Directions

1. Ina otal?

   I-na o-tal?

   Where is the hotel?

   Usage

   Asking where the hotel is located

   Grammar Note

   "Ina" is the Hausa question word for "where". It differs from "yana/tana" which indicate location or existence.

2. Ka ci gaba kai tsaye

   Ka ci ga-ba kai tsa-ye

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Directing a male to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   Hausa verbs mark the gender of the subject. "Ka" = male 2nd person, "ki" = female. Imperatives also differ by gender.

3. Juya hagu a gaban kasuwa

   Ju-ya ha-gu a ga-ban ka-su-wa

   Turn left in front of the market

   Usage

   Giving directions to turn left using a market as a landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Hagu" (left) and "dama" (right) are Hausa's basic direction words. "Gaba" means both "front" and "forward/future".

4. Yaushe zan isa?

   Yau-she zan i-sa?

   When will I arrive?

   Usage

   Asking when you will arrive at your destination

   Grammar Note

   "Zan" is Hausa's future marker for first-person singular. Hausa uses aspect-based verb complexes combining tense, aspect, and person.

5. Nuna mini akan taswira

   Nu-na mi-ni a-kan tas-wi-ra

   Please show me on the map

   Usage

   Asking someone to point out a location on a map

   Grammar Note

   "Mini" is the dative "to me" = "ma" (to) + "ni" (me). "Taswira" derives from Arabic "taṣwīra" (picture/image).

6. Nisa ne ko kusa ne?

   Ni-sa ne ko ku-sa ne?

   Is it far or near?

   Usage

   Asking whether a destination is far away or nearby

   Grammar Note

   "Ne" is the Hausa copula ("is"). It follows adjectives: "nisa ne" (it is far), "kusa ne" (it is near).

7. Ina wurin jira bas?

   I-na wu-rin ji-ra bas?

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a bus stop or transit hub

   Grammar Note

   "Wuri" (place) is extremely versatile in Hausa. "Wurin jira" = "place of waiting" = bus/transport stop.

8. Na ɓace

   Na ɓa-ce

   I am lost

   Usage

   Telling someone you are lost

   Grammar Note

   "ɓ" is Hausa's implosive bilabial stop, a unique sound. "ɓace" (to disappear/get lost) uses this distinctive Hausa consonant.

9. Tafi kai tsaye zuwa kasuwar tsakiyar gari

   Ta-fi kai tsa-ye zu-wa ka-su-war tsa-ki-yar ga-ri

   Go straight to the market in the city center

   Usage

   Directing someone straight to the central market in town

   Grammar Note

   "Zuwa" is Hausa's directional preposition (to/toward). "Tsakiyar gari" = "center of town" = town center.

10. Zan iya hawa mota zuwa can?

    Zan i-ya ha-wa mo-ta zu-wa can?

    Can I take a car to get there?

    Usage

    Asking whether you can reach a destination by car or vehicle

    Grammar Note

    "Hawa" means "to climb/board" a vehicle. "Mota" (car/vehicle) is borrowed from English "motor".

11. Dama

    Right

    Usage

    Turn direction; one word stays readable inside a moving car

12. Hagu

    Left

    Usage

    The word for the left-turn direction

13. Kai tsaye

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    For telling a driver to keep going straight

14. Koma baya

    Go back

    Usage

    For asking a driver to turn back after overshooting

15. Tsaya

    Stop

    Usage

    For asking a driver to stop, including to let you out

16. Arewa

    North

    Usage

    For matching a compass direction against a map

17. Kudu

    South

    Usage

    For matching a compass direction against a map

18. Gabas

    East

    Usage

    For matching a compass direction against a map

19. Yamma

    West

    Usage

    Also means evening, so show it together with a map

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