Barka da zuwa (welcome)
Learn Hausa
Hausa is one of the most widely spoken languages in West Africa. Start with a few words today and build from there, one small step at a time.
1. Start free
Free lessons with audio. No sign-up needed.
- US Foreign Service Institute and Peace Corps Hausa courses, free to download
2. Listen and read
Real Hausa, every day, at no cost.
- BBC News Hausa, news with audio and video
- Voice of America Hausa, news and radio
3. Learn words and sounds
Hear it, then say it.
- Forvo, native speakers pronouncing Hausa words
- Omniglot, the alphabet, phrases, and numbers
- More free ways to practice
Try your first words
Say them out loud. Even a small effort is warmly received.
Sannu
Hello
Barka da zuwa
Welcome
Na gode
Thank you
Don Allah
Please
Sai an jima
See you later
Did you know?
Hausa has long been a language of trade across West Africa, so a few words can take you a long way, from Nigeria to Niger and beyond.
At the pharmacy counter or in the lab
- Greet first with Sannu or Ina kwana (good morning), then ask Yaya jiki? (how are you feeling?).
- Ask how a name is pronounced, and listen to it on Forvo.
- Use a qualified medical interpreter for counseling, consent, and medication instructions. More for pharmacists and scientists
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