Pronunciation guide
[edit]Vowels
[edit]- a
- like 'a' in "cat"
- e
- like 'a' in "ache"
- i
- like 'y' in "fimily"
- o
- like 'o' in "Yolanda"
- u
- like 'u' in "bantu"
Consonants
[edit]- b
- like 'b' in "bat" but there is also an implosive or hook b, a sound not in English
- c
- like 'ch' in "child"
- d
- like 'd' in "dance" but there is also a hook d, a sound not in English
- f
- like 'f' in "few"
- g
- like 'g' in "growth"
- h
- like 'h' in "hole"
- j
- like 'j' in "jug"
- k
- like 'k' in "kiln" but there is also a hook k, a sound not in English
- l
- like 'l' in "leg"
- m
- like 'm' in "man"
- n
- like 'n' in "nice"
- r
- like 'r' in "rain"
- s
- like 's' in "silk"
- t
- like 't' in "tree"
- w
- like 'w' in "way"
- y
- like 'y' in "yoke" but there is also a hook y, a sound not in English
- z
- like 'z' in "zinc"
Phrase list
[edit]Basics
[edit]- Hello.
- Sannu, but the commonest polite greeting is Assalamu alaikum, Peace be upon you. Assalamu alaikum is a Muslim greeting, more commonly used by both men and women.
- A gaishe ka (ki) or Ina gaishe 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 Lafiya (addressing males) or Kina lafiya (addressing females)?
- Fine
- Lafiya lau. (in health)
- What is your name?
- yaya sunan ka?
- My name is ______ .
- suna na _____.
- You may do best to simply respond to friendly greetings as they come at you. Lafiya or lafiya 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)
- lafiya lau
- Ina kwana (good morning, literally how did you sleep)
- Lafiya
- 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 da zuwa or sannu da 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' [well].
- 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
[edit]- Let's go
- Mu je
- Let's go to the market
- Mu tafi 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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) je? Where do you want to go?
Bin iya yi ba. I don't know how to do it.
Zan tafi. I'm leaving.
Na gane. I understand.
A kwai 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 tsaya? Where would I stay?
Kana da Kudi? Do you have money?
Bani de kudi. I don't have money.
Ba na so. I don't like it.
Ina so. I like it.
Shanu Cattle
Zomo Hare
Rakumi Camel
Rakumin daji Giraffe
Doki Horse
Dan doka Police
Kana sha taba? Do you smoke? (lit; Do you drink cigarettes)
Kana/Kina shan giya? Do you(masculine/feminine) drink alcohol?
Sarki King
Aboki Friend
Zaki Lion
Giwa Elephant
Giwan Ruwa Nile perch (Lit: Elephant of the waters)
Bai kome It doesn't matter
Wasa Playing
Kada ka zo gobe Don't come tomorrow
Matar ka ta gudu. Your wife has run away.
Wuta fire/electricity What is your nationality? Kai ɗan wace ƙasa ne?