Barka da yamma
Barka da yamma is the Hausa way to say good evening.
This greeting is used from the late afternoon until the sun has set and darkness has fallen.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of barka (blessing/congratulations), da (with) and yamma (afternoon/evening). Literally, it means "blessing with evening".
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with Barka da yamma, a common way to respond is to simply say Barka dai.
Did you know?
- If you are greeting an elder in the evening, it is customary to use the plural form of pronouns to show deference, even if you are only speaking to one person.
- The word barka is also used to say 'congratulations', meaning the same word used to wish someone a good evening is used to celebrate a wedding or a promotion.
- The word barka is a linguistic traveler from Arabic, where it stems from the root meaning 'to be blessed'.
Examples in context
- Barka da yamma.Good evening.Tatoeba #3676548 by ecorralest101, translation #333156 by Aurix
- Barka da yamma, aboki.Good evening, friend.
Example conversation
Aminatu and Abdullahi meet on their way home at dusk.
- AminatuBarka da yamma, Abdullahi.Good evening, Abdullahi.
- AbdullahiBarka dai, Aminatu.Good evening, Aminatu.
- AminatuYaya aiki yau?How was work today?
- AbdullahiAiki ya yi kyau.Work was good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
