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Welcome to Lesson 28 of the Latinum Institute Hausa Modern Language Course, where we explore the possessive suffix -sa/-nsa meaning “his.” This grammatical element reveals one of Hausa’s most fascinating features: possessive agreement based on the gender of the thing possessed rather than the possessor.
Hausa, spoken by over 120 million people across Nigeria, Niger, and West Africa, handles possession quite differently from English. While English simply uses “his” regardless of what is owned, Hausa employs a sophisticated system where the possessive marker changes form depending on whether the possessed noun is grammatically masculine or feminine. Thus “his book” (masculine noun) uses -nsa (littafinsa), while “his car” (feminine noun) uses -rsa (motarsa).
The suffix -sa (or -nsa after consonants) attaches directly to the noun being possessed. Additionally, Hausa has independent possessive pronouns: nasa for masculine nouns (”his one”) and tasa for feminine nouns (”his one”). This lesson presents examples in both Boko (the modern Latin-based orthography) and Ajami (the traditional Arabic-derived script used since the 17th century).
Course Index:
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FAQ: What does “his” mean in Hausa? In Hausa, “his” is expressed through the possessive suffix -sa/-nsa attached to nouns. The form changes based on the grammatical gender of the possessed noun: -nsa/-sa for masculine nouns and -rsa/-ta for feminine nouns. Independent forms include nasa (his - masculine referent) and tasa (his - feminine referent).
Key Takeaways
In this lesson you will learn how Hausa expresses possession through suffixation, understand the critical distinction between masculine and feminine possessed nouns, and observe how the independent possessive pronouns nasa and tasa function in sentences. The 30 examples demonstrate -sa/-nsa in various grammatical contexts including simple possession, emphatic constructions, and idiomatic expressions.
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Hausa uses two writing systems: Boko (Latin-based, introduced 1930s) and Ajami (Arabic-based, used since the 17th century). Ajami writes right-to-left and requires all vowels to be marked with diacritics, unlike Arabic which often omits short vowels. Neither system marks tone in standard orthography.
Transliteration System: This lesson uses standard Hausa romanization. Long vowels are indicated by doubling (aa, ee, ii, oo, uu). Special characters include: ɓ (implosive b), ɗ (implosive d), ƙ (ejective k), ʼy (glottalized y in Niger).
Pronunciation Notes: Hausa is tonal with High (H) and Low (L) tones. The possessive suffix -sa typically carries high tone. The “sh” sound is as in English “ship.”
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In this section, each example appears twice. Line “a” presents the Boko (Latin) script with word-by-word English glosses. Line “b” presents the Ajami (Arabic) script with romanization in parentheses and matching glosses. A blank line separates the two for clarity.
28.1a Gidansa house-his yana is nan here 28.1b غِدَنسَ (gidansa) house-his يَنَ (yana) is نَن (nan) here
28.2a Littafinsa book-his ya it-COMP ɓace disappear 28.2b لِتَّفِنسَ (littafinsa) book-his يَ (ya) it-COMP ٻَچٜ (ɓace) disappear
28.3a Mahaifinsa father-his ya he-COMP zo come 28.3b مَهَیْفِنسَ (mahaifinsa) father-his يَ (ya) he-COMP زُو (zo) come
28.4a Sunan name ɗansa son-his Musa Musa ne is-MASC 28.4b سُنَن (sunan) name ضَنسَ (ɗansa) son-his مُوسَ (Musa) Musa نٜ (ne) is-MASC
28.5a Na I-COMP ga see abinsa thing-his 28.5b نَ (na) I-COMP غَ (ga) see اَبِنسَ (abinsa) thing-his
28.6a Abokinsa friend-his yana is aiki work 28.6b اَبُوکِنسَ (abokinsa) friend-his يَنَ (yana) is اَیْکِ (aiki) work
28.7a Motarsa car-his-FEM ta it-FEM-COMP lalace spoil 28.7b مُوتَرسَ (motarsa) car-his-FEM تَ (ta) it-FEM-COMP لَلَچٜ (lalace) spoil
28.8a Wannan this nasa his-MASC ne is-MASC 28.8b وَننَن (wannan) this نَسَ (nasa) his-MASC نٜ (ne) is-MASC
28.9a Ya he-COMP ci eat abincinsa food-his 28.9b يَ (ya) he-COMP چِ (ci) eat اَبِنچِنسَ (abincinsa) food-his
28.10a Hankalinsa mind-his ya it-COMP tashi rise 28.10b هَنکَلِنسَ (hankalinsa) mind-his يَ (ya) it-COMP تَشِ (tashi) rise
28.11a Zuciyarsa heart-his-FEM tana it-FEM-CONT cikin in farin white ciki belly 28.11b زُچِیَرسَ (zuciyarsa) heart-his-FEM تَنَ (tana) it-FEM-CONT چِکِن (cikin) in فَرِن (farin) white چِکِ (ciki) belly
28.12a Gonarsa farm-his-FEM ta it-FEM-COMP yi do kyau beauty 28.12b غُونَرسَ (gonarsa) farm-his-FEM تَ (ta) it-FEM-COMP يِ (yi) do کیَوْ (kyau) beauty
28.13a Babu there-is-not wanda one-who ya he-COMP san know sunansa name-his 28.13b بَبُ (babu) there-is-not وَندَ (wanda) one-who يَ (ya) he-COMP سَن (san) know سُنَنسَ (sunansa) name-his
28.14a Dukansa all-his ya it-COMP ƙare finish 28.14b دُکَنسَ (dukansa) all-his يَ (ya) it-COMP قَرٜ (ƙare) finish
28.15a Shi he da with ɗansa son-his sun they-COMP tafi go 28.15b شِ (shi) he دَ (da) with ضَنسَ (ɗansa) son-his سُن (sun) they-COMP تَفِ (tafi) go
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28.1 Gidansa yana nan. غِدَنسَ يَنَ نَن۔ “His house is here.”
28.2 Littafinsa ya ɓace. لِتَّفِنسَ يَ ٻَچٜ۔ “His book has disappeared.”
28.3 Mahaifinsa ya zo. مَهَیْفِنسَ يَ زُو۔ “His father has come.”
28.4 Sunan ɗansa Musa ne. سُنَن ضَنسَ مُوسَ نٜ۔ “His son’s name is Musa.”
28.5 Na ga abinsa. نَ غَ اَبِنسَ۔ “I saw his thing.”
28.6 Abokinsa yana aiki. اَبُوکِنسَ يَنَ اَیْکِ۔ “His friend is working.”
28.7 Motarsa ta lalace. مُوتَرسَ تَ لَلَچٜ۔ “His car broke down.”
28.8 Wannan nasa ne. وَننَن نَسَ نٜ۔ “This one is his.”
28.9 Ya ci abincinsa. يَ چِ اَبِنچِنسَ۔ “He ate his food.”
28.10 Hankalinsa ya tashi. هَنکَلِنسَ يَ تَشِ۔ “His mind rose up.” (He became proud/angry)
28.11 Zuciyarsa tana cikin farin ciki. زُچِیَرسَ تَنَ چِکِن فَرِن چِکِ۔ “His heart is full of happiness.”
28.12 Gonarsa ta yi kyau. غُونَرسَ تَ يِ کیَوْ۔ “His farm has done well.”
28.13 Babu wanda ya san sunansa. بَبُ وَندَ يَ سَن سُنَنسَ۔ “There is no one who knows his name.”
28.14 Dukansa ya ƙare. دُکَنسَ يَ قَرٜ۔ “All of his is finished.”
28.15 Shi da ɗansa sun tafi. شِ دَ ضَنسَ سُن تَفِ۔ “He and his son have gone.”
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28.1 Gidansa yana nan. غِدَنسَ يَنَ نَن۔
28.2 Littafinsa ya ɓace. لِتَّفِنسَ يَ ٻَچٜ۔
28.3 Mahaifinsa ya zo. مَهَیْفِنسَ يَ زُو۔
28.4 Sunan ɗansa Musa ne. سُنَن ضَنسَ مُوسَ نٜ۔
28.5 Na ga abinsa. نَ غَ اَبِنسَ۔
28.6 Abokinsa yana aiki. اَبُوکِنسَ يَنَ اَیْکِ۔
28.7 Motarsa ta lalace. مُوتَرسَ تَ لَلَچٜ۔
28.8 Wannan nasa ne. وَننَن نَسَ نٜ۔
28.9 Ya ci abincinsa. يَ چِ اَبِنچِنسَ۔
28.10 Hankalinsa ya tashi. هَنکَلِنسَ يَ تَشِ۔
28.11 Zuciyarsa tana cikin farin ciki. زُچِیَرسَ تَنَ چِکِن فَرِن چِکِ۔
28.12 Gonarsa ta yi kyau. غُونَرسَ تَ يِ کیَوْ۔
28.13 Babu wanda ya san sunansa. بَبُ وَندَ يَ سَن سُنَنسَ۔
28.14 Dukansa ya ƙare. دُکَنسَ يَ قَرٜ۔
28.15 Shi da ɗansa sun tafi. شِ دَ ضَنسَ سُن تَفِ۔
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These are the grammar rules for -sa/-nsa (his) and related possessive forms in Hausa.
The Possessive Suffix System
Hausa expresses “his” through suffixes attached directly to nouns. The form of the suffix depends on the phonological shape of the noun and crucially on the grammatical gender of the possessed noun.
For Masculine Nouns: The suffix -nsa follows consonant-final nouns: littafi (book) → littafinsa (his book) The suffix -sa follows vowel-final nouns: gida (house) → gidansa (his house) - note the linking -n-
For Feminine Nouns: The suffix -rsa or -ta + sa follows feminine nouns: mota (car) → motarsa (his car); gona (farm) → gonarsa (his farm)
Gender Agreement Principle
This is perhaps the most important concept: In Hausa, the possessive suffix agrees with the GENDER OF THE THING POSSESSED, not the gender of the possessor. Whether a man or woman owns something, the possessive changes based on whether the object is grammatically masculine or feminine.
Independent Possessive Pronouns
Hausa also has independent possessives used predicatively or for emphasis: -
nasa = “his” (referring to a masculine noun) -
tasa = “his” (referring to a feminine noun)
These derive from the demonstrative system: na-sa “that-of-him” (masc.) and ta-sa “that-of-him” (fem.)
Example: Wannan littafi nasa ne. “This book is his.” (masculine agreement) Example: Wannan mota tasa ce. “This car is his.” (feminine agreement)
Complete Possessive Pronoun Paradigm (Suffixed Forms)
First person singular: -na (my) - littafina “my book” Second person singular masculine: -nka (your) - littafinka “your book” Second person singular feminine: -nki (your) - littafinki “your book” Third person singular masculine: -nsa (his) - littafinsa “his book” Third person singular feminine: -nta (her) - littafinta “her book” First person plural: -nmu (our) - littafinmu “our book” Second person plural: -nku (your) - littafinku “your book” Third person plural: -nsu (their) - littafinsu “their book”
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget that the possessive must agree with the gender of the possessed noun, not the possessor. Thus whether Ali owns a car or Fatima owns a car, both use motarsa (his car) or motarta (her car) - the -r- indicates the feminine gender of mota (car).
Another common error is forgetting the linking consonant. When the noun ends in a vowel, a linking -n- typically appears before the possessive suffix.
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Possession and ownership carry deep cultural significance in Hausa society. The phrases using possessive constructions often extend beyond literal ownership to express relationships, responsibilities, and social bonds.
Family and Social Relationships
The construction ɗansa (his son) and mahaifinsa (his father) appear constantly in Hausa discourse. Family relationships define social position, and possessive language reinforces these bonds. The phrase “dan Adam” (son of Adam, i.e., human being) uses the same possessive structure.
Idiomatic Expressions with Possessives
Many Hausa idioms use possessive constructions: -
hankalinsa ya tashi (his mind rose) = he became angry/proud -
zuciyarsa ta ɓaci (his heart spoiled) = he became upset -
kansa (his head) often means “himself” in reflexive constructions
Formal vs. Informal Usage
In formal Hausa, possessive constructions may be used with honorific titles. The third person possessive can also be used in polite reference, similar to the royal “his” in English historical usage.
Regional Variations
In Western Hausa dialects (Ghana, Niger border regions), the copula forms differ slightly, affecting how possessive predicates are constructed. The core possessive suffix system, however, remains consistent across dialects.
Proverbs Using Possessives
Hausa proverbs frequently employ possessive constructions: “Wanda ya ci zomo ya ci gudu” (Whoever catches his hare has caught his running - i.e., success requires effort). The possessive relationships in proverbs often carry metaphorical weight.
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The following excerpt comes from traditional Hausa proverbial literature, as recorded in R.S. Rattray’s Hausa Folk-Lore, Customs, Proverbs, etc. (1913), demonstrating authentic use of possessive constructions.
Wanda one-who ya he-COMP ci eat da with mahaifiyarsa mother-his-FEM ba not zai he-FUT kuka cry don for suɗi scrapings ba not وَندَ يَ چِ دَ مَهَیْفِیَرسَ بَ زَیْ کُوکَ دُن سُضِ بَ
Domin because ita she za will ta she-FUT ba give shi him دُومِن اِتَ زَ تَ بَ شِ
Wanda ya ci da mahaifiyarsa ba zai kuka don suɗi ba, domin ita za ta ba shi. وَندَ يَ چِ دَ مَهَیْفِیَرسَ بَ زَیْ کُوکَ دُن سُضِ بَ، دُومِن اِتَ زَ تَ بَ شِ۔
“He who eats with his mother will not have to cry for the scrapings, for she will give them to him as a matter of course.”
Wanda ya ci da mahaifiyarsa ba zai kuka don suɗi ba, domin ita za ta ba shi. وَندَ يَ چِ دَ مَهَیْفِیَرسَ بَ زَیْ کُوکَ دُن سُضِ بَ، دُومِن اِتَ زَ تَ بَ شِ۔
mahaifiyarsa - This word beautifully demonstrates feminine noun possession. The base word mahaifiya (mother) is feminine, so it takes the feminine possessive suffix -rsa rather than masculine -nsa. Compare with mahaifinsa (his father), where the masculine noun mahaifi takes -nsa.
suɗi - The scrapings at the bottom of the pot. In communal eating, these last bits are considered desirable.
ba...ba - The negative construction frames the verb, showing Hausa’s circumfix negation pattern.
za ta ba shi - Future tense with “give” (ba) and indirect object (shi = him). Note how the subject pronoun ita (she) is explicit for emphasis.
This proverb illustrates the nurturing relationship between mother and child, expressed through possessive language. The cultural insight is profound: a mother naturally provides for her child without the child needing to ask or compete.
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A conversation between two merchants, Alhaji Shehu and Malam Bello, discussing a mutual acquaintance and his business affairs. This dialogue demonstrates natural possessive usage in everyday Hausa speech.
28.16a Alhaji Alhaji Shehu Shehu ya he-COMP ce say ka you-COMP san know Audu Audu 28.16b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji شٜهُو (Shehu) Shehu يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say کَ (ka) you-COMP سَن (san) know اَوْدُو (Audu) Audu
28.17a Malam Malam Bello Bello ya he-COMP ce say i yes na I-COMP san know shi him gidansa house-his yana is kusa near da with nawa mine 28.17b مَلَم (Malam) Malam بٜلُّو (Bello) Bello يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say اِ (i) yes نَ (na) I-COMP سَن (san) know شِ (shi) him غِدَنسَ (gidansa) house-his يَنَ (yana) is کُوسَ (kusa) near دَ (da) with نَوَ (nawa) mine
28.18a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say kasuwarsa market-his-FEM ta it-FEM-COMP yi do kyau good sosai very 28.18b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say کَسُوَرسَ (kasuwarsa) market-his-FEM تَ (ta) it-FEM-COMP يِ (yi) do کیَوْ (kyau) good سُوسَیْ (sosai) very
28.19a Malam Malam ya he-COMP amsa answer gaskiya truth ne is-MASC aikinsa work-his yana is tafiya going da with kyau good 28.19b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP اَمسَ (amsa) answer غَسکِیَ (gaskiya) truth نٜ (ne) is-MASC اَیْکِنسَ (aikinsa) work-his يَنَ (yana) is تَفِیَ (tafiya) going دَ (da) with کیَوْ (kyau) good
28.20a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say yaya how iyalinsa family-his suke they-CONT 28.20b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say يَيَ (yaya) how اِیَلِنسَ (iyalinsa) family-his سُوکٜ (suke) they-CONT
28.21a Malam Malam ya he-COMP ce say matarsa wife-his-FEM tana she-CONT lafiya health amma but ɗansa son-his na POSS fari first yana is rashin lacking lafiya health 28.21b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say مَتَرسَ (matarsa) wife-his-FEM تَنَ (tana) she-CONT لَفِیَ (lafiya) health اَمَّ (amma) but ضَنسَ (ɗansa) son-his نَ (na) POSS فَرِ (fari) first يَنَ (yana) is رَشِن (rashin) lacking لَفِیَ (lafiya) health
28.22a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say Allah Allah ya may-He ba give shi him waraka healing 28.22b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say اَللّٰه (Allah) Allah يَ (ya) may-He بَ (ba) give شِ (shi) him وَرَکَ (waraka) healing
28.23a Malam Malam ya he-COMP ce say amin amen ya he-COMP kai take shi him wurin place-of likitansa doctor-his 28.23b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say آمِین (amin) amen يَ (ya) he-COMP کَیْ (kai) take شِ (shi) him وُرِن (wurin) place-of لِکِتَنسَ (likitansa) doctor-his
28.24a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say menene what likita doctor ya he-COMP fada tell masa to-him 28.24b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say مٜنٜنٜ (menene) what لِکِتَ (likita) doctor يَ (ya) he-COMP فَضَ (fada) tell مَسَ (masa) to-him
28.25a Malam Malam ya he-COMP ce say magani medicine ne is-MASC kawai only ɗansa son-his zai he-FUT sha drink maganinsa medicine-his har until ya he-SUBJ warke heal 28.25b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say مَغَنِ (magani) medicine نٜ (ne) is-MASC کَوَیْ (kawai) only ضَنسَ (ɗansa) son-his زَیْ (zai) he-FUT شَ (sha) drink مَغَنِنسَ (maganinsa) medicine-his هَر (har) until يَ (ya) he-SUBJ وَرکٜ (warke) heal
28.26a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say ina I-CONT fatan hoping komai everything zai it-FUT yi do kyau good 28.26b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say اِنَ (ina) I-CONT فَتَن (fatan) hoping کُومَیْ (komai) everything زَیْ (zai) it-FUT يِ (yi) do کیَوْ (kyau) good
28.27a Malam Malam ya he-COMP ce say nagode thank-you tabbatarsa certainty-his-FEM ita it-FEM ce is-FEM Audu Audu mutum person ne is-MASC mai one-with hankali wisdom 28.27b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say نَغُودٜ (nagode) thank-you تَبَّتَرسَ (tabbatarsa) certainty-his-FEM اِتَ (ita) it-FEM چٜ (ce) is-FEM اَوْدُو (Audu) Audu مُتُم (mutum) person نٜ (ne) is-MASC مَیْ (mai) one-with هَنکَلِ (hankali) wisdom
28.28a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say shin question ƙofar door-FEM shagonsa shop-his tana it-FEM-CONT buɗe open 28.28b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say شِن (shin) question قُوفَر (ƙofar) door-FEM شَغُنسَ (shagonsa) shop-his تَنَ (tana) it-FEM-CONT بُوضٜ (buɗe) open
28.29a Malam Malam ya he-COMP ce say e yes shagonsa shop-his yana it-CONT buɗe open kullum always da with safe morning 28.29b مَلَم (Malam) Malam يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say اٜ (e) yes شَغُنسَ (shagonsa) shop-his يَنَ (yana) it-CONT بُوضٜ (buɗe) open کُلُّم (kullum) always دَ (da) with سَفٜ (safe) morning
28.30a Alhaji Alhaji ya he-COMP ce say to well zan I-FUT je go wurinsa place-his gobe tomorrow in I-SUBJ yi do masa to-him magana speech game concerning da with kasuwancinsa trading-his 28.30b اَلحَجِ (Alhaji) Alhaji يَ (ya) he-COMP چٜ (ce) say تُو (to) well زَن (zan) I-FUT جٜ (je) go وُرِنسَ (wurinsa) place-his غُوبٜ (gobe) tomorrow اِن (in) I-SUBJ يِ (yi) do مَسَ (masa) to-him مَغَنَ (magana) speech غَمٜ (game) concerning دَ (da) with کَسُوَنچِنسَ (kasuwancinsa) trading-his
28.16 Alhaji Shehu ya ce, “Ka san Audu?” اَلحَجِ شٜهُو يَ چٜ، «کَ سَن اَوْدُو؟» Alhaji Shehu said, “Do you know Audu?”
28.17 Malam Bello ya ce, “I, na san shi. Gidansa yana kusa da nawa.” مَلَم بٜلُّو يَ چٜ، «اِ، نَ سَن شِ۔ غِدَنسَ يَنَ کُوسَ دَ نَوَ۔» Malam Bello said, “Yes, I know him. His house is near mine.”
28.18 Alhaji ya ce, “Kasuwarsa ta yi kyau sosai.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «کَسُوَرسَ تَ يِ کیَوْ سُوسَیْ۔» Alhaji said, “His business has done very well.”
28.19 Malam ya amsa, “Gaskiya ne, aikinsa yana tafiya da kyau.” مَلَم يَ اَمسَ، «غَسکِیَ نٜ، اَیْکِنسَ يَنَ تَفِیَ دَ کیَوْ۔» Malam answered, “It’s true, his work is going well.”
28.20 Alhaji ya ce, “Yaya iyalinsa suke?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «يَيَ اِیَلِنسَ سُوکٜ؟» Alhaji said, “How is his family?”
28.21 Malam ya ce, “Matarsa tana lafiya, amma ɗansa na fari yana rashin lafiya.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «مَتَرسَ تَنَ لَفِیَ، اَمَّ ضَنسَ نَ فَرِ يَنَ رَشِن لَفِیَ۔» Malam said, “His wife is healthy, but his firstborn son is unwell.”
28.22 Alhaji ya ce, “Allah ya ba shi waraka.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «اَللّٰه يَ بَ شِ وَرَکَ۔» Alhaji said, “May Allah give him healing.”
28.23 Malam ya ce, “Amin. Ya kai shi wurin likitansa.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «آمِین۔ يَ کَیْ شِ وُرِن لِکِتَنسَ۔» Malam said, “Amen. He took him to his doctor.”
28.24 Alhaji ya ce, “Menene likita ya fada masa?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «مٜنٜنٜ لِکِتَ يَ فَضَ مَسَ؟» Alhaji said, “What did the doctor tell him?”
28.25 Malam ya ce, “Magani ne kawai. Ɗansa zai sha maganinsa har ya warke.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «مَغَنِ نٜ کَوَیْ۔ ضَنسَ زَیْ شَ مَغَنِنسَ هَر يَ وَرکٜ۔» Malam said, “Just medicine. His son will take his medicine until he recovers.”
28.26 Alhaji ya ce, “Ina fatan komai zai yi kyau.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «اِنَ فَتَن کُومَیْ زَیْ يِ کیَوْ۔» Alhaji said, “I hope everything will be fine.”
28.27 Malam ya ce, “Nagode. Tabbatarsa ita ce, Audu mutum ne mai hankali.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «نَغُودٜ۔ تَبَّتَرسَ اِتَ چٜ، اَوْدُو مُتُم نٜ مَیْ هَنکَلِ۔» Malam said, “Thank you. His certainty is this: Audu is a wise person.”
28.28 Alhaji ya ce, “Shin, ƙofar shagonsa tana buɗe?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «شِن، قُوفَر شَغُنسَ تَنَ بُوضٜ؟» Alhaji said, “Is the door of his shop open?”
28.29 Malam ya ce, “E, shagonsa yana buɗe kullum da safe.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «اٜ، شَغُنسَ يَنَ بُوضٜ کُلُّم دَ سَفٜ۔» Malam said, “Yes, his shop is always open in the morning.”
28.30 Alhaji ya ce, “To, zan je wurinsa gobe in yi masa magana game da kasuwancinsa.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «تُو، زَن جٜ وُرِنسَ غُوبٜ اِن يِ مَسَ مَغَنَ غَمٜ دَ کَسُوَنچِنسَ۔» Alhaji said, “Well, I will go to his place tomorrow to speak with him about his trading.”
28.16 Alhaji Shehu ya ce, “Ka san Audu?” اَلحَجِ شٜهُو يَ چٜ، «کَ سَن اَوْدُو؟»
28.17 Malam Bello ya ce, “I, na san shi. Gidansa yana kusa da nawa.” مَلَم بٜلُّو يَ چٜ، «اِ، نَ سَن شِ۔ غِدَنسَ يَنَ کُوسَ دَ نَوَ۔»
28.18 Alhaji ya ce, “Kasuwarsa ta yi kyau sosai.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «کَسُوَرسَ تَ يِ کیَوْ سُوسَیْ۔»
28.19 Malam ya amsa, “Gaskiya ne, aikinsa yana tafiya da kyau.” مَلَم يَ اَمسَ، «غَسکِیَ نٜ، اَیْکِنسَ يَنَ تَفِیَ دَ کیَوْ۔»
28.20 Alhaji ya ce, “Yaya iyalinsa suke?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «يَيَ اِیَلِنسَ سُوکٜ؟»
28.21 Malam ya ce, “Matarsa tana lafiya, amma ɗansa na fari yana rashin lafiya.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «مَتَرسَ تَنَ لَفِیَ، اَمَّ ضَنسَ نَ فَرِ يَنَ رَشِن لَفِیَ۔»
28.22 Alhaji ya ce, “Allah ya ba shi waraka.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «اَللّٰه يَ بَ شِ وَرَکَ۔»
28.23 Malam ya ce, “Amin. Ya kai shi wurin likitansa.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «آمِین۔ يَ کَیْ شِ وُرِن لِکِتَنسَ۔»
28.24 Alhaji ya ce, “Menene likita ya fada masa?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «مٜنٜنٜ لِکِتَ يَ فَضَ مَسَ؟»
28.25 Malam ya ce, “Magani ne kawai. Ɗansa zai sha maganinsa har ya warke.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «مَغَنِ نٜ کَوَیْ۔ ضَنسَ زَیْ شَ مَغَنِنسَ هَر يَ وَرکٜ۔»
28.26 Alhaji ya ce, “Ina fatan komai zai yi kyau.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «اِنَ فَتَن کُومَیْ زَیْ يِ کیَوْ۔»
28.27 Malam ya ce, “Nagode. Tabbatarsa ita ce, Audu mutum ne mai hankali.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «نَغُودٜ۔ تَبَّتَرسَ اِتَ چٜ، اَوْدُو مُتُم نٜ مَیْ هَنکَلِ۔»
28.28 Alhaji ya ce, “Shin, ƙofar shagonsa tana buɗe?” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «شِن، قُوفَر شَغُنسَ تَنَ بُوضٜ؟»
28.29 Malam ya ce, “E, shagonsa yana buɗe kullum da safe.” مَلَم يَ چٜ، «اٜ، شَغُنسَ يَنَ بُوضٜ کُلُّم دَ سَفٜ۔»
28.30 Alhaji ya ce, “To, zan je wurinsa gobe in yi masa magana game da kasuwancinsa.” اَلحَجِ يَ چٜ، «تُو، زَن جٜ وُرِنسَ غُوبٜ اِن يِ مَسَ مَغَنَ غَمٜ دَ کَسُوَنچِنسَ۔»
Dialogue-Specific Possessive Usage
This dialogue demonstrates how possessives function naturally in conversation between Hausa speakers. Note the following patterns:
Family Possessives: -
iyalinsa (his family) - iyali (family) + nsa -
matarsa (his wife) - mata (wife, fem.) + rsa (feminine possessed) -
ɗansa (his son) - ɗa (son/child) + nsa
Business/Location Possessives: -
kasuwarsa (his market/business) - kasuwā (market, fem.) + rsa -
shagonsa (his shop) - shago (shop) + nsa -
wurinsa (his place) - wuri (place) + nsa -
kasuwancinsa (his trading) - kasuwancī (trading) + nsa
Professional Relationship: -
likitansa (his doctor) - likita (doctor) + nsa
Abstract Possessives: -
aikinsa (his work) - aiki (work) + nsa -
tabbatarsa (his certainty) - tabbatā (certainty, fem.) + rsa -
maganinsa (his medicine) - magani (medicine) + nsa
Gender Agreement in Action:
The dialogue clearly shows feminine noun agreement: -
kasuwarsa uses -rsa because kasuwā is feminine -
matarsa uses -rsa because mata is feminine -
tabbatarsa uses -rsa because tabbatā is feminine -
ƙofar shagonsa - ƙofa (door) is feminine, hence ƙofar (door of)
But masculine nouns use -nsa: -
gidansa (his house) - gida is masculine -
aikinsa (his work) - aiki is masculine -
shagonsa (his shop) - shago is masculine
Indirect Object Construction:
Note masa (to him) appearing several times. This is the indirect object pronoun form, distinct from the possessive suffix -sa. “Ya fada masa” = “He told to-him” (He told him).
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Key Sounds for This Lesson:
-sa /sá/ - High tone, as in English “saw” with ‘s’ sound
-nsa /nsá/ - The cluster ‘ns’ is pronounced smoothly as a single onset, similar to how English speakers might say “intense” quickly
nasa /násá/ - Both syllables carry high tone; ‘na’ as in English “nah,” ‘sa’ as above
Special Consonants:
ɗ - Implosive d, produced by creating a glottal closure while pronouncing ‘d’
ƙ - Ejective k, produced with a glottal stop simultaneous with ‘k’
ɓ - Implosive b, produced similarly to ɗ but with ‘b’
Tone Patterns:
In standard Boko orthography, tones are not marked. The possessive suffix -sa/-nsa typically carries high tone. Learners should listen to native speakers and audio resources to internalize tonal patterns.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006. This Hausa course follows our proven methodology of interlinear construed text, which allows learners to see exactly how each word in the target language corresponds to English meaning.
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This course uniquely presents Hausa in both its writing systems: Boko (Latin-based) and Ajami (Arabic-based). This serves multiple purposes: it honors Hausa’s rich literary heritage in both scripts, provides learners with access to the full range of Hausa texts (from modern newspapers to classical poetry), and reinforces vocabulary through dual visual encoding.
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✓ Lesson 28 Hausa complete
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