Hausa (هَوُسَ)

travel photo to inspire Hausa language study
Sallah procession in northern Nigeria. Photo by Ppdallo, CC BY-SA 4.0

ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Why learn Hausa?

Hausa is a Chadic language spoken by about 44 million Hausa people in Central Africa. Hausa is mostly spoken in southern Niger and northern Nigeria and developed into a lingua franca across much of Western Africa for purposes of trade. It is spoken as a second langauge by around 20 million more people. The Hausa are one of the largest ethinic groups in Central Africa.

Learning Hausa improves the knowledge of your own language. Four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade. Creativity is increased with the study of Hausa. The study of Hausa teaches and encourages respect for other people.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Hausa?

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Hausa Alphabet & Pronunciation

A a
[a]
B b
(ب‎)
[b]
Ɓ ɓ
(ب‎)
[ɓ]
C c
(ث‎)
[tʃ]
D d
(د‎)
[d]
Ɗ ɗ
[ɗ]
E e
(تٜ)
[e]
F f
(ف‎)
[ɸ]
G g
(غ‎)
[ɡ]
H h
(ه‎)
[h]
I i
(ـِ‎)
[i]
J j
(ج‎)
[dʒ/ʒ]
K k
(ك‎)
[k]
Ƙ ƙ
(ق‎)
[kʼ]
L l
(ل‎)
[l]
M m
(م‎)
[m]
N n
(ن‎)
[n]
O o
(ـُ‎)
[o]
R r
(ر‎)
[r/ɽ]
S s
(س‎)
[s]
Sh sh
(ش‎)
[ʃ]
T t
(ت‎)
[t]
Ts ts
(ط‎)
[tsʼ/sʼ]
U u
(و‎)
[u]
W w
(و‎)
[w]
Y y
(ی‎)
[j]
Ƴ ƴ
[ʔʲ]
Z z
(ز‎)
[z]
ʼ
(ع)
[ʔ]

Basic Phrases in Hausa

HelloSannu
GoodbyeBan kwana
YesA
NoA'a
Excuse meGafara dai
PleaseDon Allah
Thank youNa gode
You are welcomeMarabanku
Do you speak englishAna jin Turanci?
Do you understandShin ka fahimta?
I understandNa gane
I do not understandBan gane ba
How are youYa ya kake?
Fine thanksLafiya, godiya!
What is your nameMenene sunanka?
My name isSunana shi ne
Pleased to meet youNa yi farin cikin saduwa da ku

Hausa Grammar

Hausa Nouns

ManMutum
WomanMace
BoyYaro
GirlYarinya
CatCat
DogKare
FishKifi
WaterRuwa
MilkMadara
EggKwai
HouseGidan
FlowerFure
TreeItace
ShirtTaguwa
PantsWando

Hausa Adjectives

Colors in Hausa

BlackBaki
WhiteFari
RedJa
OrangeLemu mai zaki
YellowRawaya
GreenKore
BlueShuɗi
PurpleM
PinkRuwan hoda
GrayLaunin toka
BrownLaunin ruwan kasa

Numbers in Hausa

ZeroSifili
OneDaya
TwoBiyu
ThreeUku
FourHudu
FiveBiyar
SixShida
SevenBakwai
EightTakwas
NineTara
TenGoma
ElevenGoma sha ɗaya
TwelveGoma sha biyu
TwentyAshirin
ThirtyTalatin
FortyArba'in
FiftyHamsin
SixtySittin
SeventySaba'in
EightyTamanin
NinetyCasa'in
HundredDari
ThousandDubu

Hausa Verbs

To beYa zama
To haveA yi
To wantSo
To needDon bukata
To helpDon taimakawa
To goJe
To comeZuwa
To eatCi
To drinkA sha
To speakYin magana

Building Simple Sentences

More Complex Hausa Sentences

AndDa
OrKo
ButAmma
BecauseSaboda
WithTare da
AlsoKuma
HoweverDuk da haka
NeitherBa kuma
NorKuma ba
IfIdan
ThenTo

Useful Hausa Vocabulary

Hausa Questions

WhoWaye
WhatMenene
WhenYaushe
WhereIna
WhyMe yasa
HowYaya
How manyGuda nawa
How muchNawa

Days of the Week in Hausa

MondayLitinin
TuesdayTalata
WednesdayLaraba
ThursdayAlhamis
FridayJuma'a
SaturdaySatin
SundayLahadi
YesterdayJiya
TodayYau
TomorrowGobe

Months in Hausa

JanuaryJanairu
FebruaryWatan Fabrairu
MarchMaris
AprilAfrilu
MayMayu
JuneYuni
JulyYuli
AugustAgusta
SeptemberSatumba
OctoberOktoba
NovemberNuwamba
DecemberDisamba

Seasons in Hausa

WinterHunturu
SpringBazara
SummerBazara
AutumnKaka

Telling Time in Hausa

What time is itWani lokaci ne?
HoursHours
MinutesMinti
SecondsDakika
O clockKarfe
HalfRabi
Quarter pastKwata-kwata
BeforeA da
AfterBayan