While human existence in Nigeria dates back to 900 BC, according to archaeological evidence, the earliest known civilised people were the Nok, as far back as 500 BC.
This guide to translating Hausa phrases into English will no doubt prove necessary if you find yourself en route to Nigeria .
Know anybody that is thinking of paying Nigeria a visit? Share this list on.
Emergency Translation Help! Taimako! I need your help. Ina buƙatar taimakonka Police! Ɗan sanda! Stop! Tsaya! Watch out! Ka kula! Go away! Tafi! Let me go! Bari in tafi! Where are we going? Ina za mu tafi? I need a lawyer. Ina buƙatar lauya Can I use your phone / computer? Zan iya amfani da waya/kwamfutarka? Call the police /a doctor/ an ambulance! Kira ɗan sanda / likita / motar asibiti Stop! Thief! Tsaya! Ɓarawo! Leave me alone. Kyale ni. I’m hurt! An ɓata mini rai! I need a doctor. Ina buƙatar likita. I’m sick. Ba ni da lafiya. I’ve been injured. Na samu rauni. I’m lost. Na ɓace. I lost my bag. Jakata ta ɓace. I lost my wallet. Zabirata ta ɓace.
Small Talk Translation hello Sannu! Good Afternoon Barka da rana How are you? Kana lafiya? How old are you? Shekarunka nawa? What do you do for a living? Mene ne sana’arka? What are your hobbies? Wasu irin wasanni kake so? I am fine Ina lafiya I am sick Ba ni da lafiya My name is… Sunana… This is my friend / father / mother / son / daughter Wannan abokina ne / mahaifi / mahaifiya / ɗa / ‘ya What is this / that? Mene ne wannan / wancan? I am pleased to meet you Na yi farin cikin haɗuwa da kai I am _ years old Shekaruna_ See you later Sai anjima Goodbye Sai wata rana Good night Said a safe Where is the restroom? Ina ɗakin hutawar? I understand / I do not understand Na fahimta / Ban fahimta ba
Etiquette Translation please (asking for something) Dan Allah (tambayar wani abu) please (offering something) Dan Allah (bayar da wani abu) May I have _? Ko zan samu _? thank you Na gode you’re welcome maraba yes i no A’a excuse me gafara dai sorry Yi haƙuri wait jira
Numbers Translation one ɗaya two biyu three uku four huɗu five biyar six shida seven bakwai eight takwas nine tara ten goma eleven goma sha ɗaya twelve goma sha biyu thirteen goma sha uku fourteen goma sha huɗu fifteen goma sha biyar sixteen goma sha shida seventeen goma sha bakwai eighteen goma sha takwas nineteen goma tara twenty ashirin thirty talatin fifty hamsin one hundred ɗari ɗaya one thousand dubu ɗaya ten thousand dubu goma one hundred thousand duba ɗari one million Miliya ɗaya
Time Translation now yanzu later anjima before kafin morning safiya afternoon rana evening yamma night dare one o’clock Ƙarfe ɗaya two o’clock Ƙarfe biyu noon Taskar rana midnight Tsakar dare minute/s Minti/mintuna hour/s Awa / awanni day/s Kwana / kwanaki week/s Mako / makonni month/s Wata / watanni year/s Shekara / shekaru today yau tomorrow gobe Monday Litinin Tuesday Talata Wednesday Laraba Thursday Alhamis Friday Juma’a Saturday Asabar Sunday Lahadi January Janairu February Fabrairu March Maris April Afurilu May Mayu June Yuni July Yuli August Agusta September Satumba October Oktoba November Nuwamba December Disamba
Colors Translation black baki white fari ray Toka-toka red ja blue shuɗi yellow rawaya green kore orange Launi Ja da rawaya purple Launi mai ja da shuɗi brown Rowan ƙasa
Body Translation head kai eyes idanu ears Kunnuwa nose hanci baki arm hannu leg ƙafa hand hannu feet tafin ƙafa chest ƙirji skin fata muscle tsoka blood jini
Questioning words Translation how yaya what mene when yaushe why Me ya sa who wa where ina how many guda nawa
Pronouns and adjectives Translation good mai kyau bad mara kyau big babba small ƙarami fast sauri slow a hankali light mara nauyi heavy mai nauyi light haske dark duhu loud ƙara quiet shiru
Feelings Translation hot / cold / warm Zafi / sanyi / ɗumi painful / pleasant Mai zafi / mai daɗi comfortable da daɗi I am happy / sad Ina murna / baƙin ciki I am angry Ina fushi I am tired Na gaji I am embarrassed Na ji kunya I agree / disagree Na yarda / Ban yarda ba I like / dislike this Ina so wannan / Ban a son wannan I am worried / concerned Na dmu / Ina jin
Money Translation How much is this? Nawa ne wanna? What is the cost? Mene ne kuɗinsa? Where can I get money changed? A in azan samu canji? Do you accept credit card / Kana amsar katin kuɗi? money kuɗi currency kuɗin ƙasa cash Tsabar kuɗi credit card Katin kuɗi bank banki bank account asusun banki automatic teller machine (ATM) Injin samar da kuɗi (ATM) travellers check Cek (takarda mai bad a izini banki su biya kuɗi)
Travel Translation Please take me to_ Dan Allah kai ni zuwa ga _ Where can I find _? A in zan nemi _? What is the address? Mene ne adireshin? Where can I rent a _? A in azan yi hayar_? airport / airplane filin jirgin sama / jirgin sama passport fasfot station tasha restaurants wurin cin abinci guest house gidan hutawa hostel ɗakin kwana hotel otal bed & breakfast gado / Karin kumallo bars mashaya charger – mobile / tablet / computer abun caji – tafi- da-gidank/ ƙaramar kwamfuta / kwamfuta bike / train / bus / car / taxi Keke / jirgin ƙasa/ safa / tasi ferry / yacht / boat Jirgin fito / babban jirgin ruwa / kwalekwale gas (petrol) gas (fetir) What is the room number? Mene ne lambar ɗakin Which floor? Hawa na nawa? When is the next _? Yaushe ne_ na gaba? How far is _? Yaya _ yake? North arewa South kudu East gabas West yamma
Food Translation water ruwa Breakfast Karin kumallo Lunch Abinci rana Dinner Abincin dare Snack taɓa abinci meat / chicken / beef / pork / lamb Nama / kaza /naman sa / alade / naman ɗan tunkiya fish kifi vegetables ganyayyaki kwaɗon ganye drink / wine / beer Abun sha / barasa / giya beverage Abun shad a ba ruwa tea / coffee Shayi / kofi I am hungry / thirsty / satisfied Ina jin yunwa / ƙishi / ƙoshi Table for one / two / three / family please. Dan Allah teburin mutum ɗaya / biyu / uku. Please may I look at the menu? Dan Allah ko zan iya duba takardar tsarin abincin? I am vegetarian / vegan / I don’t eat meat. Ni mutum ne dab a na cin kowane irin nama ko kifi / kowane irin abun day a danganci dabbobi/ Ban a cin nama. Kosher only / Halaal only Kosha kaai / Halal kawai Cheers! Sowa!
Shopping Translation When do you open / close? Yaushe kake duɗewa / rufewa? I will take it thank you Zan amshi shih aka na gode I want it / I don’t want it Ina son shi / Ban a son shi How much? Nawa? toothbrush asuwaki soap sabulu shampoo Sabulun wanke gashi pain medicine Maganin zafi towel tawul batteries batirori pens / paper Aƙalami / takarda
Proverbs Meaning/ English Equivalent Karambanin akwiya, gai da kura (it was pure) meddlesomeness on the part of the goat to think she could great the hyena without disaster. i.e. Don’t attempt the impossible. Mai haƙuri yak an dafa dutse ya sha romonsa A patient person will cook a stone and drink its broth. i.e. patience is virtue. Barin kasha a ciki bay a maganin yunwa. Keeping one’s excrement in one’s stomach doesn’t keep one from hunger. i.e. Speak out when the time comes-remaining silent won’t solve the problem. Albarkacin kaza ƙadangare ya sha rowan kasko Thanks to the chicken the lizard drank water from a bowl. i.e. Some gain advantages through no virtue of their own. Da tsirara gara baƙin bante. Rather than nakedness better a black loincloth. i.e. Half a loaf is better than none. Ko ba a gwada ba linzami ya fib akin kaza. Even though no measurement is taken one can see that a bridle is too big for the mouth of a chicken. i.e. Such-and-such is completely obious. Aikin banza makaho da waiwaye. It is worthless work for a blind man to turn his head to look. i.e. An illustration of a supreme waste of effort. Labarin zuciya a tambayi fuska. For the news of the heart one should ask the face. i.e. One’s face shows what is in one’s heart. Kome nisan dare gari zai waye. No matter how long the night, morning will come. i.e. Every cloud has a silver lining.
