Difference between revisions of "Hausa phrasebook"

Revision as of 01:01, 7 January 2007

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 Nigeriaand in theAfrican 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.

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.

Bold text

Sannu da aiki (said to someone at work)

sannu kade (hello back)

Sannu da zuwa (welcome, greetings on your arrival)

sannu kade (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

Ba ni ji Hausa ba (I do not speak Hausa (literally I do not hear Hausa)

Ban gane ba (I do not understand)

Nice to meet you. 

I na farin cikin haduwa da kai( an English greeting, not a Hausa one)

Please. 

Don Allah

Thank you. 

Na gode.

You're welcome. 

Marhaba (In the sense of welcoming someone, but in response to someone thanking you, Ba kome)

Yes. 

Eh

No. 

A'a

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Don Allah ji mana!

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

gafara

I'm sorry. 

Yi hakuri

Goodbye 

Sai an jima.

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? 

I na makewayi ya ke?

Learning more

Sannu: Sorry

Na Gode: Thank You

Ina Jin Yunwa: I'm Hungry

Ina son ruwa: I want water