Difference between revisions of "Hausa phrasebook"

Revision as of 17:34, 17 March 2011

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

Vowels

a 

like 'a' in "cat"

Consonants

b 

like 'b' in "bat" but there is also an implosive b, a sound not in English

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? 

Mi sunan ka?

My name is ______ . 

suna na _____

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' [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

Let's go 

Mu je

Where are you going? 

Ina za ka je? (Masculine), Ina za ki je(Feminine)

Small boy 

'yaro

Where do you come from? 

Daga ina ka zo? or ina ka zo daga?

House/ Family

Gida

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 kasu-ah

Market 

Kasu-ah

How much? 

Nahwanee

Can I buy some? 

Dan say abu

Can I have some? 

Nasu mu

Densay (Madera)? 

Can I buy (Milk)

Last price? 

Na wani ga ski-ah

Give me clean water to drink 

Bani rue-ah en shah

Drinkable water 

Rue-en Shah

Food is delicious (Literally Food gets delicious) 

Abinti goonada dadday

Other

• Sannu: Sorry
• 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?

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)

Sarki A chief

Aboki Friend

Zaki Lion

Geewa Elephant

Geewan 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.