Essential Hausa Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Hausa words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Sannu. Barka. Hello. Sai an jima. Sai wani lokaci. Goodbye. Kana jin turanci? (man) Kina jin turanci? (woman) Do you speak English? Ban gane ba. I don't understand. Kaɗan. A little. I. A'a. Yes. No. Kuɗinsa nawa ne? How much is it? Ya yi tsada. Shi ke nan/To. Too expensive. OK. Don Allah. Please. Na gode (kwarai). Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...

Yaya sunanka? (man) Yaya sunanki? (woman) What is your name? Sunana ... My name is ... Kana lafiya? (man) Kina lafiya? (woman) How are you? Lafiya lau. Kai fa? (man) Lafiya lau. Ke fa? (woman) Fine. And you? Ina ...? Where is ...? Ina ban-ɗaki yake? Maza/Mata. Where is the toilet? Men/Women. Yi haƙuri. Gafara. Sorry. Excuse me. Ba illa. No problem. Ina son ... I want ... Ba na son ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

Daga ina ka fito? (man) Daga ina kika fito? (woman) Where are you from? Na fito daga Astureliya. I am from Australia. Bil, don Allah. The bill, please. Na manta hanya. I'm lost. Tsaya! Dakata! Stop! Wait! Nan, can. Here, there. Taksi. Otel. Filin jirgin sama. Tashar mota. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. Ina son ... I like ... Ba na son ... I don't like ... ɗaya, biyu, uku, huɗu, biyar. one, two, three, four, five. shida, bakwai, takwas, tara, goma. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Amurka - America Kanada - Canada Ingila - England New Zeland - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

mai kyau / maras kyau good / bad babba / ƙarami big / small kusa / nesa near / far gaira / mafi less / more ɗaya / isasshe another / enough Ba na cin nama. I am vegetarian. Ba na cin nama. I don't eat meat. ... naman kaza. ... chicken. ... kifi. ... fish. An hana ni yin amfani da ƙwanso. I am allergic to nuts. ... gyad'a. ... peanuts. ... kifi. ... fish. ... abinci daga teku. ... seafood. ... ƙwai. ... eggs.