Numbers

1. ɗaya

   ɗa-ya

   One

   Usage

   Basic numeral one

   Grammar Note

   "ɗ" is Hausa's implosive d. Numbers typically follow the noun they modify (e.g., guda ɗaya = one piece).

2. biyu

   bi-yu

   Two

   Usage

   Basic numeral two

3. uku

   u-ku

   Three

   Usage

   Basic numeral three

4. huɗu

   hu-ɗu

   Four

   Usage

   Basic numeral four

5. biyar

   bi-yar

   Five

   Usage

   Basic numeral five

6. shida

   shi-da

   Six

   Usage

   Basic numeral six

7. bakwai

   ba-kwai

   Seven

   Usage

   Basic numeral seven

8. takwas

   ta-kwas

   Eight

   Usage

   Basic numeral eight

9. tara

   ta-ra

   Nine

   Usage

   Basic numeral nine

10. goma

    go-ma

    Ten

    Usage

    Basic numeral ten

    Grammar Note

    Hausa numerals are decimal. Eleven is "goma sha ɗaya" (ten and one). Twenty has its own word "ashirin."

11. ɗari

    ɗa-ri

    One hundred

    Usage

    The numeral for one hundred

12. dubu

    du-bu

    One thousand

    Usage

    The numeral for one thousand

    Grammar Note

    Used as "dubu ɗaya" (one thousand), "dubu biyu" (two thousand). This is native Hausa, not the Arabic "alf."

13. Nawa ne?

    Na-wa ne?

    How much?

    Usage

    The most basic question for price or quantity

14. rabin

    ra-bin

    Half

    Usage

    Expression for half

15. da yawa

    da ya-wa

    Many / A lot

    Usage

    Expression for many or a large amount

16. kaɗan

    ka-ɗan

    A few / A little

    Usage

    Expression for a small amount or few

    Grammar Note

    "Kaɗan" is versatile as both adjective and adverb. "Yi kaɗan" can mean "do a little" as well as describing small quantity.

17. Ina da shekaru ashirin da bakwai

    I-na da she-ka-ru a-shi-rin da ba-kwai

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age — the answer to "Shekarunka nawa?" ("How old are you?")

    Grammar Note

    Hausa states age with the "I have N years" pattern. Compound numerals are formed with tens + da + units, so ashirin da bakwai is twenty-seven.

18. A bana zan cika shekaru ashirin da takwas

    A ba-na zan ci-ka she-ka-ru a-shi-rin da ta-kwas

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying the age you will reach this year; "a bana" means "this year"

    Grammar Note

    Reaching an age is expressed with "cika shekaru N" ("to complete N years"). "Zan" is the first-person singular future,, as in "zan cika shekaru 90" ("I will turn 90").

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