Hausa Work, Jobs and Business Vocabulary
Learn how to talk about occupations, workplaces and daily work in Hausa, with common job titles, useful sentences and tips for introducing yourself.
"What do you do?" is one of the first questions people ask. These words let you answer and understand others.
Asking about work
- Me kake yi? — What do you do? (to a man)
- Me kike yi? — What do you do? (to a woman)
- Ina aiki a banki. — I work at a bank.
- Ina neman aiki. — I'm looking for work.
Common occupations
| Hausa | Meaning |
|---|---|
| manomi | farmer |
| ɗan kasuwa | trader, businessman |
| malami | teacher |
| likita | doctor |
| direba | driver |
| maƙera | blacksmith |
| tela | tailor |
| soja | soldier |
| ɗan sanda | police officer |
| lauya | lawyer |
| injiniya | engineer |
| ɗan jarida | journalist |
| mahauci | butcher |
Workplaces
- ofis — office
- banki — bank
- kasuwa — market
- gona — farm
- shago — shop
- asibiti — hospital
- makaranta — school
Work vocabulary
- aiki — work, job
- albashi — salary
- shugaba — boss, leader
- abokin aiki — colleague
- kasuwanci — business, trade
- hutu — rest, holiday
Useful sentences
- Ni manomi ne. — I'm a farmer.
- Ita likita ce. — She's a doctor.
- Yana aiki a ofis. — He works in an office.
- Zan tafi aiki. — I'm going to work.
Farming and trade
Farming and trade have long been central to Hausa life. Words like noma (farming) and ciniki (trade) are common. A greeting to someone at work is Sannu da aiki, which acknowledges their effort.
Learning tips
- Learn the word for your own job first.
- Practise the "me kake yi?" exchange.
- Learn the greeting sannu da aiki.
- Add workplaces you visit daily.
Common mistakes
- Using masculine forms when speaking to women.
- Forgetting ne / ce after job titles, as in Ni manomi ne.
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Offline English–Hausa dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
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