Abokina Ali yana nan.

My friend Ali is here.

Breakdown of Abokina Ali yana nan.

• nan: here
• ne: to be
• Ali: Ali
• abokin: the friend

Questions & Answers about Abokina Ali yana nan.

What does the suffix -na in abokina signify?

The -na on aboki (“friend”) is the 1st‑person‑singular possessive suffix, so
    aboki + -na → abokina = “my friend.”

Why is Ali placed after abokina? Could you say Ali abokina instead?

In Hausa, a noun with a possessive suffix is usually followed by its appositive name.
    Abokina Ali = “my friend Ali.”
Saying Ali abokina would sound odd; if you want to pause for emphasis you could say
    Ali, abokina, yana nan, but the default order is Abokina Ali.

What is yana, and how is it formed?

yana is the 3rd‑person‑masculine‑singular present‑habitual copula (“is/are here”). It breaks down roughly into:
  • y- = 3 ps masculine prefix
  • ‑a‑ = copula root (proximal)
  • ‑na = present/habitual aspect marker
Together, y + a + na = yana (“he/it (m.) is [habitually] here”).

How would you say “she is here” in Hausa?

Use the 3rd‑person‑feminine form tana nan. For example:
    Abokiyata Zainab tana nan.
“My (female) friend Zainab is here.”

What does nan mean? Can you use it in other ways?