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Welcome to Lesson 13 of the Latinum Institute’s Hausa course, where we explore one of the most essential demonstrative and relative pronouns in the language: wancan (that). Hausa, a West Chadic language spoken by over 70 million people across Nigeria, Niger, and West Africa, handles the English word “that” through several distinct forms depending on grammatical function.
Unlike English, which uses “that” for multiple purposes, Hausa distinguishes between:
Demonstrative “that” (pointing to something distant): wancan (singular) / waɗancan (plural) -
Contrasts with wannan (this, near) and waɗannan (these)
Relative “that/who/which” (introducing relative clauses): wanda (masculine), wadda (feminine), waɗanda (plural)
Conjunction “that” (in reported speech): cewa - as in “I know that...”
This lesson presents Hausa in both writing systems: Boko (the modern Latin-based orthography) and Ajami (the historical Arabic-derived script used since the 17th century for Islamic literature and poetry).
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “that” mean in Hausa? The English word “that” translates to several Hausa words depending on context: wancan as a demonstrative pronoun pointing to distant objects (”that book”), wanda/wadda as relative pronouns introducing clauses (”the man that came”), and cewa as a conjunction introducing reported speech (”I said that...”).
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Wancan points to distant objects and contrasts with wannan (this/near) -
Relative pronouns wanda/wadda/waɗanda agree in gender and number with their antecedent -
Hausa is tonal, though standard Boko orthography does not mark tones -
Ajami script writes Hausa using Arabic letters with vowel diacritics -
The copulas ne/ce derive historically from demonstrative elements
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Boko (Latin script): The standard modern orthography, adopted during British colonial rule. Uses special letters: ɓ (implosive b), ɗ (implosive d), ƙ (ejective k). Tones are unmarked in everyday writing.
Ajami (Arabic script): Used since the 17th century for Islamic poetry, religious texts, and correspondence. Vowels are marked with diacritics since Hausa requires full vowel information unlike Arabic. Still appears on Nigerian currency and in religious contexts.
Reading Direction: Boko reads left-to-right; Ajami reads right-to-left.
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13.1a Wancan that-DIST littafi book ne is-MASC وَنْجَن that-DIST لِتَّفِ book نٰ is-MASC
13.1b Wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST littafi (lit-TAH-fee) book ne (nay) is-MASC
13.2a Ina where wancan that-DIST mota car take your-FEM اِنَ where وَنْجَن that-DIST مٛوتَ car تَكٰ your-FEM
13.2b Ina (EE-nah) where wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST mota (MOH-tah) car take (TAH-kay) your-FEM
13.3a Mutum man wanda REL-MASC ya 3SG.MASC-PERF zo come ne COP-MASC malami teacher مُتُم man وَنْدَ REL-MASC يَ 3SG.MASC-PERF زٛو come نٰ COP-MASC مَلَمِ teacher
13.3b Mutum (moo-TOOM) man wanda (WAHN-dah) REL-MASC ya (yah) 3SG.MASC-PERF zo (zoh) come ne (nay) COP-MASC malami (mah-LAH-mee) teacher
13.4a Na 1SG-PERF san know cewa that-CONJ shi 3SG.MASC zai will-3SG.MASC zo come نَ 1SG-PERF سَن know جٰوَ that-CONJ شِ 3SG.MASC زَيْ will-3SG.MASC زٛو come
13.4b Na (nah) 1SG-PERF san (sahn) know cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ shi (shee) 3SG.MASC zai (zay) will-3SG.MASC zo (zoh) come
13.5a Mace woman wadda REL-FEM ta 3SG.FEM-PERF tafi go ita 3SG.FEM ce COP-FEM uwa-ta mother-my مَجٰ woman وَدَّ REL-FEM تَ 3SG.FEM-PERF تَفِ go اِتَ 3SG.FEM جٰ COP-FEM اُوَتَ mother-my
13.5b Mace (MAH-chay) woman wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM ta (tah) 3SG.FEM-PERF tafi (TAH-fee) go ita (EE-tah) 3SG.FEM ce (chay) COP-FEM uwata (oo-WAH-tah) mother-my
13.6a Wancan that-DIST gida house babba big ne is-MASC وَنْجَن that-DIST گِدَ house بَبَّ big نٰ is-MASC
13.6b Wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST gida (GEE-dah) house babba (BAHB-bah) big ne (nay) is-MASC
13.7a Mutane people waɗanda REL-PL suka 3PL-REL.PERF zo come sun 3PL-PERF tafi go مُتَنٰ people وَدَنْدَ REL-PL سُكَ 3PL-REL.PERF زٛو come سُن 3PL-PERF تَفِ go
13.7b Mutane (moo-TAH-nay) people waɗanda (wah-DAHN-dah) REL-PL suka (SOO-kah) 3PL-REL.PERF zo (zoh) come sun (soon) 3PL-PERF tafi (TAH-fee) go
13.8a Ka 2SG.MASC-PERF ga see wancan that-DIST yaro boy a at kasuwa market كَ 2SG.MASC-PERF گَ see وَنْجَن that-DIST يَرٛو boy اَ at كَسُوَ market
13.8b Ka (kah) 2SG.MASC-PERF ga (gah) see wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST yaro (YAH-roh) boy a (ah) at kasuwa (kah-SOO-wah) market
13.9a Sun 3PL-PERF faɗa say cewa that-CONJ ruwan sama rain zai will-3SG zo come سُن 3PL-PERF فَضَ say جٰوَ that-CONJ رُوَن سَمَ rain زَيْ will-3SG زٛو come
13.9b Sun (soon) 3PL-PERF faɗa (FAH-dah) say cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ ruwan sama (ROO-wan SAH-mah) rain zai (zay) will-3SG zo (zoh) come
13.10a Littafin book-the wanda REL-MASC na 1SG-PERF karanta read yana 3SG.MASC-CONT nan here لِتَّفِن book-the وَنْدَ REL-MASC نَ 1SG-PERF كَرَنْتَ read يَنَ 3SG.MASC-CONT نَن here
13.10b Littafin (lit-TAH-feen) book-the wanda (WAHN-dah) REL-MASC na (nah) 1SG-PERF karanta (kah-RAHN-tah) read yana (YAH-nah) 3SG.MASC-CONT nan (nahn) here
13.11a Wancan that-DIST lokaci time ya 3SG.MASC-PERF wuce pass وَنْجَن that-DIST لٛوكَجِ time يَ 3SG.MASC-PERF وُجٰ pass
13.11b Wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST lokaci (loh-KAH-chee) time ya (yah) 3SG.MASC-PERF wuce (WOO-chay) pass
13.12a Ina 1SG-CONT tsammani think cewa that-CONJ haka so ne is-MASC اِنَ 1SG-CONT تْسَمَّنِ think جٰوَ that-CONJ هَكَ so نٰ is-MASC
13.12b Ina (EE-nah) 1SG-CONT tsammani (tsahm-MAH-nee) think cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ haka (HAH-kah) so ne (nay) is-MASC
13.13a Yarinya girl wadda REL-FEM ke 2SG-CONT gani see ‘yar daughter-of sarki chief ce COP-FEM يَرِنْيَ girl وَدَّ REL-FEM كٰ 2SG-CONT گَنِ see ئَر daughter-of سَرْكِ chief جٰ COP-FEM
13.13b Yarinya (yah-REEN-yah) girl wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM ke (kay) 2SG-CONT gani (GAH-nee) see ‘yar (yahr) daughter-of sarki (SAHR-kee) chief ce (chay) COP-FEM
13.14a Waɗancan those-DIST dabbobi animals suna 3PL-CONT barci sleep a at daji bush وَدَنْجَن those-DIST دَبّٛوبِ animals سُنَ 3PL-CONT بَرْجِ sleep اَ at دَجِ bush
13.14b Waɗancan (wah-dahn-CHAN) those-DIST dabbobi (dahb-BOH-bee) animals suna (SOO-nah) 3PL-CONT barci (BAHR-chee) sleep a (ah) at daji (DAH-jee) bush
13.15a Mun 1PL-PERF ji hear cewa that-CONJ wancan that-DIST hanya road tana 3SG.FEM-CONT da with hatsari danger مُن 1PL-PERF جِ hear جٰوَ that-CONJ وَنْجَن that-DIST هَنْيَ road تَنَ 3SG.FEM-CONT دَ with هَتْسَرِ danger
13.15b Mun (moon) 1PL-PERF ji (jee) hear cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST hanya (HAHN-yah) road tana (TAH-nah) 3SG.FEM-CONT da (dah) with hatsari (haht-SAH-ree) danger
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13.1 Wancan littafi ne. وَنْجَن لِتَّفِ نٰ۔ “That is a book.”
13.2 Ina wancan mota take? اِنَ وَنْجَن مٛوتَ تَكٰ؟ “Where is that car of yours?”
13.3 Mutum wanda ya zo ne malami. مُتُم وَنْدَ يَ زٛو نٰ مَلَمِ۔ “The man that came is a teacher.”
13.4 Na san cewa shi zai zo. نَ سَن جٰوَ شِ زَيْ زٛو۔ “I know that he will come.”
13.5 Mace wadda ta tafi ita ce uwata. مَجٰ وَدَّ تَ تَفِ اِتَ جٰ اُوَتَ۔ “The woman that left is my mother.”
13.6 Wancan gida babba ne. وَنْجَن گِدَ بَبَّ نٰ۔ “That house is big.”
13.7 Mutane waɗanda suka zo sun tafi. مُتَنٰ وَدَنْدَ سُكَ زٛو سُن تَفِ۔ “The people that came have left.”
13.8 Ka ga wancan yaro a kasuwa? كَ گَ وَنْجَن يَرٛو اَ كَسُوَ؟ “Did you see that boy at the market?”
13.9 Sun faɗa cewa ruwan sama zai zo. سُن فَضَ جٰوَ رُوَن سَمَ زَيْ زٛو۔ “They said that rain will come.”
13.10 Littafin wanda na karanta yana nan. لِتَّفِن وَنْدَ نَ كَرَنْتَ يَنَ نَن۔ “The book that I read is here.”
13.11 Wancan lokaci ya wuce. وَنْجَن لٛوكَجِ يَ وُجٰ۔ “That time has passed.”
13.12 Ina tsammani cewa haka ne. اِنَ تْسَمَّنِ جٰوَ هَكَ نٰ۔ “I think that it is so.”
13.13 Yarinya wadda ke gani ‘yar sarki ce. يَرِنْيَ وَدَّ كٰ گَنِ ئَر سَرْكِ جٰ۔ “The girl that you see is the chief’s daughter.”
13.14 Waɗancan dabbobi suna barci a daji. وَدَنْجَن دَبّٛوبِ سُنَ بَرْجِ اَ دَجِ۔ “Those animals are sleeping in the bush.”
13.15 Mun ji cewa wancan hanya tana da hatsari. مُن جِ جٰوَ وَنْجَن هَنْيَ تَنَ دَ هَتْسَرِ۔ “We heard that that road is dangerous.”
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13.1 Wancan littafi ne. وَنْجَن لِتَّفِ نٰ۔
13.2 Ina wancan mota take? اِنَ وَنْجَن مٛوتَ تَكٰ؟
13.3 Mutum wanda ya zo ne malami. مُتُم وَنْدَ يَ زٛو نٰ مَلَمِ۔
13.4 Na san cewa shi zai zo. نَ سَن جٰوَ شِ زَيْ زٛو۔
13.5 Mace wadda ta tafi ita ce uwata. مَجٰ وَدَّ تَ تَفِ اِتَ جٰ اُوَتَ۔
13.6 Wancan gida babba ne. وَنْجَن گِدَ بَبَّ نٰ۔
13.7 Mutane waɗanda suka zo sun tafi. مُتَنٰ وَدَنْدَ سُكَ زٛو سُن تَفِ۔
13.8 Ka ga wancan yaro a kasuwa? كَ گَ وَنْجَن يَرٛو اَ كَسُوَ؟
13.9 Sun faɗa cewa ruwan sama zai zo. سُن فَضَ جٰوَ رُوَن سَمَ زَيْ زٛو۔
13.10 Littafin wanda na karanta yana nan. لِتَّفِن وَنْدَ نَ كَرَنْتَ يَنَ نَن۔
13.11 Wancan lokaci ya wuce. وَنْجَن لٛوكَجِ يَ وُجٰ۔
13.12 Ina tsammani cewa haka ne. اِنَ تْسَمَّنِ جٰوَ هَكَ نٰ۔
13.13 Yarinya wadda ke gani ‘yar sarki ce. يَرِنْيَ وَدَّ كٰ گَنِ ئَر سَرْكِ جٰ۔
13.14 Waɗancan dabbobi suna barci a daji. وَدَنْجَن دَبّٛوبِ سُنَ بَرْجِ اَ دَجِ۔
13.15 Mun ji cewa wancan hanya tana da hatsari. مُن جِ جٰوَ وَنْجَن هَنْيَ تَنَ دَ هَتْسَرِ۔
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These are the grammar rules for wancan (that) and related demonstrative, relative, and conjunctive forms.
Hausa distinguishes between near and distant demonstratives:
Near (this/these): -
wannan (this, singular) -
waɗannan (these, plural)
Distant (that/those): -
wancan (that, singular) -
waɗancan (those, plural)
These demonstratives can function as pronouns standing alone or as determiners modifying nouns. When modifying a noun, they typically follow it: littafi wancan (that book) or precede it: wancan littafi (that book).
English “that” in relative clauses (”the man that came”) requires gender and number agreement in Hausa: -
wanda (masculine singular): Mutum wanda ya zo... (The man that came...) -
wadda (feminine singular): Mace wadda ta zo... (The woman that came...) -
waɗanda (plural): Mutane waɗanda suka zo... (The people that came...)
Important: In relative clauses, Hausa uses special “relative” verb forms. Notice the change from sun (they-PERF) to suka (they-REL.PERF) when inside a relative clause.
The conjunction cewa introduces reported speech and indirect statements: -
Na san cewa shi zai zo. (I know that he will come.) -
Sun faɗa cewa ruwan sama zai zo. (They said that rain will come.)
Hausa identificational sentences use ne (masculine/plural) or ce (feminine) instead of a verb “to be”: -
Wancan littafi ne. (That is a book.) - masculine -
Wancan mota ce. (That is a car.) - feminine
Etymologically, these copulas derive from the demonstrative system, which explains their connection to pointing and identification.
Mistake 1: Using the wrong relative pronoun gender. -
Wrong: Mace wanda ta zo... -
Correct: Mace wadda ta zo... (The woman that came...)
Mistake 2: Using regular verb forms instead of relative forms in relative clauses. -
Wrong: Mutum wanda ya zo sun tafi. -
Correct: Mutane waɗanda suka zo sun tafi.
Mistake 3: Confusing wancan (that) with wannan (this). -
Wannan = near/proximal -
Wancan = distant/distal
Mistake 4: Omitting the copula ne/ce in identificational sentences. -
Wrong: Wancan littafi. -
Correct: Wancan littafi ne. (That is a book.)
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Demonstratives like wancan are extremely common in Hausa conversation, used constantly for pointing, directing attention, and making distinctions. In marketplaces across Nigeria and Niger, you will hear phrases like Wancan nawa ne? (How much is that one?) countless times daily.
The demonstrative forms remain consistent across registers, though in formal speech and traditional Hausa poetry, one finds more elaborate expressions using demonstratives for rhetorical effect. The relative pronouns wanda/wadda are essential in both literary and colloquial Hausa.
While Standard Hausa (based primarily on Kano dialect) uses ne/ce as copulas, Western Hausa dialects (Sokoto area) use na/ta instead. The demonstrative forms remain relatively stable across dialects.
The conjunction cewa appears frequently in religious texts, sermons, and the poetry tradition established by scholars like Usman dan Fodio and Nana Asma’u. Sentences like Annabi ya faɗa cewa... (The Prophet said that...) are foundational to Islamic discourse in Hausa.
Demonstratives appear in many Hausa proverbs: -
Wanda ya dace da kai, shi ka bi - “Follow the one that suits you” (Choose appropriate companions) -
Wancan ranan za ta zo - “That day will come” (Justice/reckoning is inevitable)
In contemporary Hausa media, including newspapers like Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo and radio broadcasts from BBC Hausa and VOA Hausa, demonstratives and relative pronouns function exactly as in traditional usage, demonstrating the grammatical stability of these forms.
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The following excerpt is adapted from the tradition of Hausa poetry exemplified by Nana Asma’u (1793-1864), the renowned scholar, poet, and educator from the Sokoto Caliphate.
Ku you-PL ji hear wannan this waƙa song wadda REL-FEM na 1SG-PERF rubuta write كُ you-PL جِ hear وَنَّن this وَكَ song وَدَّ REL-FEM نَ 1SG-PERF رُبُتَ write
Ku (koo) you-PL ji (jee) hear wannan (WAHN-nahn) this waƙa (WAH-kah) song wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM na (nah) 1SG-PERF rubuta (roo-BOO-tah) write
Ta 3SG.FEM-PERF ce say cewa that-CONJ ilimi knowledge ne COP-MASC haske light wanda REL-MASC ke CONT haskaka illuminate duniya world تَ 3SG.FEM-PERF جٰ say جٰوَ that-CONJ اِلِمِ knowledge نٰ COP-MASC هَسْكٰ light وَنْدَ REL-MASC كٰ CONT هَسْكَكَ illuminate دُنِيَ world
Ta (tah) 3SG.FEM-PERF ce (chay) say cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ ilimi (ee-LEE-mee) knowledge ne (nay) COP-MASC haske (HAHS-kay) light wanda (WAHN-dah) REL-MASC ke (kay) CONT haskaka (hahs-KAH-kah) illuminate duniya (doo-NEE-yah) world
Waɗanda REL-PL suka 3PL-REL.PERF koyi learn sun 3PL-PERF sami obtain albarka blessing wadda REL-FEM ba NEG ta 3SG.FEM-PERF ƙare end ba NEG وَدَنْدَ REL-PL سُكَ 3PL-REL.PERF كٛويِ learn سُن 3PL-PERF سَمِ obtain اَلْبَرْكَ blessing وَدَّ REL-FEM بَ NEG تَ 3SG.FEM-PERF كَرٰ end بَ NEG
Waɗanda (wah-DAHN-dah) REL-PL suka (SOO-kah) 3PL-REL.PERF koyi (KOH-yee) learn sun (soon) 3PL-PERF sami (SAH-mee) obtain albarka (ahl-BAHR-kah) blessing wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM ba (bah) NEG ta (tah) 3SG.FEM-PERF ƙare (KAH-ray) end ba (bah) NEG
Ku ji wannan waƙa wadda na rubuta. كُ جِ وَنَّن وَكَ وَدَّ نَ رُبُتَ۔ “Hear this song that I have written.”
Ta ce cewa ilimi ne haske wanda ke haskaka duniya. تَ جٰ جٰوَ اِلِمِ نٰ هَسْكٰ وَنْدَ كٰ هَسْكَكَ دُنِيَ۔ “She said that knowledge is a light that illuminates the world.”
Waɗanda suka koyi sun sami albarka wadda ba ta ƙare ba. وَدَنْدَ سُكَ كٛويِ سُن سَمِ اَلْبَرْكَ وَدَّ بَ تَ كَرٰ بَ۔ “Those who have learned have obtained a blessing that does not end.”
Ku ji wannan waƙa wadda na rubuta. كُ جِ وَنَّن وَكَ وَدَّ نَ رُبُتَ۔
Ta ce cewa ilimi ne haske wanda ke haskaka duniya. تَ جٰ جٰوَ اِلِمِ نٰ هَسْكٰ وَنْدَ كٰ هَسْكَكَ دُنِيَ۔
Waɗanda suka koyi sun sami albarka wadda ba ta ƙare ba. وَدَنْدَ سُكَ كٛويِ سُن سَمِ اَلْبَرْكَ وَدَّ بَ تَ كَرٰ بَ۔
waƙa (song, poem) - feminine noun; Hausa poetry is traditionally sung or chanted
ilimi (knowledge, education) - from Arabic عِلم (’ilm); central concept in Sokoto scholarship
haske (light) - masculine noun; metaphor for knowledge throughout Islamic literature
haskaka (to illuminate) - derived verb from haske
albarka (blessing) - from Arabic بركة (baraka); feminine noun
ba...ba - circumfix negation for non-verbal predicates
Note the dense use of relative pronouns: wadda (referring to waƙa, feminine), wanda (referring to haske, masculine), waɗanda (referring to people, plural), and the conjunction cewa (that).
This passage reflects the Sokoto scholarly tradition’s emphasis on education as divine light. Nana Asma’u and her contemporaries composed poetry in Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic, often using mnemonic verse structures to aid memorization in the ‘Yan Taru women’s education movement she founded. The relative pronouns create a chain of dependent clauses that build rhetorical force, a characteristic feature of classical Hausa Islamic poetry.
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The following dialogue demonstrates natural usage of demonstratives and relative pronouns in a market context, one of the most common settings for everyday Hausa conversation.
13.16a Ina where wancan that-DIST kayan goods wanda REL-MASC kuka 2PL-REL.PERF kawo bring jiya yesterday اِنَ where وَنْجَن that-DIST كَيَن goods وَنْدَ REL-MASC كُكَ 2PL-REL.PERF كَوٛو bring جِيَ yesterday
13.16b Ina (EE-nah) where wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST kayan (KAH-yahn) goods wanda (WAHN-dah) REL-MASC kuka (KOO-kah) 2PL-REL.PERF kawo (KAH-woh) bring jiya (JEE-yah) yesterday
13.17a Wancan that-DIST rigar robe da and kake 2SG.MASC-REL.CONT gani see tana 3SG.FEM-CONT sayarwa for-sale وَنْجَن that-DIST رِگَر robe دَ and كَكٰ 2SG.MASC-REL.CONT گَنِ see تَنَ 3SG.FEM-CONT سَيَرْوَ for-sale
13.17b Wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST rigar (REE-gahr) robe da (dah) and kake (KAH-kay) 2SG.MASC-REL.CONT gani (GAH-nee) see tana (TAH-nah) 3SG.FEM-CONT sayarwa (sah-YAHR-wah) for-sale
13.18a Na 1SG-PERF ji hear cewa that-CONJ farashin price-of hatsi grain ya 3SG.MASC-PERF tashi rise wannan this mako week نَ 1SG-PERF جِ hear جٰوَ that-CONJ فَرَشِن price-of هَتْسِ grain يَ 3SG.MASC-PERF تَشِ rise وَنَّن this مَكٛو week
13.18b Na (nah) 1SG-PERF ji (jee) hear cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ farashin (fah-RAH-sheen) price-of hatsi (HAHT-see) grain ya (yah) 3SG.MASC-PERF tashi (TAH-shee) rise wannan (WAHN-nahn) this mako (MAH-koh) week
13.19a Mutumin man-the wanda REL-MASC ke CONT siyar sell da with kifi fish yana 3SG.MASC-CONT can there مُتُمِن man-the وَنْدَ REL-MASC كٰ CONT سِيَر sell دَ with كِفِ fish يَنَ 3SG.MASC-CONT جَن there
13.19b Mutumin (moo-TOO-meen) man-the wanda (WAHN-dah) REL-MASC ke (kay) CONT siyar (SEE-yahr) sell da (dah) with kifi (KEE-fee) fish yana (YAH-nah) 3SG.MASC-CONT can (chahn) there
13.20a Ga here-is macen woman-the wadda REL-FEM ta 3SG.FEM-PERF sayar sell mani to-me-DAT wancan that-DIST tuwo porridge mai with dadi delicious گَ here-is مَجٰن woman-the وَدَّ REL-FEM تَ 3SG.FEM-PERF سَيَر sell مَنِ to-me-DAT وَنْجَن that-DIST تُوٛو porridge مَيْ with دَدِ delicious
13.20b Ga (gah) here-is macen (MAH-chayn) woman-the wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM ta (tah) 3SG.FEM-PERF sayar (SAH-yahr) sell mani (MAH-nee) to-me-DAT wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST tuwo (TOO-woh) porridge mai (may) with dadi (DAH-dee) delicious
13.21a Zan 1SG-FUT saya buy waɗancan those-DIST tumatir tomatoes idan if sun 3PL-PERF yi do kyau good زَن 1SG-FUT سَيَ buy وَدَنْجَن those-DIST تُمَتِر tomatoes اِدَن if سُن 3PL-PERF يِ do كْيَو good
13.21b Zan (zahn) 1SG-FUT saya (SAH-yah) buy waɗancan (wah-dahn-CHAN) those-DIST tumatir (too-MAH-teer) tomatoes idan (EE-dahn) if sun (soon) 3PL-PERF yi (yee) do kyau (kyow) good
13.22a Masu owners-of kantuna shops sun 3PL-PERF ce say cewa that-CONJ su 3PL za will rage reduce farashi price مَسُ owners-of كَنْتُنَ shops سُن 3PL-PERF جٰ say جٰوَ that-CONJ سُ 3PL زَ will رَگٰ reduce فَرَشِ price
13.22b Masu (MAH-soo) owners-of kantuna (kahn-TOO-nah) shops sun (soon) 3PL-PERF ce (chay) say cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ su (soo) 3PL za (zah) will rage (RAH-gay) reduce farashi (fah-RAH-shee) price
13.23a Littattafan books-the waɗanda REL-PL suke 3PL-REL.CONT a at teburin table-the wancan that-DIST sababbi new-PL ne COP-MASC لِتَّتَّفَن books-the وَدَنْدَ REL-PL سُكٰ 3PL-REL.CONT اَ at تٰبُرِن table-the وَنْجَن that-DIST سَبَبِّ new-PL نٰ COP-MASC
13.23b Littattafan (lit-taht-TAH-fahn) books-the waɗanda (wah-DAHN-dah) REL-PL suke (SOO-kay) 3PL-REL.CONT a (ah) at teburin (tay-BOO-reen) table-the wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST sababbi (sah-BAHB-bee) new-PL ne (nay) COP-MASC
13.24a Kin 2SG.FEM-PERF san know abin thing da REL ya 3SG.MASC-PERF faru happen a at wancan that-DIST shago shop كِن 2SG.FEM-PERF سَن know اَبِن thing دَ REL يَ 3SG.MASC-PERF فَرُ happen اَ at وَنْجَن that-DIST شَگٛو shop
13.24b Kin (keen) 2SG.FEM-PERF san (sahn) know abin (AH-been) thing da (dah) REL ya (yah) 3SG.MASC-PERF faru (FAH-roo) happen a (ah) at wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST shago (SHAH-goh) shop
13.25a An IMPERS-PERF ce say cewa that-CONJ wancan that-DIST ɗan son-of kasuwa market ne COP-MASC mai owner-of arziki wealth اَن IMPERS-PERF جٰ say جٰوَ that-CONJ وَنْجَن that-DIST ضَن son-of كَسُوَ market نٰ COP-MASC مَيْ owner-of اَرْزِكِ wealth
13.25b An (ahn) IMPERS-PERF ce (chay) say cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST ɗan (dahn) son-of kasuwa (kah-SOO-wah) market ne (nay) COP-MASC mai (may) owner-of arziki (ahr-ZEE-kee) wealth
13.26a Yarinyar girl-the wadda REL-FEM take 2SG.FEM-REL.CONT magana talk da with ita 3SG.FEM ‘yar daughter-of abokina friend-my ce COP-FEM يَرِنْيَر girl-the وَدَّ REL-FEM تَكٰ 2SG.FEM-REL.CONT مَگَنَ talk دَ with اِتَ 3SG.FEM ئَر daughter-of اَبٛوكِنَ friend-my جٰ COP-FEM
13.26b Yarinyar (yah-REEN-yahr) girl-the wadda (WAHD-dah) REL-FEM take (TAH-kay) 2SG.FEM-REL.CONT magana (mah-GAH-nah) talk da (dah) with ita (EE-tah) 3SG.FEM ‘yar (yahr) daughter-of abokina (ah-boh-KEE-nah) friend-my ce (chay) COP-FEM
13.27a Ba NEG na 1SG-PERF tabbata be-sure cewa that-CONJ wancan that-DIST abu thing na of gaskiya truth ne COP-MASC ba NEG بَ NEG نَ 1SG-PERF تَبَّتَ be-sure جٰوَ that-CONJ وَنْجَن that-DIST اَبُ thing نَ of گَسْكِيَ truth نٰ COP-MASC بَ NEG
13.27b Ba (bah) NEG na (nah) 1SG-PERF tabbata (tahb-BAH-tah) be-sure cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST abu (AH-boo) thing na (nah) of gaskiya (gahs-KEE-yah) truth ne (nay) COP-MASC ba (bah) NEG
13.28a Mutane people waɗanda REL-PL suke 3PL-REL.CONT zaune sit a at wancan that-DIST wuri place attajirai rich-PL ne COP-MASC مُتَنٰ people وَدَنْدَ REL-PL سُكٰ 3PL-REL.CONT زَوْنٰ sit اَ at وَنْجَن that-DIST وُرِ place اَتَّجِرَيْ rich-PL نٰ COP-MASC
13.28b Mutane (moo-TAH-nay) people waɗanda (wah-DAHN-dah) REL-PL suke (SOO-kay) 3PL-REL.CONT zaune (ZOW-nay) sit a (ah) at wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST wuri (WOO-ree) place attajirai (aht-tah-jee-RAY) rich-PL ne (nay) COP-MASC
13.29a Na 1SG-PERF yi do imani belief cewa that-CONJ wancan that-DIST zai will-3SG.MASC taimaka help mana us-DAT sosai very نَ 1SG-PERF يِ do اِمَنِ belief جٰوَ that-CONJ وَنْجَن that-DIST زَيْ will-3SG.MASC تَيْمَكَ help مَنَ us-DAT سٛوسَيْ very
13.29b Na (nah) 1SG-PERF yi (yee) do imani (ee-MAH-nee) belief cewa (CHAY-wah) that-CONJ wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST zai (zay) will-3SG.MASC taimaka (tay-MAH-kah) help mana (MAH-nah) us-DAT sosai (soh-SAY) very
13.30a Duk all abin thing da REL ya 3SG.MASC-PERF faru happen a at wancan that-DIST rana day yana 3SG.MASC-CONT cikin inside tunanina thought-my دُك all اَبِن thing دَ REL يَ 3SG.MASC-PERF فَرُ happen اَ at وَنْجَن that-DIST رَنَ day يَنَ 3SG.MASC-CONT جِكِن inside تُنَنِنَ thought-my
13.30b Duk (dook) all abin (AH-been) thing da (dah) REL ya (yah) 3SG.MASC-PERF faru (FAH-roo) happen a (ah) at wancan (wan-CHAN) that-DIST rana (RAH-nah) day yana (YAH-nah) 3SG.MASC-CONT cikin (CHEE-keen) inside tunanina (too-nah-NEE-nah) thought-my
13.16 Ina wancan kayan wanda kuka kawo jiya? اِنَ وَنْجَن كَيَن وَنْدَ كُكَ كَوٛو جِيَ؟ “Where are those goods that you brought yesterday?”
13.17 Wancan rigar da kake gani tana sayarwa. وَنْجَن رِگَر دَ كَكٰ گَنِ تَنَ سَيَرْوَ۔ “That robe that you see is for sale.”
13.18 Na ji cewa farashin hatsi ya tashi wannan mako. نَ جِ جٰوَ فَرَشِن هَتْسِ يَ تَشِ وَنَّن مَكٛو۔ “I heard that the price of grain has risen this week.”
13.19 Mutumin wanda ke siyar da kifi yana can. مُتُمِن وَنْدَ كٰ سِيَر دَ كِفِ يَنَ جَن۔ “The man that sells fish is over there.”
13.20 Ga macen wadda ta sayar mani wancan tuwo mai dadi. گَ مَجٰن وَدَّ تَ سَيَر مَنِ وَنْجَن تُوٛو مَيْ دَدِ۔ “Here is the woman that sold me that delicious porridge.”
13.21 Zan saya waɗancan tumatir idan sun yi kyau. زَن سَيَ وَدَنْجَن تُمَتِر اِدَن سُن يِ كْيَو۔ “I will buy those tomatoes if they are good.”
13.22 Masu kantuna sun ce cewa su za rage farashi. مَسُ كَنْتُنَ سُن جٰ جٰوَ سُ زَ رَگٰ فَرَشِ۔ “The shop owners said that they will reduce the price.”
13.23 Littattafan waɗanda suke a teburin wancan sababbi ne. لِتَّتَّفَن وَدَنْدَ سُكٰ اَ تٰبُرِن وَنْجَن سَبَبِّ نٰ۔ “The books that are on that table are new.”
13.24 Kin san abin da ya faru a wancan shago? كِن سَن اَبِن دَ يَ فَرُ اَ وَنْجَن شَگٛو؟ “Do you know what happened at that shop?”
13.25 An ce cewa wancan ɗan kasuwa ne mai arziki. اَن جٰ جٰوَ وَنْجَن ضَن كَسُوَ نٰ مَيْ اَرْزِكِ۔ “It is said that that merchant is a wealthy man.”
13.26 Yarinyar wadda take magana da ita ‘yar abokina ce. يَرِنْيَر وَدَّ تَكٰ مَگَنَ دَ اِتَ ئَر اَبٛوكِنَ جٰ۔ “The girl that you are talking with is my friend’s daughter.”
13.27 Ba na tabbata cewa wancan abu na gaskiya ne ba. بَ نَ تَبَّتَ جٰوَ وَنْجَن اَبُ نَ گَسْكِيَ نٰ بَ۔ “I am not sure that that thing is true.”
13.28 Mutane waɗanda suke zaune a wancan wuri attajirai ne. مُتَنٰ وَدَنْدَ سُكٰ زَوْنٰ اَ وَنْجَن وُرِ اَتَّجِرَيْ نٰ۔ “The people that are sitting in that place are rich.”
13.29 Na yi imani cewa wancan zai taimaka mana sosai. نَ يِ اِمَنِ جٰوَ وَنْجَن زَيْ تَيْمَكَ مَنَ سٛوسَيْ۔ “I believe that that will help us very much.”
13.30 Duk abin da ya faru a wancan rana yana cikin tunanina. دُك اَبِن دَ يَ فَرُ اَ وَنْجَن رَنَ يَنَ جِكِن تُنَنِنَ۔ “Everything that happened on that day is in my memory.”
13.16 Ina wancan kayan wanda kuka kawo jiya? اِنَ وَنْجَن كَيَن وَنْدَ كُكَ كَوٛو جِيَ؟
13.17 Wancan rigar da kake gani tana sayarwa. وَنْجَن رِگَر دَ كَكٰ گَنِ تَنَ سَيَرْوَ۔
13.18 Na ji cewa farashin hatsi ya tashi wannan mako. نَ جِ جٰوَ فَرَشِن هَتْسِ يَ تَشِ وَنَّن مَكٛو۔
13.19 Mutumin wanda ke siyar da kifi yana can. مُتُمِن وَنْدَ كٰ سِيَر دَ كِفِ يَنَ جَن۔
13.20 Ga macen wadda ta sayar mani wancan tuwo mai dadi. گَ مَجٰن وَدَّ تَ سَيَر مَنِ وَنْجَن تُوٛو مَيْ دَدِ۔
13.21 Zan saya waɗancan tumatir idan sun yi kyau. زَن سَيَ وَدَنْجَن تُمَتِر اِدَن سُن يِ كْيَو۔
13.22 Masu kantuna sun ce cewa su za rage farashi. مَسُ كَنْتُنَ سُن جٰ جٰوَ سُ زَ رَگٰ فَرَشِ۔
13.23 Littattafan waɗanda suke a teburin wancan sababbi ne. لِتَّتَّفَن وَدَنْدَ سُكٰ اَ تٰبُرِن وَنْجَن سَبَبِّ نٰ۔
13.24 Kin san abin da ya faru a wancan shago? كِن سَن اَبِن دَ يَ فَرُ اَ وَنْجَن شَگٛو؟
13.25 An ce cewa wancan ɗan kasuwa ne mai arziki. اَن جٰ جٰوَ وَنْجَن ضَن كَسُوَ نٰ مَيْ اَرْزِكِ۔
13.26 Yarinyar wadda take magana da ita ‘yar abokina ce. يَرِنْيَر وَدَّ تَكٰ مَگَنَ دَ اِتَ ئَر اَبٛوكِنَ جٰ۔
13.27 Ba na tabbata cewa wancan abu na gaskiya ne ba. بَ نَ تَبَّتَ جٰوَ وَنْجَن اَبُ نَ گَسْكِيَ نٰ بَ۔
13.28 Mutane waɗanda suke zaune a wancan wuri attajirai ne. مُتَنٰ وَدَنْدَ سُكٰ زَوْنٰ اَ وَنْجَن وُرِ اَتَّجِرَيْ نٰ۔
13.29 Na yi imani cewa wancan zai taimaka mana sosai. نَ يِ اِمَنِ جٰوَ وَنْجَن زَيْ تَيْمَكَ مَنَ سٛوسَيْ۔
13.30 Duk abin da ya faru a wancan rana yana cikin tunanina. دُك اَبِن دَ يَ فَرُ اَ وَنْجَن رَنَ يَنَ جِكِن تُنَنِنَ۔
Key patterns in marketplace dialogue:
The relativizer “da”: In addition to wanda/wadda, Hausa uses the particle da as a general relativizer, especially after indefinite antecedents like abin (thing): abin da ya faru (the thing that happened).
Relative verb forms: Notice the consistent change from regular to relative forms: -
sun → suka (perfective) -
suna → suke (continuative) -
kana → kake (2sg.masc continuative) -
tana → take (2sg.fem continuative)
Impersonal “an”: The form an ce (it is said) uses the impersonal subject marker for general statements and rumors.
Possessive constructions: The genitive marker -n/-r links possessor to possessed: ‘yar abokina (daughter-of friend-my = my friend’s daughter).
Negation patterns: The circumfix ba...ba negates non-verbal predicates and certain verbal constructions, while ba alone before the subject pronoun negates verbal sentences.
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ɓ - Implosive b: produced with ingressive airflow; place tongue as for ‘b’ but pull larynx downward
ɗ - Implosive d: similar ingressive airflow; tongue tip at alveolar ridge with glottalic mechanism
ƙ - Ejective k: produced with glottal closure; release produces a ‘popping’ sound
ts - Affricate: like English ‘ts’ in “cats” but as a single unit
‘y - Glottalized y: as in ‘yan (children); brief glottal closure before the palatal
Hausa has five vowel qualities (a, e, i, o, u) with length distinction. Long vowels have approximately twice the duration of short vowels.
Hausa is a tone language with High (H), Low (L), and Falling (HL) tones. Academic works mark Low with grave accent (à) and Falling with circumflex (â). High tone is unmarked.
Example tone patterns: -
wàncan (that) - L.H.L -
wànda (who/that-MASC) - L.H -
cèwā (that-CONJ) - L.H
Implosives: English speakers often substitute regular voiced stops for Hausa implosives. Practice by consciously pulling the larynx down during articulation.
Vowel length: Failing to maintain vowel length distinctions changes meaning. ji (body) vs. jii (hear) are different words.
Tone: While not marked in everyday writing, tone is phonemic. Incorrect tone can cause misunderstanding.
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This Hausa course presents vocabulary according to frequency ranking, ensuring learners acquire the most useful words first. Each lesson builds practical competence through carefully constructed examples that demonstrate real-world usage patterns.
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The interlinear format used throughout this course allows learners to see exactly how Hausa sentences are constructed, word by word. By providing the native script (both Boko and Ajami), transliteration, and gloss for each element, students develop intuitive understanding of Hausa grammar without rote memorization of abstract rules.
Presenting Hausa in both Boko (Latin) and Ajami (Arabic) scripts honors the language’s dual literary heritage. Boko is essential for modern communication, while Ajami connects learners to centuries of Islamic scholarship, poetry, and correspondence. Understanding both scripts opens doors to the full richness of Hausa culture.
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Nexal-Code Subject Tags: #hausa #demonstration #relativepronoun #wancan #wanda #ajami #boko #nigerianlanguages #westafrica #chadiclanguages #sokotocaliphate #islamicliterature #nanaasmaau #housapronoun #languagelearning #africanLanguages #hausagrammar #interlineargloss
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✓ Lesson 13 Hausa complete
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