Greeting is a serious matter in Hausa life, tied to the value of kirki described in the chapter on Society. A greeting is a short exchange with set replies, and skipping it is considered rude. Many greetings ask about the night, the day, the work, the home and the family.
| Hausa | English | Usual reply or note |
|---|---|---|
| Ina kwana? | How did you sleep? (morning) | Lafiya lau. (Fine.) |
| Ina wuni? | How is your day? (afternoon) | Lafiya lau. |
| Sannu. | Hello; sorry for your effort | Yauwa, sannu. (Fine, hello.) |
| Sannu da zuwa. | Welcome | Yauwa. (Thank you.) |
| Sannu da aiki. | Well done with your work | Yauwa, sannu. |
| Barka da safe. | Good morning | Barka dai. (Same to you.) |
| Na gode. | Thank you | Ba komai. (It is nothing.) |
| Don Allah. | Please | |
| Sai an jima. | See you later | Sai an jima. |
Greetings change with the hour, the person’s work and their health. Sannu is a flexible word: it can greet someone, thank a person who is working, comfort someone who is sick or welcome a traveller who has arrived.
Sources for this article
- Bargery 1934, entries such as sannu, ina kwana and barka
- Jaggar 2001, general reference