Wolofal alphabet

{{Infobox writing system

| name = Wolofal alphabet

| altname =

| type = Abjad

| sisters =

| languages = Wolof

| time = {{circa}} 17th century — present

| fam1 = Proto-Sinaitic

| fam2 = Phoenician

| fam3 = Aramaic

| fam4 = Nabataean

| fam5 = Arabic

| unicode =

| iso15924 =

| sample = L.Planchat.12.Aln.40-1.v.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Label of a specimen of Striped Kingfisher indicating the Wolof name of the bird in Latin alphabet and Wolofal.

| direction = Right-to-left

}}

Wolofal is a derivation of the Arabic script for writing the Wolof language. It is basically the name of a West African Ajami script as used for that language.

Wolofal was the first script for writing Wolof. Although the Latin alphabet is the primary official script of the language in today's Senegal, Wolofal is still used by many people as a symbol of Islamic Wolof culture. Furthermore, Wolofal orthography has been standardized in 1990 by Direction de la Promotion des Langues Nationales (DPLN) (now known as Direction de l'alphabétisation des langues nationales), an initiative of Senegal's Ministry of Education as part of a harmonized national "Arabic script". This "harmonized script is used for Wolof, Pulaar, Soninke, Mandinka, Seereer, Joola, and Balant.{{cite web |first1=Lorna A |last1=Priest |first2=Martin |last2=Hosken |author3=SIL International |author3-link=SIL International |title=Proposal to add Arabic script characters for African and Asian languages |date=12 August 2010 |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2010/10288r-arabic-proposal.pdf |pages=13–18, 34–37}}

The standardization of the Arabic script in Senegal was followed by an effort to teach the correct orthography to over 20,000 people, mostly Imams and their students, to write in the script. But despite the efforts of the Senegalese government in the matter, the alphabet has not been officially decreed by the government. The reason for this is that standardization of writing in Ajami script in West Africa is supposed to be a multi-national effort.

Alphabet

Wolofal, like its parent system, the Arabic script, is an abjad. This means that only consonants are represented with letters. Vowels are shown with diacritics. As a matter of fact, writing of diacritics, including zero-vowel (sukun) diacritic as per the orthographic are mandatory.

In order to represent sounds in Wolof that are not present in Arabic, letters as well as diacritics have been created. Historically, there was different conventions among different writers and schools, but one of the aims and achievements of the push for standardization by the Senegalese Ministry of Education has been to agree upon a unified set of letters.Currah, Galien (26 August 2015) ORTHOGRAPHE WOLOFAL. [http://currah.download/pages/ajamisenegal/orthographe_wolofal_harmattan_26-aout-2015_a4.pdf Link] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230512170510/http://currah.download/pages/ajamisenegal/orthographe_wolofal_harmattan_26-aout-2015_a4.pdf Archive])

=Letters=

There are 23 letters in Wolofal alphabet. The list does not include consonants that are used exclusively in Arabic loanwords and do not occur in Wolof words, nor does it include digraphs used for showing prenasalized consonants.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Wolofal Letters ! rowspan="2" \|Name ! colspan="4" \|Forms ! rowspan="2" \|Sound represented ! rowspan="2" \|Latin equivalent ! colspan="2" \|Example ! rowspan="2" \|Notes
Isolated !Final !Medial !Initial !Wolofal !Latin
{{Transliteration\|wo\|alif}} {{Script/Arabic\|اَلِف}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ا}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـا}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ا}} \|{{IPAslink\|a}} \| - / a \|{{Script/Arabic\|اِتَمْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|گَالْ}} \| itam gaal \| The alif has two functions: first, to be the carrier of vowel diacritic as word initial, and second to indicate long vowel "-aa".
{{Transliteration\|wo\|beh}} {{Script/Arabic\|بࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ب}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـب}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـبـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|بـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|b}} \| b \|{{Script/Arabic\|بَاخْ}} \| baax \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|peh}} {{Script/Arabic\|ݒࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݒ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݒ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݒـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݒـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|p}} \| p \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݒࣹݒّ}} \| pepp \| Character not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic\|پ, ݑ}} Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0752 U+0752]
{{Transliteration\|wo\|teh}} {{Script/Arabic\|تࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ت}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـت}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـتـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|تـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|t}} \| t \|{{Script/Arabic\|تَارْ}} \| taar \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|ceh}} {{Script/Arabic\|ݖࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݖ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݖ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݖـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݖـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|c}} \| c \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݖَابِ}} \| caabi \| Character not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic\|چ‎, جۛ}} Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0756 U+0756]
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|seh}} {{Script/Arabic\|ثࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ث}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـث}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـثـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ثـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|s}} \| s \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|jeem}} {{Script/Arabic\|جࣹيمْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ج}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـج}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـجـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|جـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɟ}} \| j \|{{Script/Arabic\|جَايْ}} \| jaay \|
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|hah}} {{Script/Arabic\|حَهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ح}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـح}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـحـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|حـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|h}} \| h \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|xah}} {{Script/Arabic\|خَهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|خ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـخ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـخـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|خـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|x}} \| x \|{{Script/Arabic\|خَمْ}} \| xam \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|dal}} {{Script/Arabic\|دَلْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|د}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـد}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|د}} \|{{IPAblink\|d}} \| d \|{{Script/Arabic\|دَانُ}} \| daanu \|
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|sal}} {{Script/Arabic\|ذَلْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ذ}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـذ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ذ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink\|z}} \| j \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|reh}} {{Script/Arabic\|رࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ر}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـر}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ر}} \|{{IPAblink\|r}} \| r \|{{Script/Arabic\|رَاس}} \| raas \|
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|seh}} {{Script/Arabic\|زࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ز}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـز}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ز}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink\|z}} \| j \| \| \| Character only used in writing of foreign Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|seen}} {{Script/Arabic\|سࣹينْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|س}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـس}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـسـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|سـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|s}} \| s \|{{Script/Arabic\|سَنتْ}} \| sant \|
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|cheen}} {{Script/Arabic\|شࣹينْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ش}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـش}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـشـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|شـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|s}}~{{IPAblink\|ʃ}} \| s \| \| \| Character only used in writing of foreign Loanwords
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|saad}} {{Script/Arabic\|صَادْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ص}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـص}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـصـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|صـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|s}} \| s \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|daad}} {{Script/Arabic\|ضَادْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ض}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـض}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـضـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ضـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|d}} \| d \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|taay}} {{Script/Arabic\|طَايْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ط}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـط}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـطـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|طـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|t}} \| t \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|saay}} {{Script/Arabic\|ظَايْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ظ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـظ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـظـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ظـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink\|z}} \| j \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|ayn}} {{Script/Arabic\|عَيْنْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ع}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـع}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـعـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|عـ}} \| - \| - \|{{Script/Arabic\|اِسْرَعࣹلْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|دࣴعࣴلْ}} \| Israel dëel \| ‌ Used for writing vowel sequences, and mid-word syllables that start with vowels. Used for marking long vowel "ëe", where it's written with diacritic {{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣴ}}.
bgcolor="#FFEFD5" \|{{Transliteration\|wo\|gayn}} {{Script/Arabic\|غَيْنْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|غ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـغ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـغـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|غـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɡ}} \| g \| \| \| Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords
{{Transliteration\|wo\|ŋoon}} {{Script/Arabic\|ݝࣷونْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݝ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݝ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݝـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݝـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ŋ}} \| ŋ \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݝَامْ}} \| ŋaam \| Character not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic\|ݤ‎,ڭ}} Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+075D U+075D]
{{Transliteration\|wo\|feh}} {{Script/Arabic\|فࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ف}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـف}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـفـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|فـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɸ}} \| f \|{{Script/Arabic\|فَارْ}} \| faar \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|qaf}} {{Script/Arabic\|قَفْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ق}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـق}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـقـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|قـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|q}} \| q \|{{Script/Arabic\|نَقَرْ}} \| naqar \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|kaf}} {{Script/Arabic\|کَفْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ک}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـک}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـکـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|کـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|k}} \| k \|{{Script/Arabic\|کَانِ}} \| kaani \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|geh}} {{Script/Arabic\|گࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|گ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـگ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـگـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|گـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɡ}} \| g \|{{Script/Arabic\|گَالْ}} \| gaal \| Character not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|ڭ}}
{{Transliteration\|wo\|lam}} {{Script/Arabic\|لَمْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ل}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـل}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـلـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|لـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|l}} \| l \|{{Script/Arabic\|لَجّ}} \| lajj \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|meem}} {{Script/Arabic\|مࣹيمْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|م}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـم}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـمـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|مـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|m}} \| m \|{{Script/Arabic\|مَامْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|مبَارْ}} \| maam mbaar \| Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants.
{{Transliteration\|wo\|noon}} {{Script/Arabic\|نࣷونْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ن}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـن}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|نـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|n}} \| n \|{{Script/Arabic\|نَانْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|نجࣷولْ}} \| naan njool \| Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants.
{{Transliteration\|wo\|ñoon}} {{Script/Arabic\|ݧࣷونْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݧ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݧ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـݧـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݧـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɲ}} \| ñ \|{{Script/Arabic\|ݧَانْ}} \| ñaan \| Character not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic\|چ‎, جۛ}} Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0767 U+0767]
{{Transliteration\|wo\|waw}} {{Script/Arabic\|وَوْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|و}} \|colspan=2\|{{Script/Arabic\|ـو}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|و}} \|{{IPAblink\|w}} \| w \|{{Script/Arabic\|وَاوْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|بُورْ}} \| waaw buur \| The waw has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /w/, and second to indicate long vowels "-oo" "-óó", and "uu".
{{Transliteration\|wo\|heh}} {{Script/Arabic\|هࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ه}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـه}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـهـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|هـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|h}} \| h \|{{Script/Arabic\|اَهَکَايْ}} \| ahakaay \|
{{Transliteration\|wo\|yeh}} {{Script/Arabic\|يࣹهْ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ي}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـي}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـيـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|يـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|j}} \| y \|{{Script/Arabic\|يَايْ}} {{Script/Arabic\|نجِيتْ}} \| yaay njiit \| The yeh has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /j/, and second to indicate long vowels "-ee" "-éé", and "ii".

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Wolofal Letters

! rowspan="2" |Name

! colspan="4" |Forms

! rowspan="2" |Sound represented

! rowspan="2" |Latin equivalent

! colspan="2" |Example

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Isolated

!Final

!Medial

!Initial

!Wolofal

!Latin

|{{Script/Arabic|ا}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـا}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ا}}

|{{IPAslink|a}}

| - / a

|{{Script/Arabic|اِتَمْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|گَالْ}}

| itam
gaal

The alif has two functions: first, to be the carrier of vowel diacritic as word initial, and second to indicate long vowel "-aa".

|{{Script/Arabic|ب}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـب}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـبـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|بـ}}

|{{IPAblink|b}}

| b

|{{Script/Arabic|بَاخْ}}

| baax

|{{Script/Arabic|ݒ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݒ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݒـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ݒـ}}

|{{IPAblink|p}}

| p

|{{Script/Arabic|ݒࣹݒّ}}

| pepp

Character not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic|پ, ݑ}}
Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0752 U+0752]

|{{Script/Arabic|ت}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـت}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـتـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|تـ}}

|{{IPAblink|t}}

| t

|{{Script/Arabic|تَارْ}}

| taar

|{{Script/Arabic|ݖ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݖ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݖـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ݖـ}}

|{{IPAblink|c}}

| c

|{{Script/Arabic|ݖَابِ}}

| caabi

Character not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic|چ‎, جۛ}}
Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0756 U+0756]

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|seh}}
{{Script/Arabic|ثࣹهْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ث}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـث}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـثـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ثـ}}

|{{IPAblink|s}}

| s

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|ج}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـج}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـجـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|جـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɟ}}

| j

|{{Script/Arabic|جَايْ}}

| jaay

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|hah}}
{{Script/Arabic|حَهْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ح}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـح}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـحـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|حـ}}

|{{IPAblink|h}}

| h

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|خ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـخ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـخـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|خـ}}

|{{IPAblink|x}}

| x

|{{Script/Arabic|خَمْ}}

| xam

|{{Script/Arabic|د}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـد}}

|{{Script/Arabic|د}}

|{{IPAblink|d}}

| d

|{{Script/Arabic|دَانُ}}

| daanu

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|sal}}
{{Script/Arabic|ذَلْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ذ}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـذ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ذ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink|z}}

| j

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|ر}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـر}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ر}}

|{{IPAblink|r}}

| r

|{{Script/Arabic|رَاس}}

| raas

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|seh}}
{{Script/Arabic|زࣹهْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ز}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـز}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ز}}

|{{IPAblink|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink|z}}

| j

Character only used in writing of foreign Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|س}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـس}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـسـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|سـ}}

|{{IPAblink|s}}

| s

|{{Script/Arabic|سَنتْ}}

| sant

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|cheen}}
{{Script/Arabic|شࣹينْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ش}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـش}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـشـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|شـ}}

|{{IPAblink|s}}~{{IPAblink|ʃ}}

| s

Character only used in writing of foreign Loanwords

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|saad}}
{{Script/Arabic|صَادْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ص}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـص}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـصـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|صـ}}

|{{IPAblink|s}}

| s

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|daad}}
{{Script/Arabic|ضَادْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ض}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـض}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـضـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ضـ}}

|{{IPAblink|d}}

| d

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|taay}}
{{Script/Arabic|طَايْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ط}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـط}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـطـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|طـ}}

|{{IPAblink|t}}

| t

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|saay}}
{{Script/Arabic|ظَايْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ظ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـظ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـظـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ظـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɟ}}~{{IPAblink|z}}

| j

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|ع}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـع}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـعـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|عـ}}

| -

|{{Script/Arabic|اِسْرَعࣹلْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|دࣴعࣴلْ}}

| Israel
dëel

| ‌

Used for writing vowel sequences, and mid-word syllables that start with vowels.
Used for marking long vowel "ëe", where it's written with diacritic {{Script/Arabic|◌ࣴ}}.

bgcolor="#FFEFD5"

|{{Transliteration|wo|gayn}}
{{Script/Arabic|غَيْنْ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|غ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـغ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـغـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|غـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɡ}}

| g

Character only used in writing of Arabic Loanwords

|{{Script/Arabic|ݝ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݝ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݝـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ݝـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ŋ}}

| ŋ

|{{Script/Arabic|ݝَامْ}}

| ŋaam

Character not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic|ݤ‎,ڭ}}
Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+075D U+075D]

|{{Script/Arabic|ف}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـف}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـفـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|فـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɸ}}

| f

|{{Script/Arabic|فَارْ}}

| faar

|{{Script/Arabic|ق}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـق}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـقـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|قـ}}

|{{IPAblink|q}}

| q

|{{Script/Arabic|نَقَرْ}}

| naqar

|{{Script/Arabic|ک}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـک}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـکـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|کـ}}

|{{IPAblink|k}}

| k

|{{Script/Arabic|کَانِ}}

| kaani

|{{Script/Arabic|گ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـگ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـگـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|گـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɡ}}

| g

|{{Script/Arabic|گَالْ}}

| gaal

Character not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|ڭ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ل}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـل}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـلـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|لـ}}

|{{IPAblink|l}}

| l

|{{Script/Arabic|لَجّ}}

| lajj

|{{Script/Arabic|م}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـم}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـمـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|مـ}}

|{{IPAblink|m}}

| m

|{{Script/Arabic|مَامْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|مبَارْ}}

| maam
mbaar

Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants.

|{{Script/Arabic|ن}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـن}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|نـ}}

|{{IPAblink|n}}

| n

|{{Script/Arabic|نَانْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|نجࣷولْ}}

| naan
njool

Used either as an independent consonant, or as part of a digraph in prenasalized consonants.

|{{Script/Arabic|ݧ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݧ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـݧـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ݧـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ɲ}}

| ñ

|{{Script/Arabic|ݧَانْ}}

| ñaan

Character not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternatives: {{Script/Arabic|چ‎, جۛ}}
Unicode [https://www.compart.com/fr/unicode/U+0767 U+0767]

|{{Script/Arabic|و}}

|colspan=2|{{Script/Arabic|ـو}}

|{{Script/Arabic|و}}

|{{IPAblink|w}}

| w

|{{Script/Arabic|وَاوْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|بُورْ}}

| waaw
buur

The waw has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /w/, and second to indicate long vowels "-oo" "-óó", and "uu".

|{{Script/Arabic|ه}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـه}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـهـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|هـ}}

|{{IPAblink|h}}

| h

|{{Script/Arabic|اَهَکَايْ}}

| ahakaay

|{{Script/Arabic|ي}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـي}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـيـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|يـ}}

|{{IPAblink|j}}

| y

|{{Script/Arabic|يَايْ}}
{{Script/Arabic|نجِيتْ}}

| yaay
njiit

The yeh has two functions: first, to be a consonant with the sound /j/, and second to indicate long vowels "-ee" "-éé", and "ii".

=Vowels=

Arabic has 3 vowels, and thus 3 vowel diacritics. But in Wolof, there are 9 vowels, and as all vowels are shown with diacritics in Wolofal. This means that on top of the 3 original diacritics, 6 additional ones have been created.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Wolofal short vowels ! rowspan="2" \| Vowel ! rowspan="2" \| IPA ! rowspan="2" \| Latin eq. ! rowspan=2 \| Unicode ! colspan="2" \|Example ! rowspan="2" \|Notes
Wolofal !Latin
{{Script/Arabic\|◌َ}} \|{{IPAblink\|a}} \|a \| U+064E \|{{Script/Arabic\|مَگْ}} \|mag \|
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣵ}} \|{{IPAblink\|a}} \|à \| U+08F5 \|{{Script/Arabic\|مࣵگّ}} \|màgg \| Diacritic not found in Arabic. Only before a long (prenasalized or geminate) consonant. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|◌َ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣴ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ə}} \|ë \| U+08F4 \|{{Script/Arabic\|بࣴتْ}} \|bët \|
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣹ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɛ}} \|e \| U+08F9 \|{{Script/Arabic\|کࣹݒّ}} \|kepp \| Diacritic not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|◌ٜ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣺ}} \|{{IPAblink\|e}} \|é \| U+08FA \|{{Script/Arabic\|کࣺݒّ}} \|képp \| Diacritic not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|◌ٜ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ِ}} \|{{IPAblink\|i}} \|i \| U+0650 \|{{Script/Arabic\|اِتَمْ}} \|itam \|
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣷ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ɔ}} \|o \| U+08F7 \|{{Script/Arabic\|سࣷقْ}} \|soq \| Diacritic not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|◌ٝ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣸ}} \|{{IPAblink\|o}} \|ó \| U+08F8 \|{{Script/Arabic\|نࣸبْ}} \|nób \| Diacritic not found in Arabic. Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|◌ُ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|◌ُ}} \|{{IPAblink\|u}} \|u \| U+064F \|{{Script/Arabic\|دُگُبْ}} \|dugub \|

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Wolofal short vowels

! rowspan="2" | Vowel

! rowspan="2" | IPA

! rowspan="2" | Latin eq.

! rowspan=2 | Unicode

! colspan="2" |Example

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Wolofal

!Latin

|{{IPAblink|a}}

| U+064E

|{{Script/Arabic|مَگْ}}

|mag

|{{IPAblink|a}}

|à

| U+08F5

|{{Script/Arabic|مࣵگّ}}

|màgg

Diacritic not found in Arabic.
Only before a long (prenasalized or geminate) consonant.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|◌َ}}

|{{IPAblink|ə}}

|ë

| U+08F4

|{{Script/Arabic|بࣴتْ}}

|bët

|{{IPAblink|ɛ}}

| U+08F9

|{{Script/Arabic|کࣹݒّ}}

|kepp

Diacritic not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|◌ٜ}}

|{{IPAblink|e}}

|é

| U+08FA

|{{Script/Arabic|کࣺݒّ}}

|képp

Diacritic not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|◌ٜ}}

|{{IPAblink|i}}

| U+0650

|{{Script/Arabic|اِتَمْ}}

|itam

|{{IPAblink|ɔ}}

| U+08F7

|{{Script/Arabic|سࣷقْ}}

|soq

Diacritic not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|◌ٝ}}

|{{IPAblink|o}}

|ó

| U+08F8

|{{Script/Arabic|نࣸبْ}}

|nób

Diacritic not found in Arabic.
Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|◌ُ}}

|{{IPAblink|u}}

| U+064F

|{{Script/Arabic|دُگُبْ}}

|dugub

When vowels appear at the beginning of the word, an alif (ا) is used as the carrier of the vowel.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+Vowel as first sound of word
A \|\| À \|\| Ë \|\| E \|\| É \|\| I \|\| O \|\| Ó \|\| U
dir="rtl" \| {{Script/Arabic\|اَ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣵ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣴ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣹ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣺ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اِ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣷ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣸ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اُ}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Vowel as first sound of word

A || À || Ë || E || É || I || O || Ó || U

dir="rtl"

| {{Script/Arabic|اَ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣵ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣴ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣹ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣺ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اِ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣷ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣸ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اُ}}

Vowels in Wolof are also distinguished by length, short and long. Short vowels are only shown with a diacritic. Similar to Arabic, long vowels are indicated by writing alif (ا), waw (و), or yeh (ي). But unlike Arabic, this does not mean that the vowel diacritic can be dropped. It cannot, as there 8 vowels and not 3. Vowel "à" (◌ࣵ) does not have a long version.

For vowel "a" (◌َ), the vowel is lengthened (aa) with an alif (ا)
For vowels "e", "é", or "i", the vowel is lengthened (ee, ée, ii) with a yeh (ي).
For vowels "o", "ó", or "u", the vowel is lengthened (oo, óo, uu) with a waw (و).
The vowel "ë" is an exception, where it is lengthened (ëe) as if it's a vowel sequence (ë-ë), with an ayn and an "ë" diacritic (عࣴـ)

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Wolofal long vowels ! rowspan="2" \| Vowel ! rowspan="2" \|Latin equivalent ! colspan="2" \|Example
Wolofal ! Latin
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌َا}} \|aa \|{{Script/Arabic\|بَاتْ}} \|baat
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣴعࣴـ / ◌ࣴعࣴ}} \|ëe \|{{Script/Arabic\|دࣴعࣴلْ‎}} \|dëel
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣹيـ / ◌ࣹي}} \|ee \|{{Script/Arabic\|لࣹينْ}} \|leen
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣺيـ / ◌ࣺي}} \|ée \|{{Script/Arabic\|لࣺينْ}} \|léen
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ِيـ / ◌ِي}} \|ii \|{{Script/Arabic\|نجِيتْ}} \|njiit
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣷو}} \|oo \|{{Script/Arabic\|وࣷورْ}} \|woor
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ࣸو}} \|óo \|{{Script/Arabic\|وࣸورْ}} \|wóor
dir="rtl"\|{{Script/Arabic\|◌ُو}} \|uu \|{{Script/Arabic\|بُورْ}} \|buur

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Wolofal long vowels

! rowspan="2" | Vowel

! rowspan="2" |Latin equivalent

! colspan="2" |Example

Wolofal

! Latin

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌َا}}

|aa

|{{Script/Arabic|بَاتْ}}

|baat

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣴعࣴـ / ◌ࣴعࣴ}}

|ëe

|{{Script/Arabic|دࣴعࣴلْ‎}}

|dëel

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣹيـ / ◌ࣹي}}

|ee

|{{Script/Arabic|لࣹينْ}}

|leen

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣺيـ / ◌ࣺي}}

|ée

|{{Script/Arabic|لࣺينْ}}

|léen

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ِيـ / ◌ِي}}

|ii

|{{Script/Arabic|نجِيتْ}}

|njiit

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣷو}}

|oo

|{{Script/Arabic|وࣷورْ}}

|woor

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ࣸو}}

|óo

|{{Script/Arabic|وࣸورْ}}

|wóor

dir="rtl"|{{Script/Arabic|◌ُو}}

|uu

|{{Script/Arabic|بُورْ}}

|buur

The same principle is followed for when a long vowel is at the beginning of a word. An alif (ا) is used as the carrier of the vowel, followed by either waw (و) or yeh (ي) as appropriate. The exception is when a word starts with the long vowel "Aa". Instead of two alifs (اا) being used, an alif-maddah (آ) is used.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+Vowel as first sound of word
Aa \|\| Ëe \|\| Ee \|\| Ée \|\| Ii \|\| Oo \|\| Óo \|\| Uu
dir="rtl" \| {{Script/Arabic\|آ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣴعࣴـ / اࣴعࣴ}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣹيـ / اࣹي}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣺيـ / اࣺي}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اِيـ / اِي}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣷو}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اࣸو}} \| {{Script/Arabic\|اُو}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Vowel as first sound of word

Aa || Ëe || Ee || Ée || Ii || Oo || Óo || Uu

dir="rtl"

| {{Script/Arabic|آ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣴعࣴـ / اࣴعࣴ}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣹيـ / اࣹي}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣺيـ / اࣺي}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اِيـ / اِي}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣷو}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اࣸو}}

| {{Script/Arabic|اُو}}

=Consonant diacritics=

There are two consonant diacritics in Wolofal alphabet. These are shadda (◌ّ) indicating gemination, and sukun (◌ْ) indicating zero-vowel.

These two diacritics cannot appear on the same consonant simultaneously. Geminated consonants only ever occur either at the end of the word, or before a suffix.

All consonants require either a vowel diacritic or one of these diacritics (or a vowel diacritic combined with shadda) except in two cases:

When a consonant is prenasalized, and is thus shown with a digraph including either the letter m "م" or n "ن". In these cases, the letters m "م" or n "ن" will remain with no diacritic.
When the letter in question is alif (ا), waw (و), or yeh (ي) and its function in the word is to indicate a long vowel, it will remain unmarked.

It is important to note that unlike Arabic, it is possible for a consonant to take shadda (◌ّ) while not having consonants. This phenomenon mostly occurs at the end of words. Native Wolof speakers pronounce geminated nouns not as doubles but simply longer. But the distinction is essential, as the meaning of a word can change. Table below provides some examples:

Wolofal \|\| Latin \|\| Meaning \|\| Wolofal \|\| Latin \|\| Meaning
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{{Script/Arabic\|بࣴتْ}}	bët	eye \| {{Script/Arabic\|بࣴتّ}}	bëtt	to find
{{Script/Arabic\|بࣷیْ}}	boy	to catch fire \| {{Script/Arabic\|بࣷیّ}}	boyy	to be glimmering
{{Script/Arabic\|دَگْ}}	dag	a royal servant \| {{Script/Arabic\|دَگّ}}	dagg	to cut
{{Script/Arabic\|دࣴجْ}}	dëj	funeral \| {{Script/Arabic\|دࣴجّ}}	dëjj	cunt
{{Script/Arabic\|فࣹنْ}}	fen	to (tell a) lie \| {{Script/Arabic\|فࣹنّ}}	fenn	somewhere, nowhere
{{Script/Arabic\|گَلْ}}	gal	white gold \| {{Script/Arabic\|گَلّ}}	gall	to regurgitate
{{Script/Arabic\|ݝࣷنْ}}	goŋ	baboon \| {{Script/Arabic\|ݝࣷنّ}}	goŋŋ	a kind of bed
{{Script/Arabic\|گࣴمْ}}	gëm	to believe \| {{Script/Arabic\|گࣴمّ}}	gëmm	to close one's eyes
{{Script/Arabic\|جَوْ}}	Jaw	a family name \| {{Script/Arabic\|جَوّ}}	jaww	heaven
{{Script/Arabic\|نࣴبْ}}	nëb	rotten \| {{Script/Arabic\|نࣴبّ}}	nëbb	to hide
{{Script/Arabic\|وࣷݧْ}}	woñ	thread \| {{Script/Arabic\|وࣷݧّ}}	woññ	to count

=Prenasalized consonants=

Prenasalized consonants are written as a digraph (combination of two consonants). While historically, there were single letter alternatives, these letters are no longer used. Prenasalized consonants are constructed using meem (م) or noon (ن) in combination with other consonants. The letter meem (م) appears in pairs with beh (ب) or peh (ݒ), whereas the letter noon (ن) appears in pairs with teh (ت), ceh (ݖ‎), dal (د), jeem (ج), qaf (ق), kaf (ک), and geh (گ). Some digraphs cannot appear at the beginning of words, -mp (مݒ), -nc (نݖ), -nq (نق).

Prenasalized consonants cannot take the zero-vowel diacritic sukun (◌ْ). If they are at the end of the word and have no vowels, they will take the gemination diacritic shadda (◌ّ).

Some Wolof-speaking authors treat these digraphs as their own independent letters.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Wolofal prenasalized Consonant Digraphs ! colspan="4" \|Forms ! rowspan="2" \|Sound represented ! rowspan="2" \|Latin equivalent ! colspan="2" \|Example ! rowspan="2" \|Notes
Isolated !Final !Medial !Initial !Wolofal !Latin
{{Script/Arabic\|مب}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـمبّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـمبـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|مبـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ᵐb}} \| mb \|{{Script/Arabic\|مبَارْ}} \| mbaar \| Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|ݑ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|مݒ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـمݒّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـمݒـ}} \| - \|{{IPAblink\|ᵐp}} \| mp \|{{Script/Arabic\|سَمݒّ}} \| samp \| Cannot exist at the beginning of a word
{{Script/Arabic\|نݖ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنݖّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنݖـ}} \| - \|{{IPAblink\|ⁿc}} \| nc \|{{Script/Arabic\|سَنݖّ}} \| sanc \| Cannot exist at the beginning of a word
{{Script/Arabic\|ند}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـندّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـند}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ند}} \|{{IPAblink\|ⁿd}} \| nd \|{{Script/Arabic\|ندَوْ}} \| ndaw \| Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|ڎ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|نج}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنجّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنجـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|نجـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ᶮɟ}} \| nj \|{{Script/Arabic\|نجࣷولْ}} \| njool \| Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|چ}}
{{Script/Arabic\|نق}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنقّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنقـ}} \| - \|[ⁿq] \| nq \|{{Script/Arabic\|جَنقّ}} \| janq \| Cannot exist at the beginning of a word
{{Script/Arabic\|نک}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنکّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنکـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|نکـ}} \|[ɴk] \| nk \|{{Script/Arabic\|دࣺنکّ}} \| dénk \|
{{Script/Arabic\|نگ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنگّ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|ـنگـ}} \|{{Script/Arabic\|نگـ}} \|{{IPAblink\|ᵑɡ}} \| ng \|{{Script/Arabic\|نگَ}} \| nga \| Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic\|ݣ}} Important to note that it is different from {{Script/Arabic\|ݝ}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+Wolofal prenasalized Consonant Digraphs

! colspan="4" |Forms

! rowspan="2" |Sound represented

! rowspan="2" |Latin equivalent

! colspan="2" |Example

! rowspan="2" |Notes

Isolated

!Final

!Medial

!Initial

!Wolofal

!Latin

|{{Script/Arabic|ـمبّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـمبـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|مبـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ᵐb}}

| mb

|{{Script/Arabic|مبَارْ}}

| mbaar

Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|ݑ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـمݒّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـمݒـ}}

| -

|{{IPAblink|ᵐp}}

| mp

|{{Script/Arabic|سَمݒّ}}

| samp

Cannot exist at the beginning of a word

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنݖّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنݖـ}}

| -

|{{IPAblink|ⁿc}}

| nc

|{{Script/Arabic|سَنݖّ}}

| sanc

Cannot exist at the beginning of a word

|{{Script/Arabic|ـندّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـند}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ند}}

|{{IPAblink|ⁿd}}

| nd

|{{Script/Arabic|ندَوْ}}

| ndaw

Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|ڎ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنجّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنجـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|نجـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ᶮɟ}}

| nj

|{{Script/Arabic|نجࣷولْ}}

| njool

Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|چ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنقّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنقـ}}

| -

|[ⁿq]

| nq

|{{Script/Arabic|جَنقّ}}

| janq

Cannot exist at the beginning of a word

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنکّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنکـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|نکـ}}

|[ɴk]

| nk

|{{Script/Arabic|دࣺنکّ}}

| dénk

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنگّ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|ـنگـ}}

|{{Script/Arabic|نگـ}}

|{{IPAblink|ᵑɡ}}

| ng

|{{Script/Arabic|نگَ}}

| nga

Obsolete Alternative: {{Script/Arabic|ݣ}}
Important to note that it is different from {{Script/Arabic|ݝ}}

Sample text

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

class="wikitable"
Translation \|\| Latin Script \|\| Wolofal (Arabic) Script
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. \| Doomi aadama yépp danuy juddu, yam ci tawfeex ci sag ak sañ-sañ. Nekk na it ku xam dëgg te ànd na ak xelam, te war naa jëflante ak nawleen, te teg ko ci wàllu mbokk. \| dir="rtl"\| {{Script/Arabic\|دࣷومِ آدَمَ يࣺݒّ دَنُيْ جُدُّ، يَمْ ݖِ تَوفࣹيخْ ݖِ سَگْ اَکْ سَݧْ-سَݧْ. نࣹکّ نَ اِتْ کُ خَمْ دࣴگّ تࣹ اࣵ‎ندْ نَ خࣹلَمْ، تࣹ وَرْ نَا جࣴفْلَنْتࣹ اَکْ نَوْلࣹينْ، تࣹ تࣹگْ کࣷ ݖِ وࣵلُّ مبࣷکّ.}}

class="wikitable"

Translation || Latin Script || Wolofal (Arabic) Script

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

| Doomi aadama yépp danuy juddu, yam ci tawfeex ci sag ak sañ-sañ. Nekk na it ku xam dëgg te ànd na ak xelam, te war naa jëflante ak nawleen, te teg ko ci wàllu mbokk.

| dir="rtl"| {{Script/Arabic|دࣷومِ آدَمَ يࣺݒّ دَنُيْ جُدُّ، يَمْ ݖِ تَوفࣹيخْ ݖِ سَگْ اَکْ سَݧْ-سَݧْ. نࣹکّ نَ اِتْ کُ خَمْ دࣴگّ تࣹ اࣵ‎ندْ نَ خࣹلَمْ، تࣹ وَرْ نَا جࣴفْلَنْتࣹ اَکْ نَوْلࣹينْ، تࣹ تࣹگْ کࣷ ݖِ وࣵلُّ مبࣷکّ.}}

Bibliography

Mamadou Cissé: « Graphical borrowing and African realities » in Revue du Musée National d'Ethnologie d'Osaka, Japan, June 2000.
Mamadou Cissé: « Écrits et écritures en Afrique de l'Ouest » in Sud Langues [http://www.sudlangues.sn/IMG/pdf/doc-135.pdf] June 2006.
[http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Wolof PanAfriL10n Wolof]

Category:Languages of the Gambia

Category:Arabic alphabets

Category:Writing systems of Africa

Category:Wolof language