Cooking & Markets

1. Ina kasuwar gida?

   I-na ka-su-war gi-da?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   "Ina ~?" is the Hausa expression for asking where something is

2. Menene sunan wannan kayan abinci?

   Me-ne-ne su-nan wan-nan ka-yan a-bin-ci?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "Menene" means "what is it?" Hausa is a tonal language

3. Shin wannan abinci yana da yaji sosai?

   Shin wan-nan a-bin-ci ya-na da ya-ji so-sai?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "Shin" marks a question and "sosai" means "very". The previous kari means "an addition, an increase" and carries no sense of heat, so the sentence asked whether the dish had a lot of additions. Chilli heat is yaji — the Food & Drinks category lists "Mai yaji" for spicy, and the Cooking & Markets category itself uses "kayan yaji" for spices.

4. Za ka iya ba da shawara akan darasin dafa abinci?

   Za ka i-ya ba da sha-wa-ra a-kan da-ra-sin da-fa a-bin-ci?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   Hausa verbs change form based on the gender and number of the subject

5. Ta yaya ake shirya wannan abinci?

   Ta ya-ya a-ke shir-ya wan-nan a-bin-ci?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Ta yaya" is the Hausa interrogative adverb meaning "how"

6. Ina zan iya siyan kayan lambu sababbi?

   I-na zan i-ya si-yan ka-yan lam-bu sa-bab-bi?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "Ina zan iya ~?" means "where can I ~?" in Hausa

7. Ina son koyon yadda ake dafa abincin gida.

   I-na son ko-yon yad-da a-ke da-fa a-bin-cin gi-da.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "Ina son ~" expresses desire in Hausa: "I want to ~"

8. Kuna da kayan abincin vegetarian?

   Ku-na da ka-yan a-bin-cin vegetarian?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "Kuna da ~?" is the Hausa possession question form

9. Wane irin kayan yaji ake amfani da su a wannan abinci?

   Wa-ne i-rin ka-yan ya-ji a-ke am-fa-ni da su a wan-nan a-bin-ci?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Wane irin" means "what kind of" in Hausa

10. Zan iya gwada samfuri?

    Zan i-ya gwa-da sam-fu-ri?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "Zan iya ~?" asks for ability or permission: "can I ~?"

11. Gishiri

    Salt

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for salt

12. Sukari

    Sugar

    Usage

    For asking for sugar, or for none

13. Man girki

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Use man girki: bare mai also means possessing/having

14. Man shanu

    Butter

    Usage

    Lit. cattle oil; use it to check for butter

15. Zuma

    Honey

    Usage

    Point to it when asking about honey

16. Tafarnuwa

    Garlic

    Usage

    Also useful for asking that garlic be left out

17. Albasa

    Onion

    Usage

    Also useful for asking that onion be left out

18. Barkono

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    The source of the heat; point to it to ask for none

19. Citta

    Ginger

    Usage

    The word for ginger, common in kunu and zobo drinks

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