Introduce yourself, ask the way or a price, ask someone to repeat: 17 phrases in Hausa checked against reference sources (Hausa of Niger and standard Hausa (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ; tones not written)).

1

Travelling

Ina so in je makewaya NigerI want to go to the toilet
bani canji Nigergive me change
Fadi sannu sannu Nigerspeak slowly
Daga Amerika nike NigerI am from America
Muna so mu tahi kasuwa Nigerwe want to go to the market
Ina bukata kudi NigerI need money
Mi kake so? Nigerwhat do you want? (to a man)
2

Everyday phrases

ban gane ba NigerI don't understand
ban sani ba NigerI don't know
mi sunanka? Nigerwhat is your name? (to a man)
daga ina kake? Nigerwhere are you from? (to a man)
nawa ne? Nigerhow much is it?
ina jin Hausa kadan kadan NigerI understand a little Hausa
ina za ka? Nigerwhere are you going? (to a man)
yaushe? Nigerwhen?
ina? Nigerwhere?
wa? Nigerwho?

Test yourself

1. What does “bani canji” mean?

2. What does “Ina bukata kudi” mean?

3. What does “mi sunanka?” mean?

4. What does “ina za ka?” mean?

Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Niger Hausa manual (2006). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.