Shopping

1. Nawa ne wannan?

   Na-wa ne wan-nan?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   The most basic expression for asking a price

   Grammar Note

   "Nawa" is the question word for quantity or price. "Nawa ne wannan?" is the most essential market phrase.

2. Tsada sosai

   Tsa-da so-sai

   Too expensive

   Usage

   Starting point for bargaining when the price is too high

3. Za ka/ki rage?

   Za ka/ki ra-ge?

   Can you reduce the price?

   Usage

   "Za ka" for male seller, "za ki" for female. Basic bargaining phrase

   Grammar Note

   Bargaining is a common custom in Hausa markets. "Za" marks future tense and also forms questions.

4. Zan ɗauka

   Zan ɗau-ka

   I'll take it

   Usage

   Used when deciding to buy an item

5. Kuna da girma daban?

   Ku-na da gir-ma da-ban?

   Do you have other sizes?

   Usage

   Used to ask for different sizes of clothing or sized items

6. Kallo kawai

   Kal-lo ka-wai

   Just looking

   Usage

   Used when browsing without intent to buy

7. Kuna karɓar kati?

   Ku-na kar-ɓar ka-ti?

   Do you accept cards?

   Usage

   Used to check if card payment is accepted

8. Yadin ankara

   Ya-din an-ka-ra

   Ankara fabric (traditional print fabric)

   Usage

   Colorful traditional West African print fabric, a popular Nigerian souvenir

   Grammar Note

   Despite the name, ankara fabric has no connection to Turkey's capital. Dutch-introduced batik prints were adopted as a West African cultural symbol.

9. Kayan fata

   Ka-yan fa-ta

   Leather goods (Kano is famous for leather)

   Usage

   Kano is one of Africa's oldest centers of the leather craft industry

   Grammar Note

   "kayan fata" means "leather goods": the linked form "kayan" of "kaya" (goods) followed by "fata" (leather / hide).

10. Wannan launi daban

    Wan-nan lau-ni da-ban

    The other color

    Usage

    Used to ask for the same item in a different color

11. Don Allah ba ni rasit

    Don Al-lah ba ni ra-sit

    Please give me a receipt

    Usage

    Used to request a receipt after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "rasit" is the Hausa word for a receipt

12. Ba na buƙatar rasit

    Ba na bu-ƙa-tar ra-sit

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt — the opposite of "Don Allah ba ni rasit" ("Please give me a receipt")

    Grammar Note

    "Buƙata" (to need) takes the linking suffix -r before a direct object, giving "buƙatar".

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