Hotel

1. Ina so in yi ajiyar ɗaki

   I-na so in yi a-ji-yar ɗa-ki

   I would like to book a room

   Usage

   Basic phrase for checking into a hotel or guesthouse

   Grammar Note

   "In yi" is the subjunctive, and "Ina so in…" (I want to…) is a key pattern. A booking takes ajiya ("reservation") as its object, the same construction as in "Na yi ajiyar wuri".

2. Ɗaki ɗaya ko biyu?

   Ɗa-ki ɗa-ya ko bi-yu?

   One room or two rooms?

   Usage

   Used at the front desk to confirm the number of rooms

   Grammar Note

   Hausa numerals follow the noun: "ɗaki ɗaya" (one room), "ɗaki biyu" (two rooms). Numbers are postposed in Hausa.

3. Dare nawa zan kwana?

   Da-re na-wa zan kwa-na?

   How many nights will I stay?

   Usage

   Used when checking in to confirm the length of stay

   Grammar Note

   "Kwana" (to spend the night) shares its root with the morning greeting "Ina kwana?" "Zan" marks the future tense.

4. Ɗakin yana da wurin wanka?

   Ɗa-kin ya-na da wu-rin wan-ka?

   Does the room have a shower?

   Usage

   Used to check room amenities

   Grammar Note

   A shower or bathroom is wurin wanka (wanka = bathing/washing, wuri = place). "Ruwan sama" means "water of the sky", i.e. rain, so it is not used for a shower.

5. Akwai wutar lantarki?

   Ak-wai wu-tar lan-tar-ki?

   Is there electricity?

   Usage

   An important question in regions with frequent power outages

   Grammar Note

   "Wutar lantarki" = fire of electricity; wuta is fire and lantarki is borrowed from English "electric". Existence is asked with akwai (Akwai lif?, Akwai shago a nan kusa?).

6. Ina son ɗakin mai sanyi

   I-na son ɗa-kin mai san-yi

   I would like a room with air conditioning

   Usage

   Important comfort check in tropical climates

   Grammar Note

   "Mai sanyi" (having coolness) refers to air conditioning. "Mai" + noun creates adjective phrases meaning "having/with" — a key Hausa pattern.

7. Makullin ɗaki ya ɓace

   Ma-kul-lin ɗa-ki ya ɓa-ce

   I have lost the room key

   Usage

   Used to report a lost key to the front desk

   Grammar Note

   "Ɓace" means to disappear/get lost. "Ɓ" is an implosive b unique to Hausa. "Ya ɓace" is perfective: "it has been lost."

8. Ina so in biya

   I-na so in bi-ya

   I would like to pay

   Usage

   Used when checking out and settling the bill

   Grammar Note

   "Biya" means to pay. The currency context: Nigerian Naira (Najeriya) or CFA franc (Nijar). Payment is often negotiated verbally.

9. Abinci na safe yana nan?

   A-bin-ci na sa-fe ya-na nan?

   Is breakfast available here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether breakfast is included or available

   Grammar Note

   "Abinci na safe" = morning food. "Na" links the noun to its modifier (possessive/associative). Meal names follow the pattern "abinci na [time]."

10. Ina wurin wanka?

    I-na wu-rin wan-ka?

    Where is the bathroom (bathing place)?

    Usage

    "Wanka" means bathing. To ask where: "Ina wurin wanka?" (Where is the bathing place?)

    Grammar Note

    Hausa ina is both the question word "where" and the 1sg imperfective marker, so "Ina wanka" alone could also read as "I am bathing". Inserting the noun wuri (place) gives "Ina wurin wanka?", which clearly asks for a location.

11. Za ka iya jira ɗan lokaci?

    Za ka i-ya ji-ra ɗan lo-ka-ci?

    Can you wait a moment?

    Usage

    Used to ask staff to wait a moment

    Grammar Note

    "Za ka iya" = "can you...?" (to a man; to a woman, "Za ki iya"). "Iya" is the ability modal. "Ɗan lokaci" = "a little while".

12. Tawul

    Towel

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for a towel

13. Matashin kai

    Pillow

    Usage

    Lit. head rest; for asking for an extra pillow

14. Bargo

    Blanket

    Usage

    For asking for a blanket; harmattan mornings get cold

15. Sabulu

    Soap

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for soap

16. Buroshin haƙori

    Toothbrush

    Usage

    For asking for or buying a toothbrush

17. Takardar bayan gida

    Toilet paper

    Usage

    Often not provided — point to it to ask for some

18. Don Allah a tsaftace ɗaki

    Please clean the room

    Usage

    Don Allah softens the request the way please does

19. Ɗaki mai shiru

    A quiet room

    Usage

    For requesting a quieter room at check-in

20. Akwai hayaniya sosai

    It is very noisy

    Usage

    Show it as the reason for asking to change rooms

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