Basic Nouns

1. Ruwa

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. Abinci

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. Kuɗi

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. Bandaki

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. Tishu

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. Magani

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom

7. Kaya

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. Maɓalli

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. Tikiti

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. Fasfo

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. Waya

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. Cajar

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. Tasha

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. Asibiti

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. 'Yan sanda

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. Shago

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. Ɗaki

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. Hanya

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. Iyali

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. Suna

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. Kai

    Head

    Usage

    Point to your own head to show where it hurts

22. Ido

    Eye

    Usage

    The word for eye, for reporting eye trouble

23. Haƙori

    Tooth

    Usage

    For a toothache. The hooked ƙ is a separate sound from plain k

24. Maƙogwaro

    Throat

    Usage

    The word for throat, for a sore throat

25. Ciki

    Stomach, belly

    Usage

    For a stomach ache. Note ciki also means pregnancy

26. Baya

    Back

    Usage

    For the back. It also means behind/after, so point at your body

27. Ƙafa

    Leg, foot

    Usage

    One word covers leg and foot — point to narrow it down

28. Hannu

    Hand, arm

    Usage

    One word covers hand and arm — point to narrow it down

29. Ƙirji

    Chest

    Usage

    The word for chest, for chest pain

30. Kunne

    Ear

    Usage

    The word for ear, for ear trouble

31. Wuya

    Neck

    Usage

    For the neck. It also means difficulty, so point at your body

32. Kafaɗa

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For the shoulder. The hooked ɗ is a separate sound from plain d

33. Gwiwa

    Knee

    Usage

    The word for knee

34. Yatsa

    Finger

    Usage

    The word for finger, for a hurt finger

35. Fata

    Skin

    Usage

    For skin problems. It also means hope, so point at your body

36. Hanci

    Nose

    Usage

    The word for nose

37. Otal

    Hotel

    Usage

    For telling a driver where you are going

38. Filin jirgin sama

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to it as a destination; literally field of the sky-boat

39. Tashar bas

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to it when looking for a bus stop

40. Ofishin jakadanci

    Embassy

    Usage

    For telling someone you need to reach your embassy

41. Wurin canjin kuɗi

    Money exchange

    Usage

    For asking where to change foreign currency into naira

42. Motar kashe gobara

    Fire engine

    Usage

    Point to this when you need a fire engine called out

43. Ƙaramin ofishin jakadanci

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go for passport or visa matters in a city with no embassy

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