Zarma is the local language of southwestern Niger, including areas along the Niger River and in the Nigerien capital Niamey, and with 2 million speakers is the second-most spoken language in Niger after Hausa. Zarma is one of the dialects of the Songhay language and is mutually intelligible with Songhay dialects spoken in Eastern Mali.

Alphabet

Zarma uses the following letters of the Latin (Roman) alphabet: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, ɲ or ny, ŋ, o, p, r, s, t, u, w, y, z.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

There are ten vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ and their nasalized counterparts which are denoted by either a tilde or a following 'n' or 'ŋ'.

Phrase list

Basics

Keep in mind that greetings are very important in this region, and greeting someone often involves a plethora of questions (how are you/your family/your health/your work/etc.?). For most of these you can just respond "Baani Samay", or "Taali si no."

Hello.

Fo/Fofo. ( )

Welcome.

Fo'ndakayan/Kubayni

Hello, how are you?. (morning)

Aran kani baani?/Wor kani baani?. ( )

Hello, how are you? (afternoon)

Aran foy baani?/Wor hoy Baani?? ( ?)

How is your family?

Mate fu?

How is your health?

Mate ga ham?

How is your work?

Mate goyo?

How is the heat?

Mate doon'gay?

Fine, thank you. (Response to all above questions)

Sameyno/Baani Samey ( )

No problems. ("Response to all above questions")

Taali si no

I'm thankful (to God). ("Occasional response to above questions")

Ay g'Irkoy saabu

What is your name?

Mateno ni ma/Mate ga ti ni ma/Mate ga ti ni mayo?? ( ?)

My name is ______ .

Ay ma ga ti ____. ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

Alhanan. ( )

I want cold water/Give me cold water.

Ay ga ba haari yeno/Ay no hari yeno (" ")

Thank you.

Fofo. ( )

You're welcome.

A sinda hay fo. ( )

Yes.

Ah'hoh. ( )

No.

Ha'a. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Alhanan. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

Alhanan. ( )

Goodbye

Kala tonton. ( )

Goodbye (until the following day)

kala han fo. ( )

Until tomorrow.

kala souba.

I can't speak Zarma (lit. I do not understand Zarma).

Ay sii ma Zarma. ( [ ])

Do you speak French?

Ni ga ma faransi ciine?/Ni ga ma faransi saani? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks French?

Boro go no kan ga ma faransi saani? ( ?)

Help!

Ay gaakasinay! ( !)

Look out!

Haggoy fa! ( !)

Good morning.

Aran kani baani?/kanibaani. ( )

Good afternoon.

Aran foy baani ?/Hoybaani. ( )

Good evening.

Matey aran wichira ?. ( )

' Good night. : Cino ma boori

Good night (lit. Sleep well.)

Iri ma kani baani. ( )

I don't understand.

ay sii ga faham. ( )

Where is the toilet?

Man no koso(ndo) go/Man no salan'ga/Man no dusero go? ( ?)

I'm going to go out.

ay go koy

I'm going to return.

ay ga ye ga ka

Quitely, a little.

Moso moso/kayna kayna/A fofo

Stranger. (European)

Annasara

Guest.

Yaw

Small.

Kayna

Large/big.

Ber/Beri/Iberi

Bambbata

OK.

Toh.

Problems

Go away!

Wa koy!!

Don't touch me!

Wa si lambay ga!

I'll call the police! : Ay ga polisay ce!

Police!

Polici!

Stop!

Wa di Zay!

Help me, please. : Wa'y faba!

It's an emergency!

Cahakomey wonno!

I'm lost.

Ay darey no.

I've lost my [purse/wallet].

Ay [fola/zaalifonta] no darey.

I'm sick.

Ay go ga ma Doori.

I'm hurt.

Ay marey no.

I need a doctor.

Logotoro no ay ga ba.

May I use your telephone?

Ay ga hini ga goy da ni talfono?

Go!

Ir ma koy!

Quickly!

Waasi!

Numbers

1

Ifo/Afo

2

Ihinka

3

Ihinza

4

Itaci

5

Igu

6

Iddu

7

Iyye

8

Ihaku/Ahaku

9

Iyagga/Egga

10

Iway

11, 12, 13, etc.

Iway cind'[1-9] (example: 11 is Iway cind'ifo)

20

Waranka

21

Waranka cind'ifo

30

waranza

40

waytaci

50

waygu

60

waydu

70

wayadu

80

wahakku

90

wayagga

100

zangu

200

Zangu hinka

300

Zangu hinza

1000

Zanbar fo

2000

Zanbar hinka

1,000,000

Milyo fo

Number ___ (train, bus)

lamba ___ (Zirjo, Karo)

Half.

Jare

Time

Now.

Sohon

Late.

Da tonton

Before.

Halaga

Morning. (after sunrise)

Susubey

In the morning.

Susuba ra

Afternoon.

Zaari/Alula

Evening. (before sunset)

Alasar

Evening. (after sunset)

Almari

In the evening.

Almaro ra

Night.

cinci

Clock time

The 12-hour clock is used.

1 o'clock

Guru fo

2 o'clock

Guru hinka

9 o'clock (lit. morning hour nine)

Susubey guru yegga

noon

midi (French loan word)

13.00 (lit. afternoon hour one)

Zaaro guru fo

18.00 (lit. evening hour six)

Wicirkanbu guru iddu

Midnight

minuit (French loan word)

7.30

Guru egga nda jere

Duration

___ minutes

___ Minti

___ hours

___ guru

___ days

___ zaari

___ weeks

___ habu

___ months

___ handu

___ years

___ jiiri

weekly

habou ga ka habu

monthly

habou ga ka handu

yearly

Jiiri ga ka Jiiri

Days

today

Honzaari/Honkuna

yesterday

Bi

tomorrow

Suba

this week

habo wo

last week

habo kan bisa

next week

habo kan go ka

Sunday

Alhadi

Monday

Atinni

Tuesday

Atalata

Wednesday

Alarba

Thursday

Alkamisa

Friday

Alzuma

Saturday

Asibti

Months

Many do not understand the Gregorian calendar and/or may use the Islamic calendar. The Gregorian calendar is thought of as "French" and, among those who do, the names of French months (in parentheses) are more readily understood.

January

X (Janvier)

February

X (Fevrier)

March

X (Mars)

April

X (Avril)

May

X (Mai)

June

X (Juin)

July

X (Juillet)

August

X (Aout)

September

X (Septembre)

October

X (Octobre)

November

X (Novembre)

December

X (Decembre)

Colors

Black

Biiri (black person: Borobi)

blanc

Ikwaray (white person: Gakwaray)

grey

X

red

Cirey

blue

Boogu

yellow

Sey

green

Yargey

orange

X

purple

X

brown

X

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to ____ ?

X ____ ?

A ticket to ____, please.

X ____ X.

Where does this bus go?

Man no zirjo ga koy ?

How do I get to ____ ?

Man no ____ go?

The bus arrives here at ____ ?

Man no ____ ga koy ?

When does the bus for ___ leave?

waatifo no zirjo/kaaro kan ga koy _____ ga tun?

When will the bus arrive at _____ ?

Waatifo no zirjo/kaaro ga to _____ ?

Directions

Where is _____ ? ?

Man no _____ go ?

...la gare routière ?

X

...the airport ?

Bene hiyey zumbuyoNo do

...downtown?

X

...the neighborhood ?

X

...the youth hostel ?

X

...the hotel _____ ?

X

...the American/British/Canadian/Australian embassy?

 ?

Can you show me on the map the ?

X

road

X

Turn left

X.

Turn right.

X.

left

KanbaNari

right

Kanbouwo

straight ahead

X

In the direction of _____

X _____

After the _____

Banba _____

Before the _____

Djiné_____

North

AZawaKanbé

South

Dandikanbé

East

Weynofounay

West

WeynokaNay

Above

bene

Below

ganda

Taxi

Taxi!

X !

Take me to ___, please.

X _____ X

How much does it cost to travel to _____?

X _____ ?

Take me there, please

X

Shopping

Do you have this in my size ?

X

How much does this cost ?

Marje no wone?

That's very expensive !

A tada gumo!

Do you accept _____?

Ni yadda _____?

expensive

Cada

cheap

Habo ma boori

I cannot pay for that.

Ay si hini ga a bana

Je n'en veux pas

Ay si bara.

You've mistaken me.

X

I'm not interested.

A mana ay bejandi

Good, I will buy that.

A boori, ay ga sambu

I would like to have a bag ?

Ay ga du saaku fo?

I need...

Ay ga ba

...toothpaste.

hinge safun

...a toothbrush.

hinge borosu fo

...tampons.

tampon

...soap.

Safun

...shampoo.

Sampo

...a pain reliever (aspirin, ibuprofen)

X.

...a cold medicine.

Hungum safari.

...stomach medicine.

X

...a razer.

Laamu fo (biledu)

...batteries.

Piili

...a raincoat

Layma.

...an umbrella

Layma

...sunscreen.

X

...a postcard.

Karte postal

...postage stamps.

Tambre

...letter paper.

wasikahatuniyan takarda

...a pen.

Bikki fo

...French-language books.

Fransiciine tiraya

...a French-language newspaper.

Fransiciine labaari tira fo

...a French-___ dictionary.

Fransiciine-da-___ciine kamusu fo

Driving

I would like to rent a car

Ay ga ba ay ma lue moto fo.

I can be assured) ?

X

stop (on a sign)

stop

yield

X

parking prohibited

X

speed limit

X

gas/petrol station

staso

gasoline/petrol

Esensi

diesel

gazual

Authority

I didn't do anything wrong..

Ay mana taali kulu te

It's a mistake.

Darayyan no te.

Where are you taking me ?

Man no aran go ga konda ay?

Am I under arrest ?

X

I am a (French) citizen.

Ay wo fanransi laabize no.

I want to go to the (French) embassy.

ay ga hagu ay ma salan france ambassado se

I would like to speak to a lawyer.

Ay ga ba ay ma salan ay avoka se

Can I simply pay a fine?

ay ga hini ga bana jukkeyan nooru hine?

Learning more

• lessons (in English!)
• lessons including audio files created for Peace Corps volunteers
• Zarma-French-English dictionary

This article is significantly based on work which can be found at The French Wikivoyage. A list of authors can be found here.