Language/Hausa/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings
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In this lesson, we will be learning the basic greetings in Hausa. Greetings are essential in everyday conversation as they serve as a way to establish a connection with others. By learning simple phrases for greeting, you will be able to show respect and build rapport with Hausa speakers.
Greetings in Hausa
The Hausa language has different ways of expressing greetings depending on the time of day and the social status of the person you are speaking to. Here are some of the most common ways to greet someone in Hausa:
Hello
The most basic way to say hello in Hausa is:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Sannu | sah-noo | Hello |
You can also use other greetings depending on the situation or the person you are talking to. For example, if you are greeting someone older or of a higher social status, you can say:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Barka da zuwa | bar-kah dah zoo-wah | Welcome |
Good morning
To say good morning in Hausa, you can use the following phrase:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Ina kwana? | ee-nah kwa-nah? | Good morning? |
The response to this greeting is:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Lafiya lau | lah-fee-yah lao | Good morning |
Good afternoon
When greeting someone in the afternoon, you can use this phrase:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Ina wuya? | ee-nah woo-yah? | Good afternoon? |
To respond to this greeting, you can say:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Lafiya jari | lah-fee-yah jah-ree | Good afternoon |
Good evening
To say good evening in Hausa, use the following phrase:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Ina gargajiya? | ee-nah gar-gah-jee-yah? | Good evening? |
And this is the response to that greeting:
Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Lafiya shi | lah-fee-yah shee | Good evening |
Additional Phrases
Apart from the basic greetings, there are other phrases you can use to show respect and build rapport. Here are some examples:
- 'Kana da harka?' (kah-nah dah har-kah) - How are you?
- 'Lafiya ni' (lah-fee-yah nee) - I am fine
- 'Hakuri' (hah-koo-ree) - Please
- 'Da jama'a' (dah jah-mah-ah) - Goodbye
- 'Koyon Allah' (koh-yohn ah-lah) - Thank you
You might also hear the Hausa phrase 'Allah ya yi mana ikon ganin' (ah-lah yah yee mah-nah ee-kohn gah-neen), which means 'May God give us knowledge/understanding'. This phrase is often used to show appreciation for learning and knowledge.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have covered some of the basic greetings in Hausa. By learning these simple phrases, you will be able to show respect and build rapport with Hausa speakers. Next, we will be learning how to introduce ourselves in Hausa.
Videos
Learn how to speak Hausa for beginners | Hausa basic words and ...
Other Lessons
- Numbers 1 20
- Introducing Yourself
- Transportation
- Problems in Hausa
- Food
- Animals
- Bargaining Phrases
- Dinner Table
- Basic Phrases in Hausa
Sources
- 21 Essential Hausa Phrases You'll Need in Nigeria
- Hausa Greetings – Resources for Self-Instructional Learners of Less ...
- Useful phrases in Hausa
Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️ |