Ni da Binta muna aiki sosai.

I

Breakdown of Ni da Binta muna aiki sosai.

• Binta: Binta
• da: and
• aiki: to work

Questions & Answers about Ni da Binta muna aiki sosai.

Why is the word da used between ni and Binta?

In Hausa, da generally means “and.” So ni da Binta literally translates to “I and Binta.” It’s a common way to connect two people or things when listing them together.

Why do we say muna for “we are working” instead of another form like muke?

Hausa has different verb forms depending on tense and aspect. Muna is a present progressive form, indicating an ongoing action (“are working”). Muke can appear in certain contexts (often for emphasis or in relative clauses), but for a straightforward statement of ongoing action, muna is the usual choice.

Can I just say Mu instead of Ni da Binta?

Yes, you could say Mu muna aiki sosai (“We are working hard”), and it would still make sense. However, Ni da Binta specifically names the people involved, which can be more explicit or personal than just Mu (“we”).

What does sosai mean here?

Sosai often translates to “very” or “a lot” in English. In this sentence, it emphasizes the intensity or degree of the working: muna aiki sosai (“we are working very hard” or “we are really busy”).

Is the word order Ni da Binta flexible?

Although you might sometimes hear Binta da ni, Hausa speakers commonly put the pronoun first when speaking from a personal perspective, resulting in Ni da Binta. Both forms are understandable; it’s more a matter of style or emphasis.