Language/Hausa/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings

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Hausa → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and Introductions → Basic Greetings

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.

Table of Contents - Hausa Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Everyday Activities

• Daily Routine
• Transportation

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Food Items
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Tourism

• Asking for Directions
• Accommodation

  ---

Hausa Customs and Traditions

• Traditional Clothing
• Festivals and Celebrations

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Bargaining Phrases

  ---

Negation and Questions

• Negation
• Asking Questions

  ---

Hausa Proverbs and Sayings

• Popular Proverbs
• Common Sayings

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

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