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]
- _Shi ne [time]_
- What time is it?
- _Ya kamata wane?_
- What's the time?
- _Abin da wannan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Daya | Dah-yah | One |
| Biyu | Bee-you | Two |
| Uku | Oo-koo | Three |
| Hudu | Hoo-doo | Four |
| Biyari | Bee-yah-ree | Five |
| Shida | Shee-dah | Six |
| Bakwai | Buh-kwah-ee | Seven |
| Takwas | Tuh-kwahs | Eight |
| Tares | Tuh-rees | Nine |
| Goma | Goh-mah | Ten |
| Goma sha Daya | 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 Hudu | 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 Tares | 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
For example:
- It is 1:30. : Shi ne da uku daya da goma sha hamsin.
- It is 2:15. : Shi ne da biyu da goma sha fidalin.
- It is 7:45. : Shi ne da bakwai da sha shida tara da hudu.
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?
- _Abin da wannan lokaci?_
- What time is it?
- _Ya kamata wane?_
Alternatively, if you want to ask if someone has the current time, you can use the following phrases:
- Do you have the time?
- _Shin shi ne wani lokaci?_
- Can you tell me the time?
- _Ka iya baka 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 tare_ | Fuh-ruh rah-rei | Early morning |
| _Aljanna_ | Al-jahn-nah | Noon |
| _Azumi_ | Uh-zoo-mee | Fasting |
| _Asuba_ | Uh-sooh-bah | Afternoon |
| _Maraba _ | Mah-rah-bah | Good afternoon |
| _Ashi mashi_ | Ah-shee-mah-shee | Evening |
| _Ina kwana?_ | Ee-nah kwah-nah | How old are you? |
| _Magana ta kwana?_ | Mah-gah-nah tah kwah-nah | 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 ▶️ |