Language/Zarma/Vocabulary/How-to-Say-Hello-and-Greetings

🤗 Zarma Greetings for Everyday Life

Hi Zarma learners! 😃

Do you want to learn how to say “Hello” and how to greet in Zarma?

Greetings are an important aspect of West African languages in general and therefore also of the Zarma language.

If you’re planning a trip to the country or are trying to learn Zarma, keep reading to discover some of the most important greetings.

Let’s get started! 🤗

With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Calendars & Animals.

Greetings

English	Zarma
general greeting spoken to one person (hello)	Fo/Fofo.
general greeting spoken to a group of people	Wa fofo
reply to Fofo	Ngoy
early morning greeting spoken to one person ("did you sleep well?")	Ni kani baani
reply to Ni kani baani and Araŋ kani baani	Baani samai
midmorning greeting spoken to one person	Ni weete baani?
evening greeting spoken to one person	Ni foy baani
evening greeting spoken to one person	Ni wiciri baani?
evening greeting spoken to one person after dark	Ni mare baani?
reply to Ni kani baani, Ni weete baani, Ni foy baani, Ni wiciri baani, and Ni mare baani	Baani samey
evening greeting spoken to a group of people after dark	Araŋ mare baani?
early morning greeting spoken to a group of people ("did you sleep well?")	Araŋ kani baani?
midmorning greeting spoken to a group of people	Araŋ weete baani?
evening greeting spoken to a group of people	Araŋ foy baani?
evening greeting spoken to a group of people	Araŋ wiciri baani?
morning greeting	Mate ni kani?
evening greeting	Mate ni hiiri?
how are you? used after initial greetings	Mate ni gahamo?
how are you? used after initial greetings	Mate ni go?
how are you? used after initial greetings	Mate ni bara?
reply to Mate ni kani, Mate ni hiiri, Mate ni gahamo, Mate ni go, and Mate ni bara	Ay go baani
reply to Ay go baani	A bori
reply to Mate ni kani, Mate ni hiiri, Mate ni gahamo, Mate ni go, and Mate ni bara	Ay g'irikoy sabu
reply to Ay g'irikoy sabu	Irikoy ma sabu tonton
greeting spoken to a person who is working	Fonda goy
reply to Fonda goy	Ngoya
reply to Fonda goy spoken by a man	Ngway
Welcome.	Fo'ndakayan/Kubayni
Hello, how are you?. (morning)	Aran kani baani?/Wor kani baani?
Hello, how are you? (afternoon)	Aran foy baani?/Wor hoy Baani?
How is your family?	Mate fu?
How is your health?	Mate ga ham?
How is your work?	Mate goyo?
How is the heat?	Mate doon'gay?
Fine, thank you. (Response to all above questions)	Sameyno/Baani Samey
No problems. ("Response to all above questions")	Taali si no
I'm thankful (to God). ("Occasional response to above questions")	Ay g'Irkoy saabu
What is your name?	Mateno ni ma/Mate ga ti ni ma/Mate ga ti ni mayo?
My name is ______ .	Ay ma ga ti ____. ( _____ .)
Please.	Alhanan.
I want cold water/Give me cold water.	Ay ga ba haari yeno/Ay no hari yeno (" ")
Thank you.	Fofo.
You're welcome.	A sinda hay fo.
Yes.	Ah'hoh.
No.	Ha'a.
Excuse me. (getting attention)	Alhanan.
I'm sorry.	Alhanan.
Goodbye	Kala tonton.
Goodbye (until the following day)	kala han fo.
Until tomorrow.	kala souba.
I can't speak Zarma (lit. I do not understand Zarma).	Ay sii ma Zarma.
Do you speak French?	Ni ga ma faransi ciine?/Ni ga ma faransi saani?
Is there someone here who speaks French?	Boro go no kan ga ma faransi saani?

Dialogue

Morning (to individuals only)

Person	Zarma	English
A	Ni kani baani?	(Did) you sleep well? (one must supply the question words)
B	Baani samay. Ni kani ka baan, day?	Just fine. Did you sleep well?
A	Baani samay.	Just fine.

Afternoon (to individuals only)

Person	Zarma	English
A	Ni foy baani?	You had a good day?
B	Baani samay. Ni foy ka baan, day?	Just fine. Did you have a good day?
A	Baani samay.	Just fine.

Sources

• http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/
• https://www.djerma.nl/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuwu6ITMb0Y
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhD-JqcUX9M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia5MUqVgyj8

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