Hausa phrasebook

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Hausa (Yaren Hausa or Harshen Hausa) is a Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 24 million people, and as a second language by about 15 million more. Native speakers of Hausa are mostly to be found in the in the north of Nigeria and in the African country of Niger (where it is an official language in the north), but the language is widely used as a lingua franca (similar to Wolof in Senegal) in a much larger swathe of West Africa. Especially prevalent in the Northern Region of Ghana, commonly used by the Fulani herdsmen who originate from Nigeria.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Basics

; Hello. : Sannu but the commonest polite greeting is Salama alaikum, peace be upon you. Salaam alaikum is a Muslim greeting, more commonly used by men than women.

A gaishai ka (ki) Hello, or I greet you. Used as a more formal salutation, or if you find someone at hard at work.

; How are you? :ا نا لافييا /Kana Lahiya (addressing males) or Kina lahiya (addressing females)?
; Fine :Lafiya lau. (in health) ; What is your name? : Mai sunan ka?
; My name is ______ . : suna na _____ne
;You may do best to simply respond to friendly greetings as they come at you. Lahiya or lahiya lau is nearly always a polite response.

Sannu da aiki (said to someone at work)

sannu kadai (hello back)

Sannu da zuwa (welcome, greetings on your arrival)

sannu kadai (hello back)

ina gajiya (how is the tiredness)

ba gajiya (fine, no tiredness)

ina dan uwa'en ka (ki) (how are your relatives, your family)

lahiya lau

Ina kwana (good morning, literally how did you sleep)

Lahiya

;I do not speak Hausa (literally I do not hear Hausa) :Ba na jin Hausa
;I do not understand :Ban gane ba
; Nice to meet you. :Ina farin cikin haduwa da kai (an English greeting, not a Hausa one) ; Please. :Don Allah
; Thank you. :Na gode.
; You're welcome. : barka de zuwa or sannu de zuwa (in the sense of welcoming someone)

Ba kome (in response to someone thanking you)

; Yes. : A (sounded as letter 'a' but drawn out like 'ayyy' not 'ahhh')
; No. : A'a (sounded as 'ah ah')
; Please listen to me: (getting attention) : Don Allah ji mana
; Excuse me please: (begging pardon) : Gafara Don Allah
; I'm sorry. : Yi hak'uri
; Goodbye : Sai an jima.
; See you tomorrow: Sai Gobe
; I can't speak 'Swedish' . : Ba na jin harshen Swedish
; Do you speak English? : Ka na jin harshen turanci kuwa?
; Is there someone here who speaks English? :Akwai mai jin harshen turanci kusa?
; Help! : Taimaka!
; Look out! : A lura sosai!
; Good morning. : Ina kwana?
; Good evening. : Barka da yamma
; Good night. : Allah ya ba mu alheri
; Good night (to sleep) : Mu kwana lafiya
; I don't understand. : Ban gane ba
; Where is the toilet? : Ina makewayi ya ke?

In Daily Life

; Let's go : Mu je
; Let's go to the market : Mu tahi kasuwa
; Let's go home : Mu tahi gida
; Where are you going? : Ina za ka je? (Masculine), Ina za ki je(Feminine)
; Small boy : 'yaro
; farmer : mai noma
; Where do you come from? : Daga ina ka zo? or ina ka zo daga?
; House : Gida
; Family : Iyali
; Mosque : masallaci
; What country do you come from? : Wani gari kafai to?
; Come : zo or Zo nan (come here)
; Wonderful : Mamaki
; Where did you going? : ina ka na je
; Do you understand (Hausa) : Kana jin harshen Hausa
; Small Small : Ka'dan ka'dan
; Is it good?* or It is good : yena da kyau? or tai kyau?
; What is this? : Menene wan nan?
; What are you doing? : Menene Ka na yi?
; Okay, yes, you're welcome* : Too, Yoo *common in Ghana to use when speaking Hausa
; I like you : Ina so'n ka (mas.) ina so'n ki (fem.)

In the Market

; Good Market With you : Allah abiba kasuwa
; Market : Kasuwa
; How much? : Nawane
; Can I buy some? : zan siya abu
; Can I have some? : Nasu mu
; Densay (Madera)? : Can I buy (Milk)
; Last price? : Nawane gaskiya
; Give me clean water to drink : Bani ruwa in sha
; Drinkable water : Ruwan Shah
; Food is delicious (Literally Food gets delicious) : Abinchin ku yana dadi
; Rice : shinkafa
; Beans : wake
; tuwo : traditional meal
; millet : hatsi
; pasta : maka
; onion : albasa

Other

Sannu: Hello
Na gode: Thank You
Ina jin yunwa: I'm Hungry
Ina son ruwa: I want water
Ko ba ha'ka ba? Is that not so?
Gaskiya? True?
Sai wata rana. Until another day (Goodbye)
Akwai labari? Is there any news?
Na ji dadi. I am pleased
Madallah! Excellent! (often used at the end of the greetings if all is well)
Na gaji. I am tired.

I na zaka(ki) ce? Where do you want to go?
Bin iya yi ba. I don't know how to do it.
Zan tafi. I'm leaving.
Na gani. I understand.
A kwe abinchi? Is there food?
Na koshi. I'm full (after eating).
Me ka(kin) ce? What did you say?
Bari. Leave it.
Zauna. Sit down.
Ta fita. She has gone out.
Ya je aiki. He has gone to work.
Ka iya yi? Do you know how to do it?
Ina son mota dan Allah. I would like a car please.
Ina zan kwana? Where would I stay?
Kana de Kud'i? Do you have money?
Bani de kud'i. I don't have money.
Ba na so. I don't like it.
Ina so. I like it.
Shanu Cattle
Zomo Hare
Rakoomi Camel
Rakoomin dadje Giraffe
Doki Horse
Dan doka Police
Kanna sha taba? Do you smoke? (lit; Do you drink cigarettes)
Kana/Kina shan giya? Do you(masculine/feminine) drink alcohol?
Sarki A chief
Aboki Friend
Zaki Lion
Giwa Elephant
Giwan Ruwa Nile perch (Lit: Elephant of the waters)
Bai kome It doesn't matter
Wasa Playing
Kadaka zo gobe Don't come tomorrow
Mata ta gudo. Your wife has run away.
Wuta fire/electricity What is your nationality? Kai ɗan wace ƙasa ne?