Language/Hausa/Vocabulary/Health
Hi Hausa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on health-related vocabulary in Hausa. It is important to learn how to talk about health in any language, in case of emergency or if you need to communicate with healthcare providers. Let's get started!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Numbers & How to say Good Bye?.
Basic health vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some essential words and phrases related to health:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| magani | /ma.ga.ni/ | water |
| the ƙasa | /tʃɛ.ˈka.sa/ | medicine |
| lafiya | /la.fi.ja/ | health |
| baki | /ˈba.ki/ | cough |
| kaza | /ˈka.za/ | fever |
| tsawon shekara | /t͡sa.won ʃɛ.ka.ˈra/ | age |
| tsabar gida | /ˈt͡sa.bar gi.da/ | home remedies |
Now let's practice using these words in a dialogue:
- Person 1: Ina magana. (I need water.)
- Person 2: Ibro, kana da lafiya? (Ibro, are you okay?)
- Person 1: A'a, ina baki. (No, I have a cough.)
- Person 2: Za ka iya kaza baki mana dawo? (Can you get medicine for the cough from me?)
Symptoms and conditions[edit | edit source]
Now let's learn more about symptoms and conditions:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| gari | /ˈgari/ | diarrhoea |
| kare | /ka.rɛ/ | headache |
| shan durin zuciya | /ʃan du.rin zu.t͡ʃi.ja/ | chest pain |
| jini | /ˈʤi.ni/ | hunger |
| zazzabin guri | /zaʒ.ˈza.bin ˈgu.ri/ | high blood pressure |
| maraɓa | /ma.ɾa.ː.ba/ | sickness |
| tsawon lokaci | /t͡sa.won lo.ka.t͡ʃi/ | time of day |
And again, let's see these words in a dialogue:
- Person 1: Ina gari. (I have diarrhoea.)
- Person 2: Kai, zan gyara kwanaki? (Okay, should I get medicine?)
- Person 1: Ayi, don Allah. (Yes, please.)
- Person 2: Kana sake shan durin zuciya kuma? (Do you also have chest pain?)
- Person 1: A'a, ban ji shan durin zuciya ba, na kare ne. (No, I don't have chest pain, I have a headache instead.)
Going to the doctor[edit | edit source]
When someone is unwell, they might need to see a doctor. Here are some phrases related to going to the doctor:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wanda ke zaɓi dokta? | /ˈwan.da kɛ zaː.bi dok.ta/ | Who is the doctor? |
| Ina son gyara kwanaki. | /i.na sɔŋ gja.ra kwa.na.ki/ | I need to get medicine. |
| Ina son dokta. | /i.na sɔŋ dok.ta/ | I need a doctor. |
| Wani abu mai tsageri shi ne. | /ˈwa.ni a.bu mai tsa.ge.ri ʃi nɛ/ | It's an emergency. |
| Ina da Lassa. | /i.na da la.ssa/ | I have Lassa fever. |
Here is an example dialogue using these phrases:
- Person 1: Wanda ke zaɓi dokta? (Who is the doctor?)
- Person 2: Dr. Ibrahim ya fara je dokta. (Dr. Ibrahim is the doctor.)
- Person 1: Ina son dokta. (I need a doctor.)
- Person 2: Wani abu mai tsageri shi ne? (Is it an emergency?)
- Person 1: A'a, amma ina da Lassa. (No, but I have Lassa fever.)
Traditional remedies[edit | edit source]
Traditional remedies are widely used in Hausa culture. Here are some related words:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kaunar jiki | /kaʊ.nar ˈʤi.ki/ | body massage |
| ruwa ruwa | /ru.wa ru.wa/ | cold water bath |
| fada | /fa.da/ | sponge |
| darrabin rubutu | /dar.ra.bin ru.bu.tu/ | writing on the body with ink |
| bishi | /ˈbi.ʃi/ | herbal medicine |
| kimiya | /ki.mi.ja/ | alchemy |
Let's see these words in context:
- Person 1: Kaunar jiki ya fi yawa. (Body massage is very effective.)
- Person 2: Mana da ruwa ruwa ba, ne abin da zai sauke ni daga ƙasa. (I don't like cold water bath, it's what will get me out of this place.)
- Person 1: Yanzu na ba ni darrabin rubutu. (Now I'm into body writing with ink.)
- Person 2: Bishi ne ke gane? (What about herbal medicine?)
- Person 1: Bishi ne mai kyau. (Herbal medicine is good.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have learned useful health-related vocabulary in Hausa. Remember that it is important to practice speaking with native speakers to improve your pronunciation and fluency. To find native speakers, visit the Polyglot Club website and ask them any questions! Keep improving your Hausa [Vocabulary], and learn more about [Hausa].
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Parts of the Body & Colors.
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