Looking for practical Hausa to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Hausa phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Kanuri.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kanuri-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Hausa to Kanuri translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Sannu
Sannu
Na gode
Nagode
Ina kwana
Ina kwana
Ina wuni
Ina yamma
Ina yini
Ina dare
Sai da safe
Sai da safe
Sai anjima
Zan ganka
Sai anjima
Sai anjima
Menene sunanka?
Menene sunanka?
Sunana John
Sunana John
Lafiya lau?
Lafiya lau?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Shin kuna magana da Turanci?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ban fahimta ba.
Ba na fahimta.
Don Allah kuyi magana a hankali.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Za ku iya maimaita hakan?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ina gidan wanka?
Ina wanka?
Ta yaya zan kai ga tsakiyar birni?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Juya hagu.
Juya hagu.
Juya dama.
Juya dama.
Tafi kai tsaye.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Nawa ne kudin tafiya?
Nawa ne farashin?
Katin guda, don Allah.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Na bata.
Na ɓace.
Ina zan iya sayen katin SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
I
Eey(ee-y)
A'a
A'a(ah-ah)
Wataƙila
Wata(wah-tah)
Na yarda
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Ba na yarda
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Wannan yana da kyau
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Me kake tunani?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka mini?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Ina bukatar taimako
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba na ɗan lokaci
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Ina mai hakuri
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da ranar haihuwa
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Yi tafiya lafiya
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ina tashar jirgin kasa?
Nye boko na gari?(Ina tashar jirgin kasa?)
Ina tashar bas?
Nye boko na bas?(Ina tashar bas?)
Wanne dandalin ne?
Wane boko na?(Wanne dandalin ne?)
Wane lokaci zai tashi?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(Wane lokaci zai tashi?)
Shin wannan hanya ce mai kyau?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(Shin wannan hanya ce mai kyau?)
Yana kusa nan
Yana kusa da nan(Yana kusa nan)
Yana da nisa daga nan
Yana nesa da nan(Yana da nisa daga nan)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswira?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(Za ka iya nuna mini a taswira?)