Ni ba ni da aiki a yanzu.

I

Breakdown of Ni ba ni da aiki a yanzu.

• da: to have
• ba: not
• yanzu: right now
• aiki: the work

Questions & Answers about Ni ba ni da aiki a yanzu.

Why is the pronoun Ni repeated in this sentence?

In Hausa, the structure Ni ba ni da […] emphasizes the subject (I) by stating Ni first. Then the phrase ba ni da is the negative form of Ina da (meaning "I have"), so you see ni again. Effectively, it's "I – I do not have …".

What is the role of ba and da in ba ni da?

Ba is a negation particle that precedes the pronoun, while da is used in possessive contexts to indicate "with" or "have." When combined as ba ni da, it negates the idea of possession, meaning "I do not have."

Can I drop the first Ni and just say Ba ni da aiki a yanzu?

Yes, you can often hear Ba ni da aiki a yanzu without the initial Ni. Many speakers drop the extra pronoun in everyday conversation. Both forms are correct.

Is there a different way to say "I have no work right now" in Hausa?

Yes, you can say something like Ina nan ban da aiki (literally "I am here without work") or simply Ban da aiki a yanzu. They convey the same idea of not having work at the moment, though Ni ba ni da aiki a yanzu is a very typical expression.

What does a yanzu specifically mean?

A yanzu literally means "at now," but more naturally translates to "right now" or "at the moment." It is used to reference the current point in time.