sunana
sunana is the Hausa phrase for "my name".
You use sunana to introduce yourself by stating your name. When using this phrase, you place your name directly after sunana without needing an additional verb for "is".
What does it mean word for word?
The word sunana is a contraction of suna, meaning "name" and the suffix -na, which means "my".
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix -na is the first-person singular possessive suffix used to indicate "my".
Did you know?
- Certain Hausa names are chosen specifically to 'counter' a family trend, such as naming a child something that signifies 'strength' if previous siblings were born sickly.
- The word suna is a loanword from Arabic, reflecting the historical influence of Islamic scholarship and trade in Northern Nigeria and Niger.
- In many Hausa communities, a child is not given a permanent suna immediately after birth, as the name is often chosen based on the circumstances or timing of the delivery.
Examples in context
- Eh, sunana Karen Smith.Yes, my name is Karen Smith.This sentence shows how to confirm your identity using sunana.Tatoeba #10809245 by ecorralest101, translation #35564 by shanghainese
- Barka dai, sunana Tina.Hello, my name is Tina.This sentence demonstrates a friendly greeting used with sunana.Tatoeba #10839857 by ecorralest101, translation #1319926 by Scott
- Sunana Jose. Mu abokai ne.My name is Jose. We are friends.This sentence shows how to introduce yourself and state that you are friends using sunana.Tatoeba #10896560 by ecorralest101, translation #7797462 by sharris123
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Musa meets Aminatu for the first time at a community gathering.
- MusaBarka dai, sunana Musa.Hello, my name is Musa.
- AminatuSannu Musa, sunana Aminatu.Hi Musa, my name is Aminatu.
- MusaIna jin dadin haduwa da ke, Aminatu.I am happy to meet you, Aminatu.
- AminatuNi ma ina jin dadin haduwa da kai.I am also happy to meet you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
