Hausa is the great trade language of Niger and northern Nigeria. Its greetings revolve around an all-purpose word, “sannu”, and questions about tiredness, home and the day.
1
The all-purpose word: sannu
“sannu” greets, welcomes or encourages, depending on what you add to it.
sannuhello, hi
↳ yawwathat's right, bravo
sannu da zuwawelcome (lit. greetings on your coming)
sannu da aikigreetings on your work
2
Asking how people are
You ask whether the night was good, how the tiredness is, how the household is.
ina kwana?good morning, did you sleep well?
ina gajiya?how is your tiredness? (greeting)
↳ babu gajiyano tiredness (reply)
ina gida?how is your family? (lit. home)
Good to know. The manual notes that all “sannu” greetings get the same answer: “yawwa”. The manual comes from Niger, where people sometimes say “h” where standard Hausa has “f” (“lahiya” for “lafiya”).
3
Welcoming
Two phrases to receive someone, and the Muslim greeting.
barka da zuwawelcome
salamu alaikumpeace be with you (Muslim greeting)
4
Saying goodbye
“sai” + the moment you will meet again.
sai anjimasee you later
sai gobesee you tomorrow
sai wata ranasee you some day
5
Small words you will use all the time
Thank you, please, excuse me, okay, no.
na godethank you (lit. I have thanked)
don Allahplease (lit. for God's sake)
gafaraexcuse me, pardon
tookay
a'ano
In practice: Musa greets Hauwa
Musasannuhello, hi
Hauwayawwathat's right, bravo
Musaina gajiya?how is your tiredness? (greeting)
Hauwababu gajiyano tiredness (reply)
Musana gode. sai gobethank you (lit. I have thanked) / see you tomorrow
Hauwasai gobesee you tomorrow
Key points
- sannu → yawwa: hello, hi / that's right, bravo
- ina gajiya? → babu gajiya: how is your tiredness? (greeting) / no tiredness (reply)
- na gode: thank you (lit. I have thanked)
- sai gobe: see you tomorrow
Test yourself
1. Someone says “sannu”. What do you answer?
2. How do you say “thank you”?
3. What does “sai gobe” mean?
4. “ina gajiya?” — the usual answer is…
Where do these words come from?
The phrases in this lesson come from the manual An Introduction to the Hausa Language (Peace Corps Niger, 2006), cross-checked with Wiktionary, in standard spelling (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ). Tones are not written in everyday spelling. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.
The phrases in this lesson come from the manual An Introduction to the Hausa Language (Peace Corps Niger, 2006), cross-checked with Wiktionary, in standard spelling (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ). Tones are not written in everyday spelling. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.