Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi.

Let’s wait here until it is time.

Breakdown of Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi.

• nan: here
• a: at
• jira: to wait
• lokaci: the time
• yi: to do
• idan: if
• mu: we

Questions & Answers about Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi.

What does Mu mean here? Does it just mean “we”?

Mu is the first-person plural pronoun “we”, but in this position (at the start of the clause, directly before a verb) it has a hortative or “let’s …” meaning.

• Mu jira = “Let’s wait” / “We should wait”, not simply “we wait”.
• This is a very common way to suggest an action that we (speaker + others) should do together.

So Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi is best taken as:
“Let’s wait here until it’s time / when the time comes.”

Is Mu jira a command, a suggestion, or a statement?

Mu jira sits between a command and a suggestion:

• It’s inclusive: the speaker is including themselves (“let’s wait”, not “you wait”).
• It can be:
  • A firm suggestion: “Let’s (please) wait.”
  • A soft directive: “We should wait.”

Compare:

• Jira! = “Wait!” (a direct command to you).
• Mu jira. = “Let’s wait.” (includes me
  • you, less harsh).

In many contexts, Mu jira a nan will sound more polite and cooperative than a bare imperative.

What does jira mean exactly, and what form of the verb is it?

Jira is the verb “to wait”.

In Mu jira, jira appears as the bare verb form (no tense marker, no subject prefix attached directly to it), because:

• The subject mu (“we”) is already there in front.
• The construction Mu + VERB is a standard hortative “let’s VERB” pattern.

Other examples:

• Mu tafi. – Let’s go.
• Mu ci abinci. – Let’s eat.
• Mu jira ɗan lokaci. – Let’s wait a bit.

What does a nan mean, and why is there a preposition a before nan?

A nan means “here” (literally “at here / in this place”).

• a is a preposition that often means “in, at, on”.
• nan is a deictic word meaning “this (place)” / “here”.

So:

• a nan = “here” (at this place).
• a can = “there (farther away)”.

You also see nan without a in other structures (e.g. Gidan nan – this house), but for a stand‑alone location adverb like “(wait) here”, a nan is the normal phrasing:

• Mu jira a nan. – Let’s wait here.
• Ka zauna a nan. – Sit here.

Could you say Mu jira nan without a? Would it still be correct?

You might hear Mu jira nan in casual speech, but Mu jira a nan is the standard and clearly correct form for “Let’s wait here.”

Points to keep in mind:

• The preposition a normally introduces a place where an action happens.
• Leaving it out can sound colloquial or non‑standard in many contexts.
• For learners, it’s safer and more natural to always say:
  • a nan – here
  • a can – there
  • a gida – at home / in the house
  • a kasuwa – at the market

So: stick with Mu jira a nan.

What does idan mean here? Is it “if” or “when”?

Idan can mean “if” or “when”, depending on context.

In Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi, it is best understood as “when”:

• idan lokaci ya yi ≈ “when the time comes / when it’s time”.

Some contrasts:

• Idan ya zo, za mu tafi. – When he comes, we will go. (Could also be: If he comes, we will go; context decides.)
• Idan ruwa ya tsaya, zan fita. – When the rain stops, I will go out.

In your sentence, we’re talking about waiting until “the time” arrives, so “when” is the natural English choice:
“Let’s wait here when the time comes / until it’s time.”

How does the phrase lokaci ya yi work grammatically? Why ya yi?

Lokaci ya yi is a very common Hausa idiom meaning “it is time” or “the time has come.”

Breakdown:

• lokaci – time (a masculine noun).
• ya – 3rd person masculine singular subject marker (“he/it”) in perfective aspect. Here it refers back to lokaci.
• yi – the verb “to do / to make”, often used in fixed expressions.

Literally, lokaci ya yi is something like:

• “Time has done (its thing)” → idiomatically: “the time has come / it’s time.”

Examples:

• Lokaci ya yi mu tafi. – It’s time for us to go.
• Lokaci ya yi ki huta. – It’s time for you (f.) to rest.

So idan lokaci ya yi = “when it’s time / when the time comes.”

Why is it ya yi and not something like ya zo (“it comes”)?

Hausa simply uses a different idiom from English.

• English: “when the time comes” → uses the verb “come.”
• Hausa: idan lokaci ya yi → uses yi (“do/make”) in the fixed phrase lokaci ya yi = “it is time.”

You could theoretically say something like idan lokacin ya zo (“when the time comes”) and be understood, but:

• idan lokaci ya yi is the standard, idiomatic expression.
• Learners are better off memorizing lokaci ya yi as a set phrase meaning “it’s time.”

Can the word order change? For example, can I say Idan lokaci ya yi, mu jira a nan?

Yes, that word order is perfectly possible and natural:

• Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi.
• Idan lokaci ya yi, mu jira a nan.

Both are grammatical. The meaning is essentially the same, but:

• Putting Idan lokaci ya yi first emphasizes the condition / time:

  • “When it’s time, let’s wait here.” (i.e. At that point, this is what we’ll do.)

• Leaving it at the end, Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi, sounds more like:

  • “Let’s wait here until it’s time.” (emphasis first on waiting here.)

In normal conversation, both orders can occur; context and intonation will guide the nuance.

What is the difference between Mu jira a nan and Za mu jira a nan?

They differ in mood and force:

1. Mu jira a nan

   • Hortative / suggestion: “Let’s wait here / we should wait here.”
   • Includes the speaker in the action.
   • Often used when deciding together what to do.

2. Za mu jira a nan

   • Future statement: “We will wait here.”
   • Describes what will happen, rather than making a suggestion.
   • It can be neutral, or even a bit firm/decisive: “We’re going to wait here.”

Compare in full context:

• Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi.
  → “Let’s wait here until it’s time.” (proposal/suggestion)

• Za mu jira a nan har sai lokaci ya yi.
  → “We will wait here until it’s time.” (statement about a planned action)

Is Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi polite? How could I make it softer or stronger?

It is already relatively polite and inclusive, because of mu (“let’s…”).

To adjust tone:

Softer / more polite:

• Add please words:
  • Don Allah, mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi. – Please, let’s wait here until it’s time.
• Soften with a bit of explanation:
  • Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi, domin ya fi aminci. – Let’s wait here when it’s time, because it’s safer.

Stronger / more authoritative:

• Use a direct command:
  • Ku jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi. – You (plural) wait here when it’s time.
  • Ka jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi. – You (sing.) wait here when it’s time.
• Or a firm future statement:
  • Za mu jira a nan har sai lokaci ya yi. – We will wait here until it’s time. (more like an announcement of a fixed plan)

How would I say “We will wait here until it’s time” more explicitly, using “until”?

A very natural way is to use har sai, which means “until”:

• Za mu jira a nan har sai lokaci ya yi.
  – We will wait here until it’s time.

Breakdown:

• Za mu – we will.
• jira – wait.
• a nan – here.
• har sai – until.
• lokaci ya yi – it’s time / the time has come.

Your original sentence Mu jira a nan idan lokaci ya yi is close in meaning, but har sai makes the “until” idea very explicit.