Hausa Translator & Phrasebook
Search 131 app-local starter records and check gender, hooked-letter, script, and regional boundaries before use. Cloud translation is optional.
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Coverage and orthography boundary
131 app-local starter records; product boundaries checked 26 July 2026. Every record has English, Hausa, pronunciation-guide, and category fields. Duplicate “no problem” rows were separated by meaning. This is an unreviewed learning draft, not exhaustive vocabulary or human-quality translation.
The inventory uses Latin-script Boko Hausa and preserves core hooked-letter forms such as kuɗi, buƙata, kaɗan, and gyaɗa. It does not provide Ajami transliteration, tone or vowel-length annotation, or complete Nigerian, Nigerien, Ghanaian, Cameroonian, or Chadian variation.
Writing reference: UCLA Hausa writing guide. This is a reference boundary, not entry-level verification or qualified-speaker sign-off.
Hausa address and writing guide
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Quick Quiz
Learn Hausa — West Africa's Lingua Franca
Hausa is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, with over 80 million speakers across West and Central Africa. It is the dominant language of Northern Nigeria and southern Niger, and serves as a trade language across the Sahel region. Hausa is spoken in significant communities in Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, Benin, and Togo, making it one of the continent's most important lingua francas.
Hausa Writing Systems
Hausa has been written in two scripts: the Latin-based "Boko" alphabet (standard in Nigeria and Niger) and the Arabic-based "Ajami" script (still used in Islamic scholarship and traditional contexts). The Boko alphabet includes special characters like hooked letters (b, d, k) that represent implosive consonants unique to Hausa. Understanding these sounds is key to proper pronunciation.
Tonal System
Like Yoruba, Hausa is a tonal language with two basic tones (high and low) plus a falling tone. Tones distinguish meaning between otherwise identical words. For example, "daga" with different tones can mean "from" or "a stirring stick." In the Boko writing system, tones are typically not marked, which can challenge learners but native speakers rely on context.
Cultural Importance
Hausa culture is rich and deeply connected to its language. Hausa oral literature includes a vast collection of proverbs (karin magana), riddles (kacici-kacici), and stories. The Hausa film industry (Kannywood), based in Kano, is one of Africa's largest, producing a large volume of Hausa-language films each year in the Hausa language. BBC Hausa, VOA Hausa, and other media services broadcast to millions across West Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hausa spoken?
Hausa is primarily spoken in Northern Nigeria and southern Niger, where it serves as a first language. As a trade language, it is widely understood across West Africa including Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Togo, and parts of Sudan. With over 80 million speakers (50+ million native), it is Africa's most spoken language in the Chadic family.
Is Hausa related to Arabic?
No, Hausa is an Afro-Asiatic language in the Chadic branch, not a Semitic language like Arabic. However, due to centuries of Islamic influence, Hausa has borrowed many words from Arabic (especially religious and scholarly terms). Hausa was also historically written in an Arabic-based script called Ajami, which is still used in some contexts.
What is Kannywood?
Kannywood is the Hausa-language film industry based in Kano, Nigeria. Named after Kano (similar to Bollywood/Hollywood), it produces a large volume of Hausa-language films each year and is one of Africa's largest film industries. Kannywood films blend Hausa culture, music, and storytelling, reaching audiences across West Africa.