Café & Drinks

1. Ina son shan ruwa mai tsabta

   I-na son shan ru-wa mai tsab-ta

   I want to drink clean water

   Usage

   Requesting safe, clean drinking water

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" is Hausa's adjectival prefix meaning "having the quality of" (e.g. "mai tsabta" = "having cleanliness" = clean).

2. Kunu yana da daɗi

   Ku-nu ya-na da da-ɗi

   The kunu (millet porridge drink) is delicious

   Usage

   Expressing enjoyment of kunu, a traditional Hausa millet-based drink

   Grammar Note

   "Ya" is the masculine 3sg marker. Tastiness is expressed with yana da daɗi ("has pleasantness/sweetness").

3. Ina zan iya sayen zobo?

   I-na zan i-ya sa-yen zo-bo?

   Where can I buy zobo?

   Usage

   Finding zobo, Nigeria's popular hibiscus flower drink — refreshing and widely available

   Grammar Note

   "Sayen" is the verbal noun genitive form of "saya" (to buy). Hausa verbal nouns change their final vowel when in genitive position.

4. Ina son shayi mai zafi

   I-na son sha-yi mai za-fi

   I like hot tea

   Usage

   Ordering hot tea — an important social drink in Hausa culture

   Grammar Note

   "Ina son" is the continuous form of "I like/love". The noun "shayi" (tea) is related to the verb "sha" (to drink).

5. Abin sha mai sanyi ya fi daɗi

   A-bin sha mai san-yi ya fi da-ɗi

   Cold drinks are more delicious

   Usage

   Expressing a preference for cold drinks in Nigeria's hot climate

   Grammar Note

   "Ya fi" forms comparatives in Hausa. "Daɗi" (sweetness/pleasure) is used for the deliciousness of food and drink.

6. Ina iya sayen giya a nan?

   I-na i-ya sa-yen gi-ya a nan?

   Can I buy beer here?

   Usage

   Asking if beer is available — note that alcohol may be restricted in predominantly Muslim areas

   Grammar Note

   "Ina iya" = continuous "ina" + ability "iya". Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim; alcohol may be restricted in many areas.

7. Fura da nono yana nan?

   Fura da nono ya-na nan?

   Is fura da nono (millet ball with yogurt) available?

   Usage

   Asking for fura da nono, a traditional Hausa/Fulani drink of millet balls blended with fermented milk

   Grammar Note

   "Da" is Hausa's "with". "Fura da nono" is a traditional northern Nigerian drink of spiced millet balls blended with fermented milk.

8. Ka ba ni gilas ɗaya ƙari

   Ka ba ni gi-las ɗa-ya ƙa-ri

   Please give me one more glass

   Usage

   Ordering another glass of a drink

   Grammar Note

   "ɗ" is Hausa's implosive alveolar stop. In "ɗaya" (one), it contrasts with "d" — a phonemically significant distinction.

9. Menu na abin sha ina yake?

   Menu na a-bin sha i-na ya-ke?

   Where is the drinks menu?

   Usage

   Requesting the drinks menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Abin sha" = abin (thing for) + sha (drink) = a beverage. To ask where something is, the question word ina comes first: "X ina yake?". The previous text put ina at the end and also split ya ke. the Emergency category ("Asibiti ina yake?") and the Airport & Customs category ("Ƙofa a ina take?") show the correct order.

10. Ba na son abin sha mai ƙarfi

    Ba na son a-bin sha mai ƙar-fi

    I do not like strong alcoholic drinks

    Usage

    Declining strong alcoholic drinks politely

    Grammar Note

    Hausa negates the continuous with "ba na" (I don't). Adding "ba na" before the verb negates the continuous aspect.

11. Ruwan kwalba

    Bottled water

    Usage

    For safe drinking water; sachet pure water is also widely sold

12. Ruwan zafi

    Hot water

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for hot water

13. Ƙanƙara

    Ice

    Usage

    The word for ice

14. Babu ƙanƙara

    No ice

    Usage

    For asking that no ice be added when you are unsure of the water

15. Shayi

    Tea

    Usage

    Usually means the sweet milky tea served locally

16. Kofi

    Coffee

    Usage

    Point to it when ordering coffee

Browse all TravelPhrases languages