Language/Hausa/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
| ◀️ Numbers 1-20 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Regular Verbs ▶️ |
Telling time is an essential part of daily life, and is no exception in Hausa-speaking cultures. Knowing how to tell the time in Hausa will greatly improve your ability to communicate with Hausa speakers, and enable you to navigate Hausa-speaking countries with ease. In this lesson, you will learn how to tell the time in Hausa, including how to ask for and give the current time.
Expressions of Time[edit | edit source]
In Hausa, as in English, there are different ways to express time, depending on the context:
- It is [time]
- _Ƙarfe [lokaci]_
- What time is it?
- _Ƙarfe nawa ne?_
- What's the time?
- _Menene lokaci?_
Numbers and Time[edit | edit source]
Before delving into how to tell the time, it is essential to review the Hausa numbers from 1 to 20, as they are frequently used when expressing time.
Hausa Numbers 1-20[edit | edit source]
Here are the Hausa numbers from 1 to 20, along with their English translations:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ɗaya | Dah-yah | One |
| Biyu | Bee-you | Two |
| Uku | Oo-koo | Three |
| Huɗu | Hoo-doo | Four |
| Biyar | Bee-yah-ree | Five |
| Shida | Shee-dah | Six |
| Bakwai | Buh-kwah-ee | Seven |
| Takwas | Tuh-kwahs | Eight |
| Tara | Tuh-rees | Nine |
| Goma | Goh-mah | Ten |
| Goma sha Ɗaya | Goh-mah shah dah-yah | Eleven |
| Goma sha Biyu | Goh-mah shah bee-yoo | Twelve |
| Goma sha Uku | Goh-mah shah oo-koo | Thirteen |
| Goma sha Huɗu | Goh-mah shah hoo-doo | Fourteen |
| Goma sha Biyar | Goh-mah shah bee-yah | Fifteen |
| Goma sha Shida | Goh-mah shah shee-dah | Sixteen |
| Goma sha Bakwai | Goh-mah shah buh-kwah-ee | Seventeen |
| Goma sha Takwas | Goh-mah shah tuh-kwahs | Eighteen |
| Goma sha Tara | Goh-mah shah tuh-rees | Nineteen |
| Ashirin | Uh-shee-reen | Twenty |
Keep in mind that Hausa is a tonal language, meaning that the tone you use when pronouncing a word may change its meaning. It is important to listen closely to the tones used in Hausa, and to practice the proper intonation to ensure that you are understood.
Telling the Time[edit | edit source]
Telling time in Hausa is straightforward as it follows a similar structure to English. The general structure is:
hour + da + minutes
Note: the Hausa phrase for hour 'Awa' is changing to 'Ƙarfe' when asking or telling time.
For example:
- It is 1:30. : Ƙarfe Ɗaya da mintuna Talatin.
- It is 2:15. : Ƙarfe Biyu da mintuna Sha biyar.
- It is 7:45. : Ƙarfe Bakwai da mintuna Arba'in da Biyar.
Sometimes 15, 30 and 45 minutes, are shortened to kwata, rabi and rabi da kwata or saura kwata respectively.
In Hausa, the "hour" can be expressed using either the Hausa numbers from 1 to 12 or the Arabic numbers from 1 to 12. The "hour" is followed by "da", which means "and", and then the number of minutes from 1 to 59.
It is important to note that Hausa speakers use a 12-hour clock. They reference time from 1 to 12, rather than resetting the counting at noon, as is the case with a 24-hour clock.
Additionally, Hausa speakers sometimes reference time by referring to the prayer times according to the Islamic calendar, which are observed five times a day. These include:
| Prayer time | Time in Hausa |
|---|---|
| Dawn prayer | _Fajr_ |
| Midday prayer | _Zuhr_ |
| Afternoon prayer | _Asr_ |
| Sunset prayer | _Maghrib_ |
| Night prayer | _Isha_ |
If you are in a Hausa-speaking country, it is essential to be aware of these prayer times, as businesses and services may close during these periods.
Asking for the Time[edit | edit source]
To ask someone for the time in Hausa, you can use the following phrases:
- What's the time?
- _Ƙarfe nawa?_
- What time is it?
- _Ƙarfe nawa ne?_
Alternatively, if you want to ask if someone know the current time, you can use the following phrases:
- Do you know the time?
- _Ko ka san ƙarfe nawa?_
- Can you tell me the time?
- _ko za iya faɗa min lokaci?_
Common Time-Related Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Here are a few common words and phrases that are useful to know when discussing time in Hausa:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| _Lokaci_ | Loh-kah-see | Time |
| _Farar safe_ | fah-rah-r sah-feh | Early morning |
| _Hantsi_ | Al-jahn-nah | Noon |
| _Azumi_ | Uh-zoo-mee | Fasting |
| _Asuba_ | Uh-sooh-bah | mornig prayer |
| _Maraba_ | Mah-rah-bah | Welcome |
| _Yamma_ | Yam-mah | Evening |
| _Ina kwana?_ | Ee-nah kwah-nah | Good morning |
| _Ƙarfe nawa?_ | Kar-feh nah-wah | What's the time? |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Now that you know the basics of telling time in Hausa, you can effectively ask and answer questions about time. With practice, you will develop a strong familiarity with Hausa numbers and time-related vocabulary, enabling you to speak Hausa with ease. Congratulations on taking the first step to learning Hausa and mastering this fascinating aspect of the language!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Numbers
- Basic Phrases in Hausa
- People in Hausa
- Clothes
- Camping
- Ordering at a Restaurant
- Introducing Yourself
- Common Food Items
- Transportation
- Numbers 1 20
Sources[edit | edit source]
| ◀️ Numbers 1-20 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Regular Verbs ▶️ |