush up on French than Wolof, especially if you studied the language in school. Be aware Senegalese French will vary from European French in both pronunciation and vocabulary, with looser adherence to the complex grammar rules that make French such a hard language to master.

However, take heart from the fact that in many cases, Senegalese French will be spoken more slowly than European French, so once you’ve gotten used to the accent you should be able to get along just fine.

One phrase you may hear a lot if you are a woman is: “C’est madame ou bien mademoiselle?” This is a way of asking whether you are married or not.

It might not be French, but another common expression is the Arabic “inshallah.” This means “if god wills it,” and you will hear it all the time in Senegal.