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Welcome to Lesson 18 of the Latinum Institute Modern Hausa Course. This lesson introduces a kan (on, upon), the primary Hausa locative preposition expressing surface contact and position. Hausa, a West Chadic language of the Afroasiatic family, is spoken by over 70 million people across Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, and throughout West Africa as a major lingua franca.
This lesson presents Hausa in both of its historical writing systems: Boko (the modern Latin-based orthography) and Ajami (the Arabic-derived script used since the 14th century). Ajami remains important in Islamic scholarship and traditional contexts, while Boko is the standard for contemporary education and media.
For a complete course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “a kan” mean in Hausa?
The Hausa preposition a kan (أَ كَنْ) means “on” or “upon,” specifically indicating position on top of a surface. It derives from a (the general locative marker meaning “at, in, on”) combined with kan (head, top). This compound literally means “at the head/top of” and is used for physical surface contact. Hausa also employs a bisa for “on top of” or “upon,” often with an additional sense of “according to.”
Key Takeaways -
a kan (أَ كَنْ) = on, upon (surface contact) -
a alone can mean at, in, on (general locative) -
kan = head, top (also used in compound prepositions) -
Hausa uses two scripts: Boko (Latin) and Ajami (Arabic) -
Position expressed through locative prepositions preceding nouns
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Boko (Latin Script): The modern standard orthography using the Latin alphabet with special characters for implosive consonants: ɓ (implosive b), ɗ (implosive d), ƙ (implosive k), and ‘y (glottalized y). Vowels are a, e, i, o, u; length is often unmarked in standard writing.
Ajami (Arabic Script): The historical writing system adapted from Arabic. Hausa Ajami marks all vowels (unlike standard Arabic) since Hausa meaning depends heavily on vowel distinctions. The script reads right-to-left but our glossing presents it left-to-right for pedagogical clarity.
Pronunciation Notes: Hausa is tonal (high, low, falling), but tone is generally unmarked in both scripts. The vowels e and o are written with the same Arabic letters as i and u respectively in Ajami; context determines pronunciation.
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18.1a Littafi book yana it-is a at kan top-of tebur table
18.1b لِتَّفِ (littafi) book يَنَ (yana) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تٜبُرْ (tebur) table
18.2a Yaro boy ya he-PAST zauna sit a at kan top-of kujera chair
18.2b يَرٛ (yaro) boy يَ (ya) he-PAST زَوْنَ (zauna) sit أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of كُجٜرَ (kujera) chair
18.3a Tsuntsaye birds suna they-are a at kan top-of bishiya tree
18.3b تْسُنْتْسَيٜ (tsuntsaye) birds سُنَ (suna) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of بِشِيَ (bishiya) tree
18.4a Na I-PAST ga see kaza hen a at kan top-of rufin roof-of gida house
18.4b نَ (na) I-PAST گَ (ga) see كَزَ (kaza) hen أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of رُفِنْ (rufin) roof-of گِدَ (gida) house
18.5a Mun we-PAST sanya put abinci food a at kan top-of farantin plate-of tuwo porridge
18.5b مُنْ (mun) we-PAST سَنْيَ (sanya) put أَبِنْجِ (abinci) food أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of فَرَنْتِنْ (farantin) plate-of تُوٛ (tuwo) porridge
18.6a Ruwa water yana it-is a at kan top-of ƙasa ground
18.6b رُوَ (ruwa) water يَنَ (yana) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of قَسَ (ƙasa) ground
18.7a Wata moon tana it-FEM-is a at kan top-of sama sky
18.7b وَتَ (wata) moon تَنَ (tana) it-FEM-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of سَمَ (sama) sky
18.8a Sarki king ya he-PAST zauna sit a at kan top-of karagar throne-of mulki rule
18.8b سَرْكِ (sarki) king يَ (ya) he-PAST زَوْنَ (zauna) sit أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of كَرَگَرْ (karagar) throne-of مُلْكِ (mulki) rule
18.9a Hannu hand na of yarinya girl yana it-is a at kan top-of littafi book
18.9b هَنُّ (hannu) hand نَ (na) of يَرِنْيَ (yarinya) girl يَنَ (yana) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of لِتَّفِ (littafi) book
18.10a Takalmi shoe yana it-is a at kan top-of ƙafa foot
18.10b تَكَلْمِ (takalmi) shoe يَنَ (yana) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of قَفَ (ƙafa) foot
18.11a A at kan top-of wannan this hanya road akwai there-is mota car
18.11b أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of وَنَّنْ (wannan) this هَنْيَ (hanya) road أَكْوَيْ (akwai) there-is مٛتَ (mota) car
18.12a Alkalami pen da and takarda paper suna they-are a at kan top-of tebur table
18.12b أَلْكَلَمِ (alkalami) pen دَ (da) and تَكَرْدَ (takarda) paper سُنَ (suna) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تٜبُرْ (tebur) table
18.13a Hula cap tana it-FEM-is a at kan top-of kai head
18.13b هُلَ (hula) cap تَنَ (tana) it-FEM-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of كَيْ (kai) head
18.14a Rana sun tana it-FEM-is a at kan top-of sama sky yau today
18.14b رَنَ (rana) sun تَنَ (tana) it-FEM-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of سَمَ (sama) sky يَوْ (yau) today
18.15a Maigida master-of-house ya he-PAST ajiye place kuɗi money a at kan top-of akwati box
18.15b مَيْگِدَ (maigida) master-of-house يَ (ya) he-PAST أَجِيٜ (ajiye) place كُدِ (kuɗi) money أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of أَكْوَتِ (akwati) box
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18.1 Littafi yana a kan tebur. Littafi yana a kan tebur. “The book is on the table.”
18.2 Yaro ya zauna a kan kujera. Yaro ya zauna a kan kujera. “The boy sat on the chair.”
18.3 Tsuntsaye suna a kan bishiya. Tsuntsaye suna a kan bishiya. “The birds are on the tree.”
18.4 Na ga kaza a kan rufin gida. Na ga kaza a kan rufin gida. “I saw a hen on the roof of the house.”
18.5 Mun sanya abinci a kan farantin tuwo. Mun sanya abinci a kan farantin tuwo. “We put food on the porridge plate.”
18.6 Ruwa yana a kan ƙasa. Ruwa yana a kan ƙasa. “Water is on the ground.”
18.7 Wata tana a kan sama. Wata tana a kan sama. “The moon is in the sky.”
18.8 Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulki. Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulki. “The king sat on the throne of rule.”
18.9 Hannu na yarinya yana a kan littafi. Hannu na yarinya yana a kan littafi. “The girl’s hand is on the book.”
18.10 Takalmi yana a kan ƙafa. Takalmi yana a kan ƙafa. “The shoe is on the foot.”
18.11 A kan wannan hanya akwai mota. A kan wannan hanya akwai mota. “On this road there is a car.”
18.12 Alkalami da takarda suna a kan tebur. Alkalami da takarda suna a kan tebur. “The pen and paper are on the table.”
18.13 Hula tana a kan kai. Hula tana a kan kai. “The cap is on the head.”
18.14 Rana tana a kan sama yau. Rana tana a kan sama yau. “The sun is in the sky today.”
18.15 Maigida ya ajiye kuɗi a kan akwati. Maigida ya ajiye kuɗi a kan akwati. “The master of the house placed money on the box.”
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18.1 Littafi yana a kan tebur. Littafi yana a kan tebur.
18.2 Yaro ya zauna a kan kujera. Yaro ya zauna a kan kujera.
18.3 Tsuntsaye suna a kan bishiya. Tsuntsaye suna a kan bishiya.
18.4 Na ga kaza a kan rufin gida. Na ga kaza a kan rufin gida.
18.5 Mun sanya abinci a kan farantin tuwo. Mun sanya abinci a kan farantin tuwo.
18.6 Ruwa yana a kan ƙasa. Ruwa yana a kan ƙasa.
18.7 Wata tana a kan sama. Wata tana a kan sama.
18.8 Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulki. Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulki.
18.9 Hannu na yarinya yana a kan littafi. Hannu na yarinya yana a kan littafi.
18.10 Takalmi yana a kan ƙafa. Takalmi yana a kan ƙafa.
18.11 A kan wannan hanya akwai mota. A kan wannan hanya akwai mota.
18.12 Alkalami da takarda suna a kan tebur. Alkalami da takarda suna a kan tebur.
18.13 Hula tana a kan kai. Hula tana a kan kai.
18.14 Rana tana a kan sama yau. Rana tana a kan sama yau.
18.15 Maigida ya ajiye kuɗi a kan akwati. Maigida ya ajiye kuɗi a kan akwati.
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These are the grammar rules for a kan (on, upon).
The Structure of Locative Expressions
Hausa expresses location using prepositions that precede nouns. The most common locative marker is a, a general-purpose preposition meaning “at, in, on.” When combined with kan (head, top), it forms a kan, which specifically indicates position on top of or upon a surface.
A Kan - The Compound Preposition
The preposition a kan (on, upon) consists of: -
a - locative particle (at, in, on) -
kan - noun meaning “head” or “top”
Together they literally mean “at the top of” and are used for physical surface contact. This is parallel to how English “on top of” derives from “on” plus “top.”
Word Order with A Kan
The standard pattern is: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + a kan + LOCATION
Example: Yaro ya sanya littafi a kan tebur. (Boy he-placed book on table - “The boy placed the book on the table.”)
Alternatively, a kan + LOCATION can begin a sentence for emphasis: A kan tebur akwai littafi. (”On the table there is a book.”)
Continuative Pronouns and Location
Hausa uses continuative pronouns to express “being at/in/on” a location. These pronouns inherently contain the locative meaning: -
yana (he/it is at) - masculine singular -
tana (she/it is at) - feminine singular -
suna (they are at) - plural
When these are followed by a kan, they express “is on top of”: Littafi yana a kan tebur. (”The book is on the table.”)
Gender Agreement
Hausa nouns are masculine or feminine. The continuative pronoun must agree: -
yana for masculine nouns (littafi/book, ruwa/water, yaro/boy) -
tana for feminine nouns (hula/cap, wata/moon, rana/sun) -
suna for plural nouns (tsuntsaye/birds, littattafai/books)
Alternative: A Bisa
The phrase a bisa also means “on top of” and is sometimes interchangeable with a kan. However, a bisa often carries an additional meaning of “according to” or “based upon”:
A bisa wannan (”According to this” / “On top of this”)
Common Mistakes
Learners often omit a and use only kan. While kan alone can mean “on” in some contexts, the full form a kan is standard and clearer.
Incorrect: Littafi yana kan tebur. Correct: Littafi yana a kan tebur.
Another common error is confusing gender agreement with continuative pronouns. Remember: the pronoun agrees with the subject, not the location.
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The Significance of Spatial Language in Hausa Culture
Hausa spatial expressions reflect a culture deeply engaged with trade, travel, and geographic awareness. As the language of major West African trade routes for centuries, Hausa developed precise locative vocabulary essential for commerce, navigation, and social organization.
Kan - Beyond “Head”
The word kan (head) appears in numerous compounds beyond a kan. In Hausa culture, the head symbolizes authority, leadership, and primacy. Thus kan also means “concerning” or “about” in phrases like a kan wannan magana (”on/about this matter”). The chief or leader is shugaba (literally “head-holder”).
Regional Variations
Hausa is spoken across a vast area with several major dialects: -
Kananci (Kano dialect) - considered standard -
Sakkwatanci (Sokoto dialect) - classical literary Hausa -
Katsinanci (Katsina dialect) - transitional between east and west -
Zazzaganci (Zaria dialect) - southern variety
All dialects use a kan for “on,” though pronunciation and vowel quality may vary slightly.
Ajami Heritage
The Ajami script connects Hausa to its Islamic scholarly tradition dating from the 14th century. Major works of Hausa literature, including the poetry of Nana Asma’u and the writings of the Sokoto Caliphate scholars, were composed in Ajami. Today, Ajami remains important for religious texts, traditional medicine, and in Quranic schools throughout Hausaland.
Modern Usage
In contemporary Hausa media—BBC Hausa, Voice of America Hausa Service, and Nigeria’s Kannywood film industry—a kan is ubiquitous in describing physical positions, topics of discussion (”on the subject of”), and digital contexts (”a kan intanet” - “on the internet”).
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From “Magana Jari Ce” (Wisdom is an Asset) by Abubakar Imam (1937)
Abubakar Imam (1911-1981) was the pioneering figure of modern Hausa prose literature. His trilogy “Magana Jari Ce” remains the most celebrated work of Hausa fiction, adapting folktales and stories from various traditions into elegant Hausa prose. The following passage demonstrates the use of locative expressions in narrative description.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Sarki king ya he-PAST zauna sit a at kan top-of karagar throne-of mulkinsa his-rule yana he-is sauraron listening-to maganar speech-of baƙi guests da who suka they-PAST zo come daga from ƙasashe lands masu having nisa distance
سَرْكِ (Sarki) king يَ (ya) he-PAST زَوْنَ (zauna) sit أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of كَرَگَرْ (karagar) throne-of مُلْكِنْسَ (mulkinsa) his-rule يَنَ (yana) he-is سَوْرَرٛنْ (sauraron) listening-to مَگَنَرْ (maganar) speech-of بَقِ (baƙi) guests دَ (da) who سُكَ (suka) they-PAST زٛ (zo) come دَگَ (daga) from قَسَشٜ (ƙasashe) lands مَسُ (masu) having نِسَ (nisa) distance
Yara children suna they-are tsaye standing a at kan top-of hanya road suna they-are kallon looking-at tafiyar journey-of fatake traders da with kaya goods a at kan top-of jakunansu their-donkeys
يَرَ (Yara) children سُنَ (suna) they-are تْسَيٜ (tsaye) standing أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of هَنْيَ (hanya) road سُنَ (suna) they-are كَلّٛنْ (kallon) looking-at تَفِيَرْ (tafiyar) journey-of فَتَكٜ (fatake) traders دَ (da) with كَيَ (kaya) goods أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of جَكُنَنْسُ (jakunansu) their-donkeys
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulkinsa, yana sauraron maganar baƙi da suka zo daga ƙasashe masu nisa. Yara suna tsaye a kan hanya, suna kallon tafiyar fatake da kaya a kan jakunansu.
“The king sat on his throne of rule, listening to the speech of guests who had come from distant lands. Children stood on the road, watching the journey of traders with goods on their donkeys.”
F-C: Original Text
Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulkinsa, yana sauraron maganar baƙi da suka zo daga ƙasashe masu nisa. Yara suna tsaye a kan hanya, suna kallon tafiyar fatake da kaya a kan jakunansu.
Sarki ya zauna a kan karagar mulkinsa, yana sauraron maganar baqi da suka zo daga qasashe masu nisa. Yara suna tsaye a kan hanya, suna kallon tafiyar fatake da kaya a kan jakunansu.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage contains three instances of a kan: -
a kan karagar mulkinsa - “on his throne of rule” -
a kan hanya - “on the road” -
a kan jakunansu - “on their donkeys”
Note the possessive constructions: mulkinsa (his rule) uses the possessive suffix -nsa (his); jakunansu (their donkeys) uses -nsu (their). The genitive link -n/-r connects possessor and possessed.
The verb forms show Hausa aspect marking: ya zauna (he sat, completed action) versus yana sauraron (he is/was listening, continuous action). The past tense ya combines with the continuous yana to create a vivid narrative present common in Hausa storytelling.
F-E: Literary Commentary
Abubakar Imam’s prose style exemplifies the elegant simplicity that made “Magana Jari Ce” accessible to readers across educational levels while maintaining literary sophistication. His use of parallel structures—the king sitting “a kan” his throne while children stand “a kan” the road—creates visual contrasts between authority and common life, stillness and movement, power and innocence. The traders with goods “a kan” their donkeys connect these two worlds through the ancient commerce that built Hausa civilization.
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The following dialogue takes place at a traditional Hausa market (kasuwa), demonstrating authentic use of a kan in everyday commercial interactions.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
18.16a Mai owner-of kanti shop ya he-PAST sanya put kayan goods-of sayarwa selling a at kan top-of tebur table
18.16b مَيْ (mai) owner-of كَنْتِ (kanti) shop يَ (ya) he-PAST سَنْيَ (sanya) put كَيَنْ (kayan) goods-of سَيَرْوَ (sayarwa) selling أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تٜبُرْ (tebur) table
18.17a Abokin friend-of ciniki trade ya he-PAST duba look kaya goods da which suke they-are a at kan top-of benci bench
18.17b أَبٛكِنْ (abokin) friend-of جِنِكِ (ciniki) trade يَ (ya) he-PAST دُبَ (duba) look كَيَ (kaya) goods دَ (da) which سُكٜ (suke) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of بٜنْجِ (benci) bench
18.18a Yaushe when za FUTURE ku you-PL sanya put sabbin new kaya goods a at kan top-of teburin table-of nan this
18.18b يَوْشٜ (yaushe) when زَ (za) FUTURE كُ (ku) you-PL سَنْيَ (sanya) put سَبِّنْ (sabbin) new كَيَ (kaya) goods أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تٜبُرِنْ (teburin) table-of نَنْ (nan) this
18.19a Gobe tomorrow za FUTURE mu we kawo bring kaya goods daga from Kano Kano mu we sanya put su them a at kan top-of rumfa stall
18.19b گٛبٜ (gobe) tomorrow زَ (za) FUTURE مُ (mu) we كَوٛ (kawo) bring كَيَ (kaya) goods دَگَ (daga) from كَنٛ (Kano) Kano مُ (mu) we سَنْيَ (sanya) put سُ (su) them أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of رُمْفَ (rumfa) stall
18.20a Wannan this rigar gown-of nan here da which take it-is a at kan top-of ramin place-of sayarwa selling nawa how-much ne is
18.20b وَنَّنْ (wannan) this رِگَرْ (rigar) gown-of نَنْ (nan) here دَ (da) which تَكٜ (take) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of رَمِنْ (ramin) place-of سَيَرْوَ (sayarwa) selling نَوَ (nawa) how-much نٜ (ne) is
18.21a Rigar gown-of nan here da which take it-is a at kan top-of teburin table-of nan this naira naira dubu thousand ne is
18.21b رِگَرْ (rigar) gown-of نَنْ (nan) here دَ (da) which تَكٜ (take) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تٜبُرِنْ (teburin) table-of نَنْ (nan) this نَيْرَ (naira) naira دُبُ (dubu) thousand نٜ (ne) is
18.22a Ba NEG ni I da with kuɗi money da which yawa plenty a at kan top-of ni me yanzu now
18.22b بَ (ba) NEG نِ (ni) I دَ (da) with كُدِ (kuɗi) money دَ (da) which يَوَ (yawa) plenty أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of نِ (ni) me يَنْزُ (yanzu) now
18.23a To OK ka you duba look kayan goods-of da which suke they-are a at kan top-of wancan that tebur table
18.23b تٛ (to) OK كَ (ka) you دُبَ (duba) look كَيَنْ (kayan) goods-of دَ (da) which سُكٜ (suke) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of وَنْجَنْ (wancan) that تٜبُرْ (tebur) table
18.24a Wadannan these takalma shoes da which suke they-are a at kan top-of ƙasa ground sun they-PAST tsufa become-old
18.24b وَدَنَّنْ (wadannan) these تَكَلْمَ (takalma) shoes دَ (da) which سُكٜ (suke) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of قَسَ (ƙasa) ground سُنْ (sun) they-PAST تْسُفَ (tsufa) become-old
18.25a Malam teacher ya he-PAST rubuta write lissafi account a at kan top-of takarda paper
18.25b مَلَمْ (malam) teacher يَ (ya) he-PAST رُبُتَ (rubuta) write لِسَّفِ (lissafi) account أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تَكَرْدَ (takarda) paper
18.26a Sai then ya he-PAST sanya put takarda paper a at kan top-of littafin book-of lissafi account
18.26b سَيْ (sai) then يَ (ya) he-PAST سَنْيَ (sanya) put تَكَرْدَ (takarda) paper أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of لِتَّفِنْ (littafin) book-of لِسَّفِ (lissafi) account
18.27a Kuɗin money-of ciniki trade yana it-is a at kan top-of hannun hand-of maigida master-of-house
18.27b كُدِنْ (kuɗin) money-of جِنِكِ (ciniki) trade يَنَ (yana) it-is أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of هَنُّنْ (hannun) hand-of مَيْگِدَ (maigida) master-of-house
18.28a Mace woman ta she-PAST ɗauko pick-up gyaɗa groundnuts da which suke they-are a at kan top-of kwandon basket-of sayarwa selling
18.28b مَجٜ (mace) woman تَ (ta) she-PAST دَوْكٛ (ɗauko) pick-up گْيَدَ (gyaɗa) groundnuts دَ (da) which سُكٜ (suke) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of كْوَنْدٛنْ (kwandon) basket-of سَيَرْوَ (sayarwa) selling
18.29a Mutane people da many yawa plenty suna they-are a at kan top-of tituna streets suna they-are saye buying
18.29b مُتَنٜ (mutane) people دَ (da) many يَوَ (yawa) plenty سُنَ (suna) they-are أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of تِتُنَ (tituna) streets سُنَ (suna) they-are سَيٜ (saye) buying
18.30a A at kan top-of lokacin time-of ƙarshen end-of rana day kasuwa market ta it-FEM-PAST rufe close
18.30b أَ (a) at كَنْ (kan) top-of لٛكَجِنْ (lokacin) time-of قَرْشٜنْ (ƙarshen) end-of رَنَ (rana) day كَسُوَ (kasuwa) market تَ (ta) it-FEM-PAST رُفٜ (rufe) close
Part B: Natural Sentences
18.16 Mai kanti ya sanya kayan sayarwa a kan tebur. Mai kanti ya sanya kayan sayarwa a kan tebur. “The shopkeeper put the goods for sale on the table.”
18.17 Abokin ciniki ya duba kaya da suke a kan benci. Abokin ciniki ya duba kaya da suke a kan benci. “The customer looked at the goods that are on the bench.”
18.18 Yaushe za ku sanya sabbin kaya a kan teburin nan? Yaushe za ku sanya sabbin kaya a kan teburin nan? “When will you put new goods on this table?”
18.19 Gobe za mu kawo kaya daga Kano mu sanya su a kan rumfa. Gobe za mu kawo kaya daga Kano mu sanya su a kan rumfa. “Tomorrow we will bring goods from Kano and put them on the stall.”
18.20 Wannan rigar nan da take a kan ramin sayarwa, nawa ne? Wannan rigar nan da take a kan ramin sayarwa, nawa ne? “This gown here that is on the selling spot, how much is it?”
18.21 Rigar nan da take a kan teburin nan naira dubu ne. Rigar nan da take a kan teburin nan naira dubu ne. “The gown that is on this table is one thousand naira.”
18.22 Ba ni da kuɗi da yawa a kan ni yanzu. Ba ni da kuɗi da yawa a kan ni yanzu. “I don’t have much money on me now.”
18.23 To, ka duba kayan da suke a kan wancan tebur. To, ka duba kayan da suke a kan wancan tebur. “OK, look at the goods that are on that table.”
18.24 Wadannan takalma da suke a kan ƙasa sun tsufa. Wadannan takalma da suke a kan qasa sun tsufa. “These shoes that are on the ground are old.”
18.25 Malam ya rubuta lissafi a kan takarda. Malam ya rubuta lissafi a kan takarda. “The teacher wrote the account on paper.”
18.26 Sai ya sanya takarda a kan littafin lissafi. Sai ya sanya takarda a kan littafin lissafi. “Then he put the paper on the account book.”
18.27 Kuɗin ciniki yana a kan hannun maigida. Kudin ciniki yana a kan hannun maigida. “The trade money is in the master’s hand.”
18.28 Mace ta ɗauko gyaɗa da suke a kan kwandon sayarwa. Mace ta dauko gyada da suke a kan kwandon sayarwa. “The woman picked up groundnuts that are on the selling basket.”
18.29 Mutane da yawa suna a kan tituna suna saye. Mutane da yawa suna a kan tituna suna saye. “Many people are on the streets buying.”
18.30 A kan lokacin ƙarshen rana, kasuwa ta rufe. A kan lokacin qarshen rana, kasuwa ta rufe. “At the time of end of day, the market closed.”
Part C: Hausa Text Only
18.16 Mai kanti ya sanya kayan sayarwa a kan tebur. Mai kanti ya sanya kayan sayarwa a kan tebur.
18.17 Abokin ciniki ya duba kaya da suke a kan benci. Abokin ciniki ya duba kaya da suke a kan benci.
18.18 Yaushe za ku sanya sabbin kaya a kan teburin nan? Yaushe za ku sanya sabbin kaya a kan teburin nan?
18.19 Gobe za mu kawo kaya daga Kano mu sanya su a kan rumfa. Gobe za mu kawo kaya daga Kano mu sanya su a kan rumfa.
18.20 Wannan rigar nan da take a kan ramin sayarwa, nawa ne? Wannan rigar nan da take a kan ramin sayarwa, nawa ne?
18.21 Rigar nan da take a kan teburin nan naira dubu ne. Rigar nan da take a kan teburin nan naira dubu ne.
18.22 Ba ni da kuɗi da yawa a kan ni yanzu. Ba ni da kudi da yawa a kan ni yanzu.
18.23 To, ka duba kayan da suke a kan wancan tebur. To, ka duba kayan da suke a kan wancan tebur.
18.24 Wadannan takalma da suke a kan ƙasa sun tsufa. Wadannan takalma da suke a kan qasa sun tsufa.
18.25 Malam ya rubuta lissafi a kan takarda. Malam ya rubuta lissafi a kan takarda.
18.26 Sai ya sanya takarda a kan littafin lissafi. Sai ya sanya takarda a kan littafin lissafi.
18.27 Kuɗin ciniki yana a kan hannun maigida. Kudin ciniki yana a kan hannun maigida.
18.28 Mace ta ɗauko gyaɗa da suke a kan kwandon sayarwa. Mace ta dauko gyada da suke a kan kwandon sayarwa.
18.29 Mutane da yawa suna a kan tituna suna saye. Mutane da yawa suna a kan tituna suna saye.
18.30 A kan lokacin ƙarshen rana, kasuwa ta rufe. A kan lokacin qarshen rana, kasuwa ta rufe.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dialogue illustrates several extended uses of a kan:
Temporal Extension: In example 18.30, a kan lokacin means “at the time of” - here a kan extends beyond physical surface to temporal position.
Idiomatic Usage: In 18.22, a kan ni literally “on me” is an idiom meaning “with me” or “in my possession” when referring to money or portable items.
Relative Clauses: Examples 18.17, 18.20, 18.23, 18.24, and 18.28 show da suke a kan (that are on) - the relative marker da followed by the relative continuous suke before the locative phrase.
Commercial Vocabulary: -
kanti - shop (from English “canteen”) -
ciniki - trade, commerce -
sayarwa - selling (verbal noun from sayar “to sell”) -
rumfa - market stall -
lissafi - account, calculation (from Arabic) -
naira - Nigerian currency
Demonstratives with Location: -
teburin nan - this table (genitive link + proximal demonstrative) -
wancan tebur - that table (distal demonstrative)
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Key Sounds for This Lesson
Vowels: Hausa has five vowels (a, e, i, o, u), each occurring in short and long forms. Length is phonemic but usually unmarked in writing.
Implosives: These consonants are produced with an inward airflow: -
ɓ [ɓ] - implosive b (lips close, glottis lowers) -
ɗ [ɗ] - implosive d (tongue touches alveolar ridge, glottis lowers) -
ƙ [kʼ] - ejective k (velar stop with glottalic egressive airflow)
Key Vocabulary Pronunciation: -
a kan [à kân] - on (low tone + falling tone) -
tebur [tèbùr] - table (from English “table”) -
littafi [lìttàfíː] - book (Arabic loanword) -
bishiya [bìʃíjàː] - tree -
kasuwa [kàsúwàː] - market
Tone Patterns: While tone is not marked in standard orthography, learners should be aware that a and kan typically carry low and falling tones respectively when used as the preposition “on.”
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The Dual-Script Advantage
By presenting Hausa in both Boko and Ajami, this course honors the full literary heritage of the Hausa language while preparing learners for both modern media and traditional texts. The ability to read Ajami opens access to centuries of Islamic scholarship, poetry, and historical documents that remain important to Hausa cultural identity.
Autodidact Methodology
The interlinear format allows self-directed learners to progress at their own pace, decoding each word while building toward natural fluency. The progression from construed text (Section A) through natural sentences (Section B) to target-language-only text (Section C) scaffolds comprehension while developing reading independence.
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nexal-code: hausa, harshen-hausa, boko, ajami, west-african-languages, chadic-languages, locative-prepositions, a-kan, nigerian-languages, latinum-institute, language-learning, autodidact, interlinear-glossing, construed-text
✓ Lesson 18 Hausa complete
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