Learn Hardcore Hausa: Yara suna cin ayaba bayan sun gama aiki a gona. - The children eat bananas after they finish work on the farm.

Hausa does not use a separate word like “the” or “a/an” as articles. Definiteness is usually understood from context or shown in other ways (like adding a demonstrative or a suffix).

In this sentence:

yara can be understood as the children (because they are known from context).
ayaba can be bananas (in general or these particular bananas).
gona can be the farm or a farm, depending on context.

If you strongly want to show “the children”, you might see:

yaran (or yaran nan, those/the children here) in a fuller context.

But in normal speech, plain yara is enough when context is clear.

What exactly does suna mean in yara suna cin ayaba?

Suna is a combination of:

su = they
na = a marker often used for present/progressive aspect

Together, suna works like “they are …” in English when followed by a verbal noun:

yara suna cin ayaba ≈ the children are eating bananas

So suna is not just “are”; it also carries the subject (they) inside it.

Why is it cin and not ci in suna cin ayaba?

The basic verb is ci = to eat.

In Hausa, when you form the progressive with suna, you normally use the verbal noun (a noun-like form of the verb), not the plain verb. For ci, the verbal noun is cin.

So the pattern is:

suna
- cin
  - [object]
    → suna cin ayaba = they are eating bananas

Compare:

ci ayaba = (to) eat bananas
cin ayaba = eating bananas (the act of eating bananas)

That’s why you see cin, not ci, after suna.

What is the difference between suna cin ayaba and sun ci ayaba?

They describe different aspects/time frames of the action.

suna cin ayaba
- suna = they (are)
- cin = eating (verbal noun)
- Meaning: they are eating bananas (an ongoing action, in progress now).
sun ci ayaba
- sun = they have / they (perfect aspect)
- ci = ate
- Meaning: they have eaten bananas / they ate bananas (a completed action).

In your sentence, suna cin ayaba is used because the children are currently eating; the action is ongoing at that moment.

What does bayan mean in bayan sun gama aiki a gona?

Bayan here means after.

So bayan sun gama aiki a gona literally corresponds to:

after they have finished work at the farm

Structure:

bayan = after
sun gama = they have finished
aiki = work
a gona = at/in the farm

So bayan introduces the time clause that tells us when they are eating.

Why is it sun gama and not suna gama after bayan?

Sun marks a completed action (perfect aspect), while suna marks an ongoing one (progressive).

sun gama aiki = they have finished work / they finished work
suna gama aiki = they are finishing work / they are in the process of finishing work

Because the sentence says they are eating after they finished working, the finishing must be complete, so Hausa uses:

bayan sun gama aiki = after they have finished work

Using bayan suna gama aiki would sound more like “after they are (still) finishing work”, which doesn’t fit the intended meaning.

Why do we need sun at all in bayan sun gama aiki if we already mentioned yara before?

In Hausa, finite verbs normally carry a subject pronoun (like sun, suka, suna, etc.), even if the full noun subject has already been mentioned.

So:

yara suna cin ayaba
- yara = the children (full noun)
- suna = they (are) – pronoun+aspect attached to the verb

Inside the bayan clause:

bayan sun gama aiki a gona
- sun = they (have)
- gama = finished

Even though you know the subject is still yara, Hausa grammar still requires that sun be there to agree with the subject. It’s normal and not considered redundant.

What does gama mean in sun gama aiki a gona, and how does aiki fit in?

gama is a verb meaning to finish / to complete.
aiki is a noun meaning work / labor / job / task.

So:

sun gama aiki = they have finished work.

Then a gona adds location:

sun gama aiki a gona = they have finished work at the farm.

What does a mean in a gona, and where do Hausa prepositions go?

A is a preposition that generally means in / at / on (location), depending on context.

a gona = in the farm / at the farm / on the farm (field)

In Hausa, a comes before the place noun:

a gida = at home
a makaranta = at school
a gona = at the farm / in the field

So the pattern is a + [place].

Is ayaba singular or plural here? Why is it translated as “bananas”?

Formally, ayaba is a singular noun meaning a banana.

However, with foods and similar items, Hausa often uses the singular form in a general or mass sense, where English would naturally use a plural:

suna cin ayaba can be understood as they are eating banana / bananas.
In normal English, we say “eating bananas”, so it’s translated that way.

If you want to be explicit about quantity, you can add a number or a word like da yawa (many):

ayaba biyu = two bananas
suna cin ayaba da yawa = they are eating many bananas

So in this sentence, ayaba is singular in form but naturally interpreted as bananas in English.

Can we move the bayan clause to the front, like in English “After they finished work…”?

Yes. Hausa allows that, and it sounds natural:

Bayan sun gama aiki a gona, yara suna cin ayaba.

This is very close structurally to English:

After they finished work on the farm, the children are eating bananas.

Both orders are fine:

Yara suna cin ayaba bayan sun gama aiki a gona.
Bayan sun gama aiki a gona, yara suna cin ayaba.

The difference is mostly in emphasis and flow, not in basic meaning.