Looking for practical Kanuri to Hausa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Hausa translation (Hausa) — 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 Hausa.
Tip: pick five Hausa phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Hausa 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
Nagode
Na gode
Ina kwana
Ina kwana
Ina yamma
Ina wuni
Ina dare
Ina yini
Sai da safe
Sai da safe
Zan ganka
Sai anjima
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.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Shin kuna magana da Turanci?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ba na fahimta.
Ban fahimta ba.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Don Allah kuyi magana a hankali.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Za ku iya maimaita hakan?
Ina wanka?
Ina gidan wanka?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Ta yaya zan kai ga tsakiyar birni?
Juya hagu.
Juya hagu.
Juya dama.
Juya dama.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Tafi kai tsaye.
Nawa ne farashin?
Nawa ne kudin tafiya?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Katin guda, don Allah.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Na ɓace.
Na bata.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen katin SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
I(ee)
A'a
A'a(ah-ah)
Wata
Wataƙila(wah-tah-kee-lah)
Na amu
Na yarda(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Ba na yarda(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Wannan yana da kyau(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Me kake tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Za ka iya taimaka mini?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Ina bukatar taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Duba na ɗan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Ina mai 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 haihuwa
Barka da ranar haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
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.
Nye boko na gari?
Ina tashar jirgin kasa?(Ina tashar jirgin kasa?)
Nye boko na bas?
Ina tashar bas?(Ina tashar bas?)
Wane boko na?
Wanne dandalin ne?(Wanne dandalin ne?)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Wane lokaci zai tashi?(Wane lokaci zai tashi?)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Shin wannan hanya ce mai kyau?(Shin wannan hanya ce mai kyau?)
Yana kusa da nan
Yana kusa nan(Yana kusa nan)
Yana nesa da nan
Yana da nisa daga nan(Yana da nisa daga nan)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswira?(Za ka iya nuna mini a taswira?)