Rayuwar Iyali da Al'umma
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name and describe close and extended family members and state how they are related to you.
- Talk about household composition: who lives with whom, and how many people are in a household.
- Describe age using appropriate Hausa expressions for people at different life stages.
- Describe household roles and everyday responsibilities using simple, familiar verbs.
- Ask about and respond to questions concerning a family's or household's social expectations.
- Continue to ask for clarification, repetition, or confirmation when communication breaks down.
- Apply ne/ce identity clauses, independent pronouns, and subject-reference forms accurately with family and household vocabulary.
- Read and write a short description of your own family or household.
Communication Scenario
Following the neighborhood gathering in Chapter 1, your new neighbor Ibrahim invites you to his home to meet his family. As you sit with the household, people are introduced by their family relationship, ages come up naturally in conversation, and someone explains who is responsible for which household tasks. Later, you are asked about your own family and household in return. As in Chapter 1, this chapter introduces no new grammatical system. It expands your identity-clause and pronoun control from Volume I into the domain of family, household composition, age, and everyday responsibility.
- Every grammar point in this chapter continues to review and extend Volume I structures — no new aspect, tense, or clause type is introduced.
- New vocabulary in this chapter focuses on kinship terms, household composition, age expressions, and household responsibilities.
- Communication repair remains an active, expected part of every interaction in this volume.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter builds on the relationship vocabulary reviewed in Chapter 1 (zumunci, aboki/abokiya, maƙwabci) by adding kinship terms, household-composition language, age expressions, and household-responsibility vocabulary.
Iyali — Immediate and extended family
| Hausa | Gender/Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| iyaye | pl. | parents |
| uba / ubanni | m. / pl. | father / fathers |
| uwa / uwaye | f. / pl. | mother / mothers |
| ɗa / 'ya'ya | m. / pl. | son, child / children |
| 'yar / 'ya'ya mata | f. / pl. | daughter / daughters |
| ɗan'uwa / 'yan'uwa | m. / pl. | brother, sibling (m.) / siblings |
| 'yar'uwa / 'yan'uwa mata | f. / pl. | sister / sisters |
| kaka / kakanni | m./f. / pl. | grandparent (grandfather or grandmother) / grandparents |
| kawu / kawunni | m. / pl. | maternal uncle / maternal uncles |
| goggo / goggani | f. / pl. | paternal aunt / paternal aunts |
Kinship terms above are active vocabulary for this chapter. Learners are not expected to master the full extended Hausa kinship system; additional terms will recycle receptively in later chapters.
Iyalin gida — Household composition
| Hausa | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| gidan iyali | household, family home | compound noun |
| nawa ne a gidanku? | how many are you at home? | formulaic household-size question |
| muna zaune tare | we live together | reviews zama (Ch. 1) with plural completive subject |
| kaɗai | alone, only | adverb; ina zaune kaɗai = I live alone |
| babba / manya | elder, senior (person) / elders | m./f. same form; pl. manya |
| ƙarami / ƙanana | younger, small (person) / young ones | m./f. same form; pl. ƙanana |
Shekaru — Age
| Hausa | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| shekara / shekaru | year / years | sg. / pl.; used in age expressions |
| yana/tana da shekara ... | he/she is ... years old | formulaic age pattern with possession-type verb da |
| shekaru nawa? | how many years / how old? | question word nawa reviewed from Ch. 1 (Nawa ne...) |
| babba na iyali | the eldest in the family | lexical phrase; recognition |
Ayyukan gida — Household responsibilities
| Hausa | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| aiki / ayyuka | task, work / tasks | reviewed and expanded from general use |
| kula da | to take care of, look after | verb + preposition frame; ta kula da yara = she looks after the children |
| taimako | help, assistance | noun; bayar da taimako = to give help |
| rabon aiki | division of labor | compound noun; recognition |
| alhaki / alhakoki | responsibility / responsibilities | often Arabic-origin register; formal contexts |
| tsammani | expectation | noun; tsammanin iyali = family expectation |
Gyara sadarwa — Communication repair (recycled)
Continue to use the repair expressions from Chapter 1 (Ka/Ki maimaita, don Allah?; Ban gane ba.; Yaya ake faɗin ... a Hausa?) without additional instruction.
Pronunciation and Boko
Bita: apostrophe/glottal a cikin kalmomin iyali — Review: the apostrophe in family vocabulary
This chapter's kinship vocabulary makes heavy use of the glottal/apostrophe convention already taught in Volume I, as in ɗa, 'yar, ɗan'uwa, and 'yan'uwa. Continue to write the apostrophe exactly where it belongs; do not omit it or move it, since it marks a real distinction in the spoken word.
The word shekara (year) and its plural shekaru carry vowel-length distinctions that are not shown in ordinary Boko spelling. Practice the age pattern yana da shekara ... aloud with a listening model so that the rhythm of the phrase becomes natural, rather than reading it as isolated written words.
Bita: haruffan Boko na musamman — Review: special Boko characters
Continue to write ɓ, ɗ, ƙ, and 'y exactly as taught in Volume I. This chapter's vocabulary includes several words built on ɗ and 'y (ɗa, 'yar, ɗan'uwa, 'yan'uwa); take particular care not to substitute the plain letters d or y for these forms.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
As in Chapter 1, this chapter introduces no new grammatical system. It continues to expand your control of Volume I's identity clauses (ne/ce), independent pronouns, subject-reference patterns, and basic negation, now applied to family, household, age, and responsibility vocabulary.
2.1 Review and expansion: identity clauses with kinship terms
Identity clauses with ne/ce work the same way with kinship vocabulary as they did with the relationship vocabulary in Chapter 1. Agreement continues to depend on the gender and number of the subject, not on the person being described.
- Shi ɗan'uwana ne.He is my brother.
- Ita 'yar'uwata ce.She is my sister.
- Su kakannina ne.They are my grandparents.
2.2 The age pattern: yana/tana da shekara ...
Hausa expresses age using the possession-type verb da ("with, having") together with a subject-reference form, rather than a verb meaning "to be." This pattern was introduced formulaically in Volume I for simple ages; this chapter expands it across the family domain. Treat the whole pattern as a fixed frame rather than analyzing da as a separate new grammar point.
- Ɗana yana da shekara goma.My son is ten years old.
- Kakata tana da shekara saba'in.My grandmother is seventy years old.
- 'Yan'uwana suna da shekaru daban-daban.My siblings are different ages. (literally: have different years)
The subject-reference forms in these examples (yana, tana, suna) were already active in Volume I for describing ongoing states. No new subject-marker paradigm is introduced here.
2.3 Review: independent pronouns and subject reference with household statements
Continue to apply the independent pronoun and completive subject-marker table from Chapter 1 as you describe who lives in a household and who is responsible for which task.
- Mun zauna tare da kakannina.We live together with my grandparents.
- Uwata ce ke kula da 'yan'uwana ƙanana.It is my mother who looks after my younger siblings.
- (Note: the focus structure ...ce ke... above is a recognition-only formulaic pattern for this chapter; do not attempt to produce it freely, since focus constructions are not scheduled until later in this volume.)
2.4 Review: basic negation with household statements
- Ba mu zaune tare da kakannina ba.We don't live together with my grandparents.
- Ba babba na iyali ba ne, ƙarami ne.He is not the eldest in the family, he is the youngest.
Atisayen A — Zaɓi daidai (Choose correctly): Complete each sentence with the correct pronoun, subject marker, or ne/ce form.
- Ita kakata ___. (She is my grandmother.)
- Ɗana ___ da shekara bakwai. (My son is seven years old.)
- Mu ___ zaune tare da iyayenmu. (We live together with our parents.)
- Ba ɗan'uwana ___. (He is not my brother.)
Model Dialogue
Yanayin hali: Kuna ziyarar gidan Ibrahim. Ya gabatar da ku ga danginsa, kuma kuna tattaunawa game da iyali da ayyukan gida.
(Setting: You are visiting Ibrahim's home. He introduces you to his family, and you talk about family and household tasks.)
Vocabulary notes for the dialogue: gari here contrasts with birni (city) to mean a smaller town, distinct from its use in Chapter 1 as a general word for town/city; tsaftacewa = to clean (recognition here, active vocabulary later); na girki = does the cooking (formulaic occupation-type frame, recognition).
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- How many people are in Ibrahim's household, and who are they?
- Where do Ibrahim's grandparents live?
- Why does Bala ask Ibrahim to repeat himself, and what was the misunderstanding?
- How old is Ibrahim's sister, and what does Ibrahim say about her position in the family?
- How is household work divided in Ibrahim's family?
Listening
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud, twice. Complete the listening task after the passage.
Sauraro — Gidan Hauwa (Hauwa's Household)
"Sunana Hauwa. A gidanmu, mu mutum huɗu ne: ni, ubana, uwata, da ɗan'uwana ɗaya kaɗai. Ban da kaka, wanda yake zaune tare da mu tun shekara biyu. Kaka yana da shekara tamanin, kuma yana da lafiya sosai. Ni na kula da kaka da safe, uwata na girki, kuma ubana da ɗan'uwana suna kula da harkokin gida na waje."
Kula na sauraro — Questions: (1) How many people are in Hauwa's household, and who are they? (2) How long has Hauwa's grandfather lived with the family? (3) How old is Hauwa's grandfather? (4) Who takes care of the grandfather in the morning?
Rubutun sauraro don malami, abokin karatu, ko amfani da rubutun lantarki. Duba amsoshi a sashi na amsoshi.
(Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.)
Reading
Read the short family profile below. Underline every identity clause (ne/ce) and circle every kinship word.
Bayanin Iyali — Gidan Malam Sani (Family Profile: Malam Sani's Household)
Malam Sani babba ne na iyalinsa. Yana da shekara sittin, kuma yana zaune tare da matarsa, 'ya'yansa uku, da kakarsa. Ɗansa babba, Yusuf, yana da shekara ashirin, kuma yana taimaka wa mahaifinsa da harkokin kuɗi. 'Yarsa mafi ƙaranci, Zara, tana da shekara takwas kaɗai, kuma kowa a gidan yana kula da ita da kyau. Iyalin suna raba ayyukan gida daidai gwargwado, kuma babu wanda ke aiki shi kaɗai.
New words for recognition: matarsa = his wife; mafi ƙaranci = the youngest; daidai gwargwado = equally, fairly.
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- How old is Malam Sani, and who lives with him?
- What does Yusuf help his father with, and how old is Yusuf?
- How old is Zara, and how does the family treat her?
- How does the passage describe the family's approach to household tasks?
Writing Workshop
- Karanta bayanin iyali da hankali. Reread the Malam Sani family profile and notice how it introduces household size, states ages, and describes the division of responsibilities.
- Tsarawa. Plan a short paragraph describing your own family or household: who is in it, at least one age, at least one household responsibility, and how tasks are divided.
- Rubuta. Write 60–90 words in Hausa. Include at least two identity clauses (ne/ce), one age expression using yana/tana da shekara, one household-responsibility expression, and one negation.
- Duba jerin bincike. Check your draft against the checklist below.
- Rubuta siffa ta ƙarshe. Produce a clean final version.
Jerin binciken gyara — Editing checklist:
- Ne and ce are used correctly according to gender/number of the subject.
- At least one age expression uses the yana/tana da shekara ... pattern accurately.
- At least one household-responsibility word or phrase from this chapter's vocabulary appears.
- Negation with ba ... ba is correctly formed if used.
- Hooked letters (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ) and 'y/apostrophe forms are used correctly, especially in kinship words.
- No grammar beyond Volume I appears (no future za, no habitual -kan-, no productive focus construction).
Speaking Practice
Atisayen ƙa'ida — Family-description drill
With a partner, take turns describing an imaginary family using at least three kinship terms and one age expression each.
Rabon ayyuka — Household-roles interview
Interview a partner about who is responsible for which household task in their family (real or imagined), using wa ke kula da ...? and related vocabulary. Include at least one moment of asking for repetition.
Madadin karatu kai tsaye — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your own family or household: household size, at least two relationships, one age, and how responsibilities are divided.
Culture and Communication
Households in many Hausa-speaking communities often include extended family members such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, or cousins living together, and elders are commonly shown particular respect in speech and household decision-making. This pattern varies considerably by family, region, income level, and generation, and should not be treated as universal or as the only legitimate family structure.
Some kinship terms, such as those distinguishing maternal from paternal relatives, may be used with different frequency or with additional distinctions in some Hausa-speaking communities compared to others. This course presents the terms most useful for general communication in Kano-based standard usage; a fuller kinship system can be studied later as a specialized topic.
Common Mistakes
Error: *Ɗana shekara goma ne. (treating age like an identity clause with ne)
Correction: Ɗana yana da shekara goma. — Hausa expresses age with yana/tana da + number, not with ne/ce. Keep the two patterns separate.
Error: *yan'uwa or *yar'uwa written without the leading apostrophe.
Correction: 'yan'uwa, 'yar'uwa — the apostrophe marks a real sound distinction and must be included in every position where it belongs, not only in the middle of the word.
Chapter Review
Sashi na A — Kalmomi (Vocabulary)
1. Give the Hausa for: father, mother, brother, sister, grandparent, and youngest child.
Sashi na B — Nahawu (Grammar)
1. Write a sentence stating that your grandmother is seventy-five years old, using the correct age pattern.
2. Complete each identity statement with the correct ne/ce form: (a) Shi ___ (referring to your brother); (b) Ita ___ (referring to your sister); (c) Su ___ (referring to your parents).
3. Negate the sentence Muna zaune tare da kakanninmu.
Sashi na C — Karatu da Rubutu
1. Reread the Malam Sani family profile and summarize it in two English sentences.
2. Write your 60–90-word family or household description, following the Writing Workshop instructions.
Sashi na D — Magana
1. With a partner or instructor, perform the family-description drill and household-roles interview from the Speaking Practice section.
Practical Performance Task
Aikin Aiwatarwa
Ziyarar Iyali — Visiting a Family
Complete all four components:
- Listening: Listen to the Hauwa household passage read aloud and answer the comprehension questions.
- Speaking: With a partner, perform an unrehearsed short exchange in which you are introduced to a household and ask about family members, ages, and household responsibilities, including one instance of asking for repetition.
- Reading: Read the Malam Sani family profile and answer the comprehension questions.
- Writing: Submit your 60–90-word family or household description.
Evaluation criteria: correct ne/ce agreement; correct use of the yana/tana da shekara age pattern; accurate use of at least two kinship or household-responsibility words; natural use of at least one communication-repair expression; accurate ordinary Boko spelling and special characters, including apostrophe placement in kinship terms. Consistent with A2 expectations, comprehensible and task-fulfilling communication should not be penalized as though produced by an advanced speaker.
Answer Key / Amsoshi
Atisayen A (Grammar synthesis, Section 2.3)
- Ita kakata ce.
- Ɗana yana da shekara bakwai.
- Mu muna zaune tare da iyayenmu.
- Ba ɗan'uwana ba ne.
Tambayoyin fahimta na tattaunawa (Dialogue comprehension)
- Ibrahim's household has five people: his two parents, himself, Musa (his brother), and his younger sister.
- Ibrahim's grandparents live in a town (gari), not with the household.
- Bala asks Ibrahim to repeat because he didn't catch the name of the town; Ibrahim clarifies that he had not actually said a town name, only that his grandparents live in a town rather than the city.
- Ibrahim's sister is twelve years old; he says she is the youngest at home, so everyone helps her.
- The mother cooks, Ibrahim and Musa clean, and the parents handle money and household responsibilities.
Kula na sauraro (Listening responses)
(1) Hauwa's household has four people: Hauwa, her father, her mother, and her one brother, plus her grandfather. (2) Her grandfather has lived with them for two years. (3) Her grandfather is eighty years old. (4) Hauwa takes care of her grandfather in the morning.
Tambayoyin karatu (Reading comprehension)
- Malam Sani is sixty years old and lives with his wife, his three children, and his grandmother.
- Yusuf, who is twenty years old, helps his father with financial matters.
- Zara is eight years old, and everyone in the household takes good care of her.
- The family divides household tasks fairly, and no one works alone.
Sashi na B (Chapter Review grammar)
- Kakata tana da shekara saba'in da biyar.
- (a) Shi ɗan'uwana ne. (b) Ita 'yar'uwata ce. (c) Su iyayena ne.
- Ba mu zaune tare da kakanninmu ba.
Sashi na C (Sample writing)
Iyalina mutum huɗu ne: ubana, uwata, ɗan'uwana, da ni. Ubana yana da shekara arba'in da biyar, kuma shi ne babba na iyali. Ba mu zaune tare da kakanninmu ba; suna zaune a wani gari. Uwata na kula da harkokin gida da safe, kuma dukanmu muna taimaka mata da yamma.
Other accurate, well-formed paragraphs meeting the stated requirements are equally acceptable.
Looking Ahead
Abin da ka/ki koya — What you have learned
You have expanded Volume I's identity clauses, independent pronouns, and subject-reference patterns into the domain of family, household composition, age, and household responsibility, while continuing to practice communication repair.