Sai dai idan akwai zamba, kada ku toshe asusun.

Unless there is fraud, do not block the account.

Breakdown of Sai dai idan akwai zamba, kada ku toshe asusun.

• ku: you (plural)
• idan: if
• asusu: the account
• sai dai: however

Questions & Answers about Sai dai idan akwai zamba, kada ku toshe asusun.

Why is sai dai idan used here? Does it mean unless as a whole?

Yes. In this sentence, sai dai idan works as a set phrase meaning unless or except if.

A helpful way to think about it is:

• idan = if
• sai dai adds the idea of an exception or limitation

So together, sai dai idan introduces the one situation in which the main instruction would not apply.

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Does sai dai always mean unless?

No. sai dai by itself can mean different things depending on context, such as however, except, or only that. It is specifically the combination sai dai idan that gives the meaning unless / except if.

So a learner should remember the whole chunk, not just translate sai dai the same way every time.

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What does akwai mean here?

Akwai is the Hausa existential word meaning there is or there are.

So:

• akwai zamba = there is fraud
• literally, something like fraud exists

One useful point: akwai does not change for singular and plural the way English changes is/are.

For example: