Questions & Answers about Yara suna wasa a gefe na gidanmu.
Does yara mean children or the children? Is there a word for the here?
Yara literally means children, with no explicit the. Hausa normally does not use a separate word for the like English does.
Definiteness is usually understood from context or shown in other ways (like using demonstratives or certain endings). So:
- yara = children / the children (depending on context)
- If the specific children are already known in the conversation, yara naturally means the children.
You might also see yaran (children + a “linker” -n), which often has a more clearly definite sense, like the children. But in your sentence, Yara suna wasa a gefe na gidanmu, context will tell you whether it means children in general or the children that both speakers know about.
What is the singular form of yara?
The singular is:
- yaro = child / boy
- yara = children / boys (plural)
So your sentence:
- Yara suna wasa a gefe na gidanmu.
= The children are playing at the side of our house.
If you changed it to Yaro yana wasa a gefe na gidanmu, it would mean A child / The boy is playing at the side of our house.
What exactly does suna mean? Is it just like English ?