Hausa (Yaren Hausa or Harshen Hausa) is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 80 million people, and as a second language by about 20 million more. Native speakers of Hausa are mostly to be found in northern Nigeria, Benin and in 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. It is 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"

e

like 'a' in "ache"

i

like 'y' in "fimily"

o

like 'o' in "Yolanda"

u

like 'u' in "bantu"

Consonants

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

Basics

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

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

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) 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?