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. 🙏