Language/Hausa/Vocabulary/Clothes
Hi Hausa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn vocabulary related to clothes in Hausa language.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Fruits, Pronouns in Hausa, Feelings and Emotions & Health.
Clothing from Head to Toe[edit | edit source]
Let's go over some basic clothes to build our foundation in the Hausa language.
Headgear[edit | edit source]
Hausa men typically wear a traditional hat called a "Fulani hat".
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tumuni | too-moo-nee | Cap |
Upper Body[edit | edit source]
Hausa people dress modestly, with their shoulders covered. Men often wear loose-fitting shirts called "Babariga", and women wear a wrap-around dress - "Abaya" or "Boubou". Sometimes, men wear a gown called a "Jalabiya".
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Babariga | bah-bah-ree-gah | Shirt/dress |
| Abaya | ah-bye-yah | Women's dress |
| Boubou | bow-boo | Women's dress |
| Jalabiya | jah-lah-bee-yah | Men's gown |
Lower Body[edit | edit source]
Both men and women wear "Duma" or "Fulani trousers," which are tight at the ankles and usually made of colorful cloth.
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Duma | doo-mah | Trousers/pants |
Footwear[edit | edit source]
Hausa people typically wear sandals or slippers called "Bakya" or "Kabewa." However, during special occasions such as weddings and religious festivals, they wear traditional leather shoes called "Kurdawa".
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bakya | bah-kyah | Sandals/slippers |
| Kabewa | kah-beh-wah | Slippers/flip flops |
| Kurdawa | koohr-dah-wah | Leather shoes |
Shopping for Clothes[edit | edit source]
Now that we know the vocabulary, let's put it in context in a dialogue at a clothing store.
Person 1: "Sannu! Ban kula Tumuni da Abaya?" (Hello! Do you have caps and dresses?)
Person 2: "Eh, da fitowa yanzu. Inna ne kawai?" (Yes, we do have them in stock. Are you just browsing?)
Person 1: "Toh, ni ban kula turban nan." (Well, I would like to buy this turban.)
Person 2: "Shikenan, a taimakawa ka?" (Of course, can I help you?)
Person 1: "Eh, nace ba tare da Bakya ba ma duk wani yatsan za'a iya fita-fita." (Yes, I would like some sandals too, because anyone can get blisters.)
Person 2: "Kudi ne da hakan." (Sure, here you go.)
Person 1: "Ka isa Goma?" (How much is it all?)
Person 2: "Sallama. Duk shekara uku dai ta kasance tareda ruwan kafe." (Thank you. Everything together will be 20,000 naira.)
Person 1: "Walahi zan raba da Maliya matsalar sai an taimake ni." (I swear, I would've left the clothes if you hadn't helped me.)
Person 2: "Barka da zuwa." (You are welcome.)
Fun Facts[edit | edit source]
- The Hausa people have a thriving textile industry, producing handmade cloths, such as the popular "Gogannaka" or "Hausa cloth with embroidery," and modern printed textiles or "Ankara" - Hausa people usually dress according to their social status, profession, and occasion
To improve your Hausa Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ 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. 😎
Videos[edit | edit source]
15 Clothing Vocabularies and Meaning - Kalmomin Hausa da Ma ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Days of the Week
- Weather
- Fruits
- Asking Directions
- Health
- People in Hausa
- Months of the Year
- Drinks
- Seasons
- Colors