yaya kake
In Hausa, the phrase for "how are you" is yaya kake.
yaya kake is used as a greeting to inquire about someone's well-being.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
yaya means "how" and kake is the second-person singular masculine form of the verb "to be".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on whom you are addressing. Use yaya kake when addressing a single male, yaya kanki when addressing a single female and yaya kuke when addressing a group of people.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with this phrase, a standard and common response is Lafiya, which means "Fine" or "In health". You may also use Lafia lau! to say "I'm fine".
Did you know?
- While yaya kake asks how you are, Hausa speakers often begin a conversation with Sannu, which is a multipurpose word used for 'hello' 'sorry' and 'well done'.
- The response Lafiya is derived from the Arabic word 'al-afiyah', which means 'health' or 'well-being'.
- Because Hausa is a tonal language, the pitch used when saying yaya kake can subtly change the emotional nuance of the greeting from a casual check-in to a concerned inquiry.
Examples in context
- Yaya kake? Shin tafiyar ka na da daidai ne?How are you? Are your previous movements alright?This sentence shows how to use yaya kake when asking about someone's previous movements.Tatoeba #10831470 by ecorralest101, translation #656807 by janmato
- Yaya kake, Dylan?How are you, Dylan?This sentence shows how to use yaya kake when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #10891873 by ecorralest101, translation #7041566 by azraelgnosis
- Yaya kake, abokina?How are you, my friend?
Example conversation
Fatima meets Musa on the street and greets him.
- FatimaSannu Musa, yaya kake?Hello Musa, how are you?
- MusaLafiya lau, Fatima. Nagode.Fine, Fatima. Thank you.
- FatimaIna kake zuwa?Where are you going?
- MusaZan je kasuwa.I am going to the market.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
