Ba mu da lokaci sosai.

to have

Breakdown of Ba mu da lokaci sosai.

• ba: not
• mu: we
• sosai: much
• lokaci: the time

Questions & Answers about Ba mu da lokaci sosai.

Why do we use Ba mu da to say We don’t have?

In Hausa, this is the standard negative construction for possession. Using Ba mu da literally translates to We are without, which serves as We don’t have.

What exactly does sosai mean at the end of the sentence?

Sosai generally means a lot, much, or very much depending on context. In this sentence, it emphasizes how limited the time is—suggesting we really don’t have time.

Is there a direct equivalent of the English verb to have in this sentence?

Hausa typically expresses to have using the structure ba ... da in the negative or ina da in the positive. The verb to have as a direct form doesn’t exist in the same way it does in English, so this structure fills that role.

Can I replace mu with another pronoun?

Yes, you can replace mu (we) with other pronouns depending on who you’re referring to. For instance, Ba ni da lokaci sosai means I don’t have much time, and Ba su da lokaci sosai means They don’t have much time.

Are there alternatives to express this idea differently in Hausa?

You can sometimes hear variations like Ba mu da isashen lokaci (We don’t have sufficient time). However, Ba mu da lokaci sosai is simple and very common.