Senegal Wolof language

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July 16, 2026

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Wolof is an Atlantic language within the Niger-Congo language family, closely related to Fula and Serer. It is a national language in Senegal, spoken as a mother tongue by about 4.6 million people and used as a lingua franca by an additional 7.8 million. A variant, Gambian Wolof, is spoken by over 160,000 people in The Gambia.1

The Wolof people are a Muslim group primarily residing in Senegal and The Gambia. While many are farmers, a significant portion works in urban centers like Dakar and Banjul as traders and artisans. Historically, Wolof society was stratified, and women are known for their distinctive hairstyles and attire.2

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Wolof language
…two main variants of Wolof: Senegal Wolof, which is the standard form of the language, and Gambian Wolof, which is spoken along with Senegal Wolof by more than 160,000 people in The Gambia. Wolof is a national language of Senegal, where it is spoken by approximately 4.6 million people as…
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…two main variants of Wolof: Senegal Wolof, which is the standard form of the language, and Gambian Wolof, which is spoken along with Senegal Wolof by more than 160,000 people in The Gambia. Wolof is a national language of Senegal, where it is spoken by approximately 4.6 million people as…
Read More