Language/Hausa/Grammar/Negation
Hi Hausa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on negation in Hausa. We use negation to express the opposite of an affirmative sentence. Negation is an essential aspect of any language and Hausa is no exception. Understanding negation is essential in order to express yourself accurately in Hausa. We will explain the different ways of negation in Hausa, and give you plenty of examples to help you understand it better. Don't hesitate to practice as much as possible!
Negation with "Ba"
In Hausa, we use "ba" to negate verbs in the present tense. In this case, "ba" always goes directly before the verb. Here are some examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ina murna. | ee-nah moor-nah | I am happy. |
| Ba ina murna. | bah ee-nah moor-nah | I am not happy. |
| Ya sani abu ne. | yah sah-nee a-boo neh. | He knows something. |
| Ba ya sani abu ba. | bah yah sah-nee a-boo bah | He doesn't know anything. |
As you can see, "ba" negates the verbs "ina" and "ya sani" in the examples above, meaning "not" or "no".
Negation with "An"
In Hausa, we use "an" to negate verbs in the past tense. In this case, "an" always goes directly before the verb. Here are some examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ina rokon Allah. | ee-nah row-kon ah-lah | I prayed to Allah. |
| An gaishe ni da jama'a. | ahn guy-sheh nee dah ja-ma-ah. | I didn't meet with the people. |
"An" negates the verbs "rokoni" and "gaishe" in the examples above, meaning "not" or "no".
Negation of Nouns and Adjectives
In Hausa, we use "ba" to negate nouns and adjectives. In this case, "ba" goes before the noun or adjective. Here are some examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dan adam ba kaji. | daan a-daam bah ka-jee | The man is not tall. |
| Ba ni shi. | bah nee shee. | I am not him. |
In the examples above, "ba" negates the adjectives "kaji" and "shi", meaning "not".
Negation of "to have"
In Hausa, "to have" is expressed as "akwai". We use "ba" to negate "akwai". Here are some examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ina akwai mata. | ee-nah ak-wai ma-tah | I have a wife. |
| Ba ina akwai mata ba. | bah ee-nah ak-wai ma-tah bah | I don't have a wife. |
| Akwai wani abubuwan da take so. | ah-kwai wah-nee ah-boo-boo-wahn dah tah-kay soh | There are some things you want. |
| Ba akwai wani abubuwan da take so. | bah ah-kwai wah-nee ah-boo-boo-wahn dah tah-kay soh | There are no things you want. |
As you can see, "ba" negates the expression "akwai mata" and "akwai wani abubuwan" in the examples above, meaning "don't have" or "no".
Negation of "to be"
In Hausa, "to be" is expressed as "shi/ne". We use "ba" to negate "shi/ne". Here are some examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ina babban dan Adam. | ee-nah bahb-bahn daan ah-daam | I am the biggest man. |
| Ba ina babban dan Adam ba. | bah ee-nah bahb-bahn daan ah-daam bah | I am not the biggest man. |
| Shi ne dan maikon mu. | shee neh daan my-kon moo | He is our teacher. |
| Ba shi ne dan maikon mu. | bah shee neh daan my-kon moo | He is not our teacher. |
As you can see, "ba" negates "shi/ne" in the examples above, meaning "not" or "no".
Dialogue
Ali and Fatima are having a conversation:
- Ali: Kai ne ka gani cewa mummunan bariki suna zama don Allah?
- Fatima: A'a ba haka, ba mutum yake shirya shirye ba.
- Ali: Babu don Allah yawan nan?
- Fatima: A'a, babu don Allah yawan nan.
- Ali: Allah ya ban damuwa.
- Fatima: Amin.
Translation in English:
- Ali: Do you believe that blessings come from Allah?
- Fatima: No, it's not like that, people have to work hard.
- Ali: Don't you think it is because of Allah?
- Fatima: No, it is not because of Allah.
- Ali: May Allah forgive us.
- Fatima: Amen.
In the dialogue above, you can see how to use negation in Hausa in a simple conversation.
Conclusion
We hope this lesson has helped you understand the different ways to use negation in Hausa better. Remember to practice as much as possible and try to use negation in your everyday conversations. For more resources and lessons on Hausa grammar, please visit the Grammar page on the Polyglot Club website. To find native speakers and ask them any questions, click on Find native speakers!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources