Learn Hardcore Hausa: Aisha tana amfani da intanet a kan kwamfuta domin ta karanta labarai na Hausa. - Aisha uses the internet on the computer in order to read news in Hausa.

“and” (coordinating conjunction)
- Ali da Aisha = Ali and Aisha
“with / using” (instrumental/comitative)
- Ya yanke nama da wuka. = He cut the meat with a knife.

In amfani da intanet, it has the second function:

amfani da intanet
= use of the internet / using the internet

So da here means “with / using”, not “and”.

Why is it a kan kwamfuta? What does a kan mean?

a kan (often also written akan) is a prepositional phrase meaning:

on, on top of, sometimes about/concerning, depending on context.

In this sentence:

a kan kwamfuta
= on (a) computer

So the part:

tana amfani da intanet a kan kwamfuta
= she is using the internet on a computer

a by itself is a general preposition “at / in / on”, and kan is “top / surface / head”.
Together a kan works like English “on (top of)”, and this extends metaphorically to things like “on a computer” or “on TV”.

Could we say a kwamfuta instead of a kan kwamfuta?

You might hear a kwamfuta in casual speech, but a kan kwamfuta (or akan kwamfuta) is clearer and more standard for “on a computer”.

a = at/in/on (very general)
a kan = specifically on (top of / on the surface of)

For devices, Hausa commonly uses a kan / akan:

a kan kwamfuta = on a computer
a kan waya = on (a) phone
a kan talabijin = on TV

So a kan kwamfuta is the natural, idiomatic choice here.

What does domin mean in domin ta karanta?

domin is a conjunction that introduces a purpose or reason. It usually translates as:

in order to
so that
because (for the purpose that)

In your sentence:

... a kan kwamfuta domin ta karanta labarai na Hausa.
= ... on a computer in order to read Hausa news.

So the structure is:

[Main action] domin [subordinate clause expressing purpose]

You can think of domin as answering “for what purpose?”

Why do we have ta karanta after domin, not just domin karanta?

After domin, Hausa commonly uses a finite verb with a subject pronoun, not just a bare verbal noun. So we say:

domin ta karanta = in order that she read(s)

Here:

ta = she (3rd-person feminine subject)
karanta = to read / read

So literally: “in order that she read Hausa news.”

You can sometimes see don karanta (using don, a shorter form of domin) followed directly by a verbal noun, in a more contracted or colloquial style:

Ta je can don karatu. = She went there to study.

But in your sentence, domin ta karanta is a clear, standard purpose clause with an explicit subject (ta).

Why is it tana (feminine) and not yana (masculine) here?

Hausa marks gender (masculine/feminine) in the 3rd-person singular pronouns.

ya / yana = he / he is
ta / tana = she / she is

The subject is Aisha, which is a woman’s name, so we use the feminine forms:

Ta je kasuwa. = She went to the market.
Tana amfani da intanet. = She is using the internet.

If the subject were a man (e.g., Ali), we would say:

Ali yana amfani da intanet.

What does labarai na Hausa literally mean?

Breaking it down:

labari = story, report, piece of news
labarai = news / stories (plural of labari)
na Hausa = of Hausa / in Hausa (language)

So labarai na Hausa literally means:

“news (stories) of Hausa”
but in natural English: “news in Hausa” or “Hausa news”

Here, na is a linker showing a genitive / of-relationship between the two nouns:

muryar Aisha or muryar A’isha = Aisha’s voice
gidan Ali = Ali’s house
labarai na Hausa = news of/in Hausa

What is the difference between labarai na Hausa and labaran Hausa?

Both are possible and very close in meaning, but there is a nuance:

labarai na Hausa
- labarai = news (indefinite plural)
- na Hausa = of Hausa
  → often feels a bit more indefinite / general:
  “(some) news in Hausa”, “Hausa-language news (in general)”
labaran Hausa
- labarai
  - -n = labaran (definite/plural linker form)
- Hausa = Hausa
  → more like “the Hausa news”, “news belonging to Hausa”

In many everyday contexts, speakers may use them almost interchangeably, but:

labaran Hausa can sound a bit more specific/definite, like “the news (items) that are Hausa”.
labarai na Hausa sounds a bit more like “news in the Hausa language (as a category)”.

How does labari → labarai work? Why does the plural look so different?

Hausa often uses “broken plurals” for nouns, especially those of Arabic origin.

labari (news item, story)
labarai (news, stories)

The vowel pattern changes inside the word instead of just adding a simple -s like in English. This is similar to English man → men, mouse → mice, but much more widespread and systematic in Hausa.

Other examples:

sarki (king) → sarakai (kings)
malami (teacher) → malamai (teachers)

So labarai is simply the regular plural form of labari in Hausa.

Can we drop Aisha and just say Tana amfani da intanet...?

Yes, you can.

Hausa frequently allows dropping the explicit noun subject when it is clear from context. The pronoun in the verb form (tana) is enough to show who is acting (and what gender).

So, in a conversation where Aisha is already the topic, you could say:

Tana amfani da intanet a kan kwamfuta domin ta karanta labarai na Hausa.
= She is using the internet on a computer to read Hausa news.

But if you introduce the idea for the first time or want to be explicit, including the name is clearer:

Aisha tana amfani da intanet...

Is intanet just the English word “internet” borrowed into Hausa? Do I need an article like “the internet”?

Yes, intanet is a loanword from English “internet” adapted to Hausa pronunciation and spelling:

Typically pronounced something like “een-ta-net” (with Hausa vowel values).

Hausa does not use articles like “a / an / the” in the same way English does. There is no separate word corresponding to “the” in intanet:

tana amfani da intanet
can mean “she uses the internet” or “she uses internet” depending on context.

So you do not add anything for “the” here; intanet by itself is correct.