Key Hausa consonants (including the hooked letters), vowel length, and tone patterns for accurate pronunciation. Front: the sound pattern or example word. Back: meaning plus a plain-English pronunciation note.
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- Ɓ sound
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An implosive "b," produced by drawing air inward, distinct from a plain "b." Example word: ɓoye (to hide).- Ɗ sound
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An implosive "d," produced by drawing air inward, distinct from a plain "d." Example word: ɗaki (room).- Ƙ sound
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An ejective "k," produced with a sharp burst of air from the throat, distinct from a plain "k." Example word: ƙofa (door).- 'Y sound (ƴ)
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A glottalized "y," pronounced with a slight catch in the throat. Example word: 'ya'ya (children).- R (tapped) sound
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A light tap of the tongue, similar to a Spanish single "r." Example word: rana (sun, day).- R (rolled) sound
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Hausa also has a trilled "r" in some words, distinct from the tapped r.- Long vowels
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Hausa distinguishes short and long vowels; a long vowel is held for roughly twice the duration and can change a word's meaning.- High tone
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Pronounced with a raised pitch, though tone is rarely marked in everyday written Hausa.- Low tone
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Pronounced with a lowered pitch.- Falling tone
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A pitch that starts high and drops within a single syllable, Hausa's third tone pattern.- Tone is not usually written
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Unlike Yoruba or Igbo, standard everyday Hausa writing omits tone marks; tone and vowel length are usually learned by ear and context.- Sh sound
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Pronounced like English "sh" in "shoe." Example word: shanu (cattle).- Ts sound
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A sharp ejective affricate, made by combining "t" and "s" with a burst of air. Example word: tsaya (to stand, stop).- K sound
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A plain, unaspirated "k," crisper than an English "k." Example word: kai (head, or "you" to a male).- Kw sound
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A labialized "k," pronounced with rounded lips. Example word: kwana (to spend the night).
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