Traveling with Kids

1. Yarana suna son wane abinci?

   Ya-ra-na su-na son wa-ne a-bin-ci?

   What food do my children like?

   Usage

   Asking about child-friendly food options at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Yara" (children) + "-na" (my, plural possessive) = "yarana" (my children). Hausa possessives are suffixed to nouns.

2. Akwai wurin wasa ga yara?

   A-kwai wu-rin wa-sa ga ya-ra?

   Is there a play area for children?

   Usage

   Looking for a children's play area at a venue

   Grammar Note

   "Ga" is Hausa's dative/benefactive preposition (for/to). "Wurin wasa" = "place of play" = playground.

3. Kyauta ne ga yara ƙasa da shekara biyar?

   Kyau-ta ne ga ya-ra ƙa-sa da she-ka-ra bi-yar?

   Is it free for children under five years?

   Usage

   Asking about free admission for young children at an attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Ƙasa da" means "less than / under". "Shekara" (year) + number = age expression (e.g. shekara biyar = five years old).

4. Ina son kujerar jariri

   I-na son ku-je-rar ja-ri-ri

   I need a baby chair

   Usage

   Requesting a highchair for a baby at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Kujerar jariri" = chair of the baby. The linking "-r" is added to "kujera" to form the genitive "kujerar".

5. Yaro ya ɓace

   Ya-ro ya ɓa-ce

   The boy is lost

   Usage

   Emergency phrase when a boy child gets lost

   Grammar Note

   "Yaro" (boy) pluralizes to "yara" (children). A girl is "yarinya" (plural: 'yan mata).

6. Yarana sun gaji

   Ya-ra-na sun ga-ji

   My children are tired

   Usage

   Telling someone that the children are tired and need rest

   Grammar Note

   "Sun" is the third-person plural completive marker (they have done). Contrast "ya" (he), "ta" (she), "sun" (they).

7. Ina zan iya sayen pampas na jariri?

   I-na zan i-ya sa-yen pam-pas na ja-ri-ri?

   Where can I buy baby diapers?

   Usage

   Finding baby diapers while traveling

   Grammar Note

   "Pampas" is a loanword from English (the brand name Pampers) for diapers; "na jariri" = "for a baby". Baby diapers (imported brands) are available at supermarkets in Lagos and Abuja.

8. Yarana suna tsoro

   Ya-ra-na su-na tso-ro

   My children are scared

   Usage

   Telling someone the children are frightened — useful at crowded places or in unfamiliar situations

   Grammar Note

   "Suna tsoro" = "suna" (continuous 3rd plural) + "tsoro" (fear). The continuous aspect in Hausa is used with verbal nouns and states.

9. Akwai likitan yara a nan?

   A-kwai li-ki-tan ya-ra a nan?

   Is there a pediatrician here?

   Usage

   Finding a pediatrician when a child falls ill while traveling

   Grammar Note

   "Likitan yara" = "likita" (doctor) in genitive form "likitan" + "yara" (children) = doctor of children = pediatrician.

10. Wannan abinci yana da yaji da yawa don yaro?

    Wan-nan a-bin-ci ya-na da ya-ji da ya-wa don ya-ro?

    Is this food too spicy for a child?

    Usage

    Checking whether spicy food is appropriate for a young child

    Grammar Note

    "Don" is the preposition "for". Chilli heat is yaji, and "yana da yaji da yawa" ("has a lot of yaji") means "too spicy".

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