French in Senegal: What Travellers Actually Need to Know
Senegal is officially a French-speaking country — a legacy of French colonial rule that ended at independence in 1960 but left French as the language of government, education, and formal business. However, the picture on the ground is more interesting than that.
In daily life, most Senegalese speak Wolof as their first language — a West African language unrelated to French, spoken by approximately 80% of the population as either a native or second language. In tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants in Dakar, you will also encounter English, particularly among younger staff and entrepreneurs.
What this means for you: French is genuinely useful and will be appreciated, but you can navigate most tourist situations with a mix of French basics, a few Wolof greetings, and English.
How Far Does English Get You?
Dakar hotels and upmarket restaurants: English almost always understood. International hotel chains (Pullman, Radisson, Novotel) have English-speaking receptionists by policy.
Dakar taxis: Limited English. French or Wolof is more useful. Yango (the ride-hailing app) eliminates the language problem — you set the destination in the app.
Markets and street food: Minimal English. A few French numbers, the word for what you want, and pointing gets you through most transactions.
Gorée Island guides: Almost all guides speak excellent English — Gorée attracts American visitors in large numbers and English is standard.
Casamance and rural Senegal: French is more useful than English. Outside tourist centres, assume French only (plus local languages).
Essential French Phrases
Greetings and Basics
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR | Good morning / Hello |
| Bonsoir | bohn-SWAHR | Good evening |
| Merci | mare-SEE | Thank you |
| Merci beaucoup | mare-SEE boh-KOO | Thank you very much |
| S'il vous plaît | seel-voo-PLAY | Please |
| Excusez-moi | ex-kew-ZAY-mwah | Excuse me |
| Pardon | par-DOHN | Sorry / Pardon |
| Je ne comprends pas | zhuh-nuh-kohn-PROHN-pah | I don't understand |
| Parlez-vous anglais? | par-LAY-voo-ahn-GLAY | Do you speak English? |
| Oui / Non | WEE / NOH | Yes / No |
Practical Situations
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Où est...? | Where is...? |
| L'hôtel | The hotel |
| La plage | The beach |
| Le marché | The market |
| La gare routière | The bus station |
| Les toilettes | The toilets |
| Un taxi, s'il vous plaît | A taxi, please |
| Combien ça coûte? | How much does it cost? |
| C'est trop cher | It's too expensive |
| Je veux acheter... | I want to buy... |
| Avez-vous...? | Do you have...? |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
| Je suis allergique à... | I'm allergic to... |
| À quelle heure? | At what time? |
Numbers (1–20)
1 un, 2 deux, 3 trois, 4 quatre, 5 cinq, 6 six, 7 sept, 8 huit, 9 neuf, 10 dix, 11 onze, 12 douze, 13 treize, 14 quatorze, 15 quinze, 16 seize, 17 dix-sept, 18 dix-huit, 19 dix-neuf, 20 vingt.
Prices in CFA: Senegal uses West African CFA francs. You'll be dealing with numbers in the thousands regularly (a bottle of water costs around 500 CFA, a restaurant main course 3,000–8,000 CFA). The word for thousand is mille (meel).
Essential Wolof
Wolof is not French — it is a completely different language family — but learning five phrases will earn you genuine delight and warmth from Senegalese people, far beyond what French alone achieves.
| Wolof | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour / Nanga def? | nahn-gah-DEF | How are you? (greeting) |
| Mangi fi rekk | mahn-gee-FEE-reck | I'm fine, thanks |
| Jerejef | jeh-reh-JEF | Thank you |
| Waaw | waw | Yes |
| Déedét | DEH-deht | No |
| Mangi dem | mahn-gee-DEM | I'm going / Goodbye |
| Toubab | too-BAB | Foreigner (how locals refer to you — not offensive, just descriptive) |
The Wolof greeting sequence is important in Senegalese culture. When you meet someone — especially an older person or a market vendor — exchanging two or three pleasantries before getting to business is expected. Skipping straight to "how much?" is considered abrupt.
A typical greeting exchange:
- You: Nanga def? (How are you?)
- Them: Mangi fi rekk (I'm fine) / Nanga dem? (And you?)
- You: Mangi fi rekk. Jerejef. (I'm fine. Thank you.)
- Then you can ask your question.
Food Vocabulary
Knowing the names of Senegalese dishes saves ordering confusion in local restaurants.
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Thiéboudienne | National dish — rice and fish, slow-cooked in tomato sauce |
| Thiéb yapp | Same, but with meat instead of fish |
| Yassa poulet | Grilled chicken in caramelised onion and lemon sauce |
| Yassa poisson | Same with fish |
| Mafé | Groundnut (peanut) stew — meat or vegetable |
| Caldou | Light fish broth with lime — lighter than thiéboudienne |
| Ataya | Senegalese mint tea, served in three rounds, progressively sweeter |
| Bissap | Hibiscus flower drink — cold, slightly tart, bright purple |
| Bouye | Baobab fruit drink — creamy, sweet |
In a restaurant, you can often point to what others are eating rather than naming the dish — this works everywhere.
Practical Language Tips
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French accent: A British French accent is understood better than you think. Don't worry about perfect pronunciation — making the effort is what matters.
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Body language: Senegalese communication is expressive. Nodding, smiling, and using both hands when handing something to someone are appreciated gestures.
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Avoid the imperative: Issuing commands in French (Donnez-moi... — Give me...) sounds rude in a Senegalese context. Always use Je voudrais... (I would like...) or Est-ce que vous avez... (Do you have...).
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Apps: Google Translate works for French↔English offline. The Wolof module is basic — use it for reading signs, not conversation.
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Language classes: If you plan to spend more than two weeks in Senegal, a few hours of French conversation classes before you travel is a worthwhile investment. Alliance Française has branches in most UK and EU cities.