Me and Hausa: Learning a Nigerian Language from the Heart

Nigeria, for me, is truly a country of languages. With over 700 languages and dialects, it represents one of the richest linguistic landscapes in the world. Among these, English, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa (Fulani) are the most widely spoken and influential languages.

Language use in Nigeria is deeply rooted in geography and culture.

• In the North and North-Central regions, Hausa and Fulani are predominantly spoken.
• In the East, Igbo is the main language.
• In the West, Yoruba dominates.

Despite this diversity, English serves as the official and unifying language across the country.

However, as a development practitioner, I strongly believe that meaningful engagement goes beyond official languages. To truly connect with communities, one must be willing to walk in another person’s shoes—to respect and embrace their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Language, after all, is not just about communication; it is about understanding lives.

With this belief, I made a small but sincere effort to learn Hausa, the language of the community I worked with during my time in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. What follows are some of my personal learnings and everyday expressions—simple, practical, and deeply human.

 

🔢 Numbers in Hausa

1 – Daya
2 – Biyu
3 – Uku
4 – Hudu
5 – Biyar
6 – Shida
7 – Bakwai
8 – Takwas
9 – Tara
10 – Goma

20 – Ashirin
30 – Talatin
40 – Arba’in
50 – Hamsin
60 – Sittin
70 – Saba’in
80 – Tamanin
90 – Tis’in
100 – Dari
1000 – Dubu

 

📅 Days of the Week

• Sunday – Lahadi
• Monday – Litinin
• Tuesday – Talata
• Wednesday – Laraba
• Thursday – Alhamis
• Friday – Juma’a
• Saturday – Asabar

👋 Greetings

• Good Morning – Ina kwana
• Good Afternoon – Ina yini
• Good Evening – Ina yamma
• Good Night – Sai da safe
• See you tomorrow – Sai gobe
• Rest well – Huta lafiya
• See you later – Sai an jima
• Hello – Sannu

One of the most beautiful elements of Hausa greetings is the warm expression:
“Ya waa…” – a friendly and heartfelt way to begin a conversation.

 

❓ Common Questions & Expressions

• How is your family? – Yaya iyali?
• How is your wife? – Yaya matarka?
• How is your work? – Yaya aiki?
• How is your child? – Yaya yaro?
• What is your name? (Male) – Mene ne sunanka?
• What is your name? (Female) – Mene ne sunanki?
• How much is it? – Nawa ne?
• Come and eat food – Zo ka ci abinci
• Thank you (singular) – Na gode
• Thank you (plural) – Mun gode
• No problem – Ba wahala
• Yes – Eh
• No – A’a

Exclamation (Really? Is it so?) – Habba!

 

🏠 Commonly Used Words

• Water – Ruwa
• Electricity – Wuta lantarki
• Fire – Wuta
• Food – Abinci
• Friend – Aboki
• Book – Takarda / Littafi
• Office – Ofis
• House – Gida
• Fruits – ’Ya’yan itace
• Vegetables – Ganye
• Dress – Riga
• Cap – Hula
• River – Rafi
• Sea – Kogi / Teku
• Hair – Gashi
• Animals – Dabbobi
• Cow – Saniya
• Milk – Nono
• Yogurt – Nono
• Butter – Man shanu

🌍 A Personal Reflection

Learning Hausa was not about perfection—it was about connection. Every word spoken in the local language built trust, warmth, and respect. It reminded me that language learning is an act of humility, and sometimes, even a few words can bridge worlds.

As development professionals, educators, or travellers, when we learn a community’s language, we do more than communicate—we belong.

Na gode. 🙏

A little experience of Binu in Kano, Nigeria

Dedicated to Binu.....

Life in Kano………………..

Life in Kano is endlessly fascinating. The city never seems to pause. People are always on the move, deeply engaged in their daily routines. Roads are alive with cars, massive trucks, and the ever-present achabas—our friendly motorcycles—darting up and down, ferrying passengers and goods, keeping the rhythm of the city alive.

The streets are equally animated. Children run around, roadside vendors spread their goods across pavements, and almost every few steps someone stops to chat, bargain, or rest. With a predominantly Muslim population, the five daily calls to prayer gently but firmly structure the day, adding a unique spiritual cadence to the city’s constant motion. Truly, it is a busy life in Kano.

Kano Feels Surprisingly Familiar

In many ways, Kano feels strikingly similar to an Indian township—minus Sharia law. The resemblance is uncanny: crowded roads, honking vehicles, smoke-filled air, unclean streets, garbage lining corners, and of course, friendly domestic animals casually occupying the middle of the road as if they own it.

Young boys often rush toward any vehicle that stops, asking for a few nairas. Add to that the occasional sight of Bajaj auto-rickshaws, and for a moment, you could almost forget you’re in West Africa. The twist? These auto-rickshaws are reserved only for women. Men simply don’t attempt to stop one—they know better!

For most people, the easiest, cheapest, and most adventurous way to move around is on an achaba. Helmets are officially recommended for safety, but wearing one may invite trouble—the common belief being that only the rich wear helmets. So you’re left with a dilemma: save yourself from a crash or save yourself from being robbed! Kano keeps you alert in every sense.

Food That Feels Like Home—Almost

Food in Kano, and Nigeria in general, surprisingly resembles Kerala cuisine from southern India. Rice dominates the plate—rice, rice, and more rice—accompanied by yam, cassava, and plantain (the large banana, ethakka). Markets overflow with huge onions, tiny tomatoes, Irish potatoes, occasional cabbage, and the rare brinjal.

To my pleasant surprise, many markets sell Indian spices—fennel seeds, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, dry ginger, and several others whose names I’m still trying to learn.

Every restaurant serves rice under different names—jollof rice, Nigerian-style fried rice, and plain rice. Vegetarians, however, need courage. Even “vegetable soup” often contains dried fish or chunks of meat. For them, that still counts as vegetarian! Finding truly vegetarian food in Nigeria is, frankly, a real challenge.

The Infrastructure Paradox

Nigeria is one of the world’s largest oil-producing nations, yet it struggles with basic infrastructure. There is no proper public transport system—only bush taxis, expensive private taxis, and achabas.

Electricity comes from your most trusted Nigerian companion: the generator. Shops, homes, offices—generators are everywhere. Petrol generators are preferred since petrol is cheaper than diesel. There is an electricity board called NEPA, but its presence feels more symbolic than real.

Another scarce resource is potable water. Like many parts of India, taps often release more air than water.

Why You Still Fall in Love with Kano

And yet—despite everything—you slowly begin to admire Kano. The warmth, resilience, and hospitality of the people make daily hardships feel lighter. Nigerians are often described as the happiest people on earth, and after living among them, you start to understand why.

So you adapt. You smile more. You complain less. As the saying goes,
“When in Rome, be a Roman.”