Food & Drinks

1. Suya

   Su-ya

   Suya (spiced grilled meat on skewers)

   Usage

   Nigeria's most iconic street food, sold at evening stalls

   Grammar Note

   Suya originated in northern Nigeria and is central to Hausa culture. The spice mix "yaji" is its defining flavor. A symbol of evening street culture.

2. Jollof rice

   Jollof rice (West African one-pot rice dish)

   Usage

   Beloved rice dish across West Africa. Nigerian jollof is considered the most famous

   Grammar Note

   "Jollof" derives from the Wolof people of Senegal/Gambia. The "Jollof Wars" — Nigeria vs. Ghana over who makes it best — is a famous cultural debate.

3. Tuwo shinkafa

   Tu-wo shin-ka-fa

   Tuwo shinkafa (thick rice porridge)

   Usage

   Northern Nigerian staple, eaten with various soups

   Grammar Note

   "Tuwo" is the Hausa term for thick starchy staples. Varieties include "tuwo masara" (corn) and "tuwo dawa" (sorghum).

4. Miyan kuka

   Mi-yan ku-ka

   Miyan kuka (baobab leaf soup)

   Usage

   Traditional northern Nigerian soup, served with tuwo

   Grammar Note

   "Miyan" means soup or sauce in Hausa. Baobab (kuka), Africa's iconic tree, produces leaves rich in protein and vitamins.

5. Ɗan wake

   Ɗan wa-ke

   Dan wake (bean cake snack)

   Usage

   A popular Hausa street snack — fried bean cakes

   Grammar Note

   "Ɗan" (son of) also serves as a prefix meaning "small thing made from." "Ɗan wake" = "little thing from beans."

6. Zobo

   Zo-bo

   Zobo (hibiscus drink)

   Usage

   Red drink made from hibiscus flowers. Non-alcoholic, popular across West Africa

   Grammar Note

   Zobo is brewed from dried roselle hibiscus flowers, often spiced with ginger or cloves. It reflects the non-alcoholic beverage culture of Islamic northern Nigeria.

7. Kunu

   Ku-nu

   Kunu (millet or sorghum drink)

   Usage

   Traditional northern Nigerian grain beverage. Non-alcoholic

   Grammar Note

   Varieties include "kunun zaƙi" (sweet) and "kunun gyaɗa" (peanut). A nutritious drink suited to northern Nigeria's hot climate.

8. Masa

   Ma-sa

   Masa (rice cake)

   Usage

   Round rice cakes made from fermented rice batter. Eaten for breakfast or as a snack

   Grammar Note

   Masa is a Hausa breakfast staple cooked in round molds. It reflects the West African tradition of fermented grain foods, similar to Ethiopian injera.

9. Mai yaji ne?

   Mai ya-ji ne?

   Is it spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check if a dish is spicy before ordering

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" is a Hausa prefix meaning "having" or "owner of." "Yaji" is also the name of the essential spice blend used in suya.

10. Halal kawai

    Ha-lal ka-wai

    Halal only

    Usage

    Northern Nigeria is majority Muslim, so halal food is the norm

    Grammar Note

    "Halal" is an Arabic loanword. Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, where pork and alcohol are prohibited. An important phrase when dining out.

11. Da daɗi sosai

    Da da-ɗi so-sai

    Very delicious

    Usage

    A compliment used when food is delicious

    Grammar Note

    "ɗ" is an implosive consonant in Hausa — the larynx is lowered during production. "Daɗi" broadly covers deliciousness, pleasure, and enjoyment.

12. Naman alade

    Pork

    Usage

    For checking a religious restriction; rarely served in northern Nigeria

13. Naman shanu

    Beef

    Usage

    Point to it to check which meat is in a dish

14. Naman kaza

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point to it to check which meat is in a dish

15. Kifi

    Fish

    Usage

    Point to it to check whether a dish contains fish

16. Ƙwai

    Egg

    Usage

    For checking an egg allergy; the hooked ƙ is a separate sound

17. Madara

    Milk

    Usage

    Point to it to check for dairy

18. Gyaɗa

    Peanut

    Usage

    Very common in northern Nigerian cooking — essential for allergy checks

19. Alkama

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point to it when checking for wheat or gluten

20. Waken soya

    Soybean

    Usage

    Point to it to check for soy

21. Riɗi

    Sesame

    Usage

    Also called beniseed in Nigerian English

22. Shinkafa

    Rice

    Usage

    Covers both raw rice and cooked rice

23. Burodi

    Bread

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for bread

24. Taliya

    Pasta, noodles

    Usage

    Covers spaghetti-type pasta; instant noodles are usually called indomie

25. Miya

    Soup, stew

    Usage

    The general word for the stew served with a staple like tuwo

26. 'Ya'yan itace

    Fruit

    Usage

    The general word for fruit; useful at the market

27. Awara

    Awara (soy curd, tofu-like)

    Usage

    A soy curd sold in Nigeria — the closest local equivalent of tofu

28. Mai yaji

    Spicy

    Usage

    For checking spiciness; yaji is also the chili mix used on suya

29. Mai zaƙi

    Sweet

    Usage

    Point to it to check whether something is sweet

30. Ɗanye

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    For checking whether food is cooked; also used for unripe fruit

31. Kindirmo

    Fermented milk (yogurt-like)

    Usage

    Thick fermented milk; nono is also used but also means breast

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