Idan har akwai tsiro, za mu dasa shi.

he

Breakdown of Idan har akwai tsiro, za mu dasa shi.

• mu: we
• za: will
• akwai: there is/are

Questions & Answers about Idan har akwai tsiro, za mu dasa shi.

What does each part of Idan har akwai tsiro, za mu dasa shi do?

A natural word-by-word breakdown is:

• Idan = if
• har = an emphatic particle, something like really / indeed / at all depending on context
• akwai = there is / there are
• tsiro = a plant / seedling / growth, depending on context
• za mu = we will
• dasa = plant
• shi = it / him as an object pronoun

So the structure is basically:

• If there is a seedling/plant, we will plant it.

What is the point of har in idan har?

Har adds emphasis. In a sentence like this, idan har can feel a bit stronger than just idan.

Compare:

• Idan akwai tsiro... = If there is a plant/seedling...
• Idan har akwai tsiro... = If there really is a plant/seedling... or If there is any plant/seedling at all...

In many contexts, English would not translate har separately, but Hausa speakers often use it to strengthen the condition.

Can I leave out har?