Yau da yamma za mu yi hira a falo.

This evening we will chat in the living room.

Breakdown of Yau da yamma za mu yi hira a falo.

• yau: today
• da: during
• yi: to do
• mu: we
• yamma: the evening
• a: in
• falo: the living room
• hira: the chat

Questions & Answers about Yau da yamma za mu yi hira a falo.

What does yau da yamma literally mean, and can I also just say yau or yamma on their own?

Literally, yau da yamma is today in the evening or today, this evening.

• yau = today
• yamma = evening / late afternoon
• da = and / with

So yau da yamma is like saying today and (specifically) in the evening → this evening (today).

You can use each part on its own:

• yau – today (time not specified)
• da yamma – in the evening / in the afternoons generally
• yamma – evening (often also used with a preposition: da yamma, da dare, etc.)

Context usually makes it clear, but yau da yamma is precise: this (coming) evening, today.

What exactly does za mean here, and is it always used for the future?

za is a future marker. In this sentence, za mu yi hira = we will chat / we’re going to chat.

• za
  • subject pronoun + verb = future action
    
    • za ni je – I will go
    • za su zo – they will come

It’s not used for habitual actions (things you do regularly); it’s for future, usually specific or planned events. You normally keep za when you want a clear future meaning. Leaving it out would change the meaning to more of a present/habitual reading, e.g.:

• mu yi hira – let’s chat / we should chat (imperative / suggestion)
• muna hira – we are chatting / we chat (present / ongoing / habitual)

So in this sentence, za is what gives it the future sense.

Why is mu placed right after za? Could it go somewhere else?

mu is the subject pronoun we. In this future construction, the order is fixed:

za + subject pronoun + verb

So:

• za mu yi – we will do
• za ni je – I will go
• za ka zo – you (m.sg.) will come
• za ki zo – you (f.sg.) will come
• za su sayar – they will sell

You don’t move mu somewhere else in this pattern; za mu yi hira is the normal, grammatical order.

In informal writing you’ll also see it written together:

• zamu yi hira – same pronunciation, just a spelling variation, especially in texts/messages.

Why do we say yi hira instead of just hira? Isn’t hira already “chat/talk”?

Yes, hira is a noun meaning conversation / chat.

Hausa often uses a light verb + verbal noun pattern, where yi (to do/make) combines with a noun to form a verbal expression:

• yi hira – to chat / to have a conversation
• yi magana – to speak / to talk
• yi wasa – to play
• yi aiki – to work

So za mu yi hira literally is we will do conversation, which naturally means we will chat / we will have a chat.

You don’t normally say za mu hira on its own; you need that yi with hira to make the normal verb phrase.

What is the difference between hira and magana?

Both relate to talking, but they have different typical uses:

• hira – conversation, chat (usually a bit more two‑way, informal, like chatting with someone)
  • za mu yi hira – we will chat / have a conversation
• magana – speech, words, talking in general
  • yi magana – to speak / to talk
  • maganar nan – this matter / this issue / these words

You could say:

• za mu yi magana a falo – we will talk in the living room
• za mu yi hira a falo – we will chat in the living room

In many everyday contexts they overlap, but hira tends to feel more like a chat or conversation between people, while magana is more general “speech/talking/what is being said” and can also mean “issue/matter” in some contexts.

What does falo mean exactly? Is it “living room”, and how is it different from other room words?

falo is living room / sitting room / lounge – the main room where people sit and talk or watch TV.

Other common room words:

• ɗaki – room (general), can also mean bedroom depending on context
• ɗakin kwana – bedroom
• ɗakin girki – kitchen

So:

• a falo – in the living room
• a ɗaki – in the room
• a ɗakin kwana – in the bedroom

In many households, falo is the front room where guests are received and where the family gathers.

Why is the preposition a used in a falo? Could I also say a cikin falo?

a is a very common preposition that often means in, at, on depending on context.

• a falo – in/at the living room
• a gida – at home
• a makaranta – at school

You can say a cikin falo, which is more literally inside the living room:

• a cikin = inside (in the interior of)

The difference is subtle:

• a falo – normal, default way to say “in the living room”
• a cikin falo – emphasizes physically inside the room, which might contrast with e.g. the corridor or outside the house.

In everyday speech, a falo is completely natural and sufficient here.

Can I move yau da yamma to another place in the sentence, like at the end: Za mu yi hira a falo yau da yamma?

Yes, you can move the time expression around. Common options include:

1. Yau da yamma za mu yi hira a falo.
2. Za mu yi hira a falo yau da yamma.

Both are grammatical. Starting with yau da yamma is very natural and slightly emphasizes the time: as for this evening, we’ll be chatting in the living room.

Placing it at the end is also fine and feels like:

• We’ll chat in the living room this evening.

In Hausa, time expressions often appear at the beginning, but they’re quite flexible.

Is za mu yi hira only simple future, or can it also mean something like “we’re going to be chatting” (planned future)?

za mu yi hira can cover both will chat and are going to chat in English. Hausa za doesn’t sharply distinguish between:

• simple future: we will chat
• planned/arranged future: we are going to chat

Context and tone usually clarify whether it’s just a future prediction or a planned arrangement. In your sentence, with yau da yamma (this evening), it naturally sounds like a plan:

• This evening, we’re going to chat in the living room.

Why is there no word for “the” in a falo? How do I know it’s the living room, not a living room?

Hausa doesn’t have a separate word that always corresponds to English the or a. Definiteness is usually understood from context, possession, or other clues.

Here:

• a falo could literally be in a living room or in the living room. In normal, everyday context, it will almost always be interpreted as the living room of the house you’re already talking about (yours, ours, this house).

If you want to be more explicit, you might add more detail:

• a falonmu – in our living room
• a falon nan – in this living room

But usually a falo is understood as in the living room in a shared context.

How are the words in this sentence pronounced, especially yau and yamma?

Approximate pronunciation (using English-like hints):

• yau – like ya-oo quickly together, almost like yao (1 syllable: a glide from ya to u).
• da – da (like English da in da-da), short vowel.
• yamma – yam-ma, with a double m and short vowels. The mm is a bit longer/stronger than in English yama.
• za – za (like za in pizza, but short).
• mu – moo but with a short u, not as long as in English moo.
• yi – yee with a short i.
• hira – hee-ra (short i, r usually tapped).
• a – a (as in a in about but a bit more open).
• falo – fa-lo, both vowels short: fa like far (without the r), lo like law but shorter.

Stress is generally even, but learners often slightly stress the first syllable: YAU da YAM-ma ZA mu YI HI-ra a FA-lo.