Wolof

/ˈwɒlɒf/

//ˈwɒlɒf// name

"wolof" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Wolof” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a proper noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A West African people, mostly in Senegal.

Corpus desk

Index EN-wolof · Wolof · English

Wolof · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MID 5 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "W" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for Wolof
PropertyValue
HeadwordWolof
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/ˈwɒlɒf/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “Wolof” in English

Wolofranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

Wolof is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as aproper noun, transcribed /ˈwɒlɒf/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for Wolof, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Wolof Wolof. The correct English form is Wolof, spelled W-O-L-O-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    A West African people, mostly in Senegal.
  2. 2
    The language traditionally spoken by those people.
  3. 3
    The former realm of the Wolof, maintained from the 14th to the 19th centuries.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how Wolof appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. ‘But come on: haven’t you learnt even a little bit of Wolof yet?’

Etymology

From Wolof Wolof.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Wolof"?
"Wolof" is spelled W-O-L-O-F. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈwɒlɒf/.
What does "Wolof" mean?
As a proper noun, "Wolof" means: A West African people, mostly in Senegal.
How do you pronounce "Wolof"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Wolof" is /ˈwɒlɒf/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "Wolof"?
From Wolof Wolof. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list