A otel ɗin za a sa katifu sabbi domin lafiyar baya.

In the hotel new mattresses will be put in for the health of the back.

Breakdown of A otel ɗin za a sa katifu sabbi domin lafiyar baya.

• lafiya: the health
• a: in
• sabo: new
• sa: to put
• baya: the back
• domin: for
• otel: the hotel
• katifa: the mattress

Questions & Answers about A otel ɗin za a sa katifu sabbi domin lafiyar baya.

What does A mean in A otel ɗin? Is it like English at or in?

A is a preposition that usually means in / at / on depending on context.

• A otel ɗin ≈ At the hotel / In the hotel
• a gida = at home / in the house
• a kasuwa = at the market

So here A is just telling you the location where the action happens.

What does ɗin mean in otel ɗin? Why not just otel?

ɗin is a particle that makes the noun definite and often refers to a specific, known item, roughly like that / the (one we talked about).

• otel = a hotel (any hotel, in general)
• otel ɗin = that (particular) hotel / the hotel (we have in mind)

Speakers use ɗin a lot in everyday speech when talking about something specific, often already known in the conversation or situation.

Why is the location phrase at the start: A otel ɗin za a sa…? Could I put it later?

Putting A otel ɗin at the beginning is normal and emphasizes the place first:

• A otel ɗin za a sa katifu sabbi…
  = At the hotel, new mattresses will be put…

You can move the location phrase, and it is still correct:

• Za a sa katifu sabbi a otel ɗin domin lafiyar baya.

The meaning is basically the same; starting with A otel ɗin just foregrounds the location.

What does za a mean in za a sa? How does the future tense work here?

za marks future, and a here acts like an impersonal subject (literally “it will be done / one will do”).

• za a sa ≈ (they) will put / will be put

Compare:

• za ni sa katifu = I will put mattresses
• za mu sa katifu = we will put mattresses
• za a sa katifu = mattresses will be put / they’ll put mattresses (no specific subject)

This za a + verb pattern is very common to talk about planned actions when the doer is not important or not specified.

Why is there no subject like su (they) in za a sa? Who is doing the action?

Hausa often uses za a + verb to talk about general or impersonal actions, similar to English they will… / it will be… without saying exactly who.

So:

• Za a sa katifu sabbi.
  = New mattresses will be put (there).
  = They’ll put new mattresses.

The idea is clear: some people (staff, management, etc.) will do it, but you don’t need to name them.

What does the verb sa mean in this sentence?

sa is a very common verb meaning to put, to place, to wear, to cause depending on context.

Here it means to put / to place:

• sa katifu = to put (down) mattresses
• sa takalmi = to put on shoes / to wear shoes
• sa hannu = to put the hand / to sign / to intervene (idiomatic)

So za a sa katifu sabbi = new mattresses will be put (in place).

What is katifu? Is that singular or plural? What is the singular form?

katifu is plural: mattresses.
The singular is katifa: mattress.

Typical pair:

• katifa = a mattress
• katifu = mattresses

So za a sa katifu sabbi means they will put new mattresses (more than one).

Why is the adjective sabbi after the noun: katifu sabbi and not before it?

In Hausa, adjectives normally follow the noun they describe:

• mota ja = red car
• yaro babban = big boy
• katifu sabbi = new mattresses

So katifu sabbi is the regular noun + adjective order.

There is also a pattern where certain adjectives can come before with a linking ending, e.g.:

• sabbin katifu = new mattresses (literally new-PL mattresses)

Both katifu sabbi and sabbin katifu are possible; sabbin katifu often sounds a bit more “descriptive” or formal, while katifu sabbi feels slightly more like “the mattresses are new.” Context decides which is more natural.

Why is it sabbi and not sabo in katifu sabbi?

The adjective sabo (= new) changes form to agree with the number and gender of the noun.

Basic forms:

• Masculine singular: sabo
• Feminine singular: sabuwar
• Plural (masc. & fem.): sabbi

Since katifu is plural, the adjective must also be plural:

• katifa sabuwa = a new mattress (fem. sg.)
• katifu sabbi = new mattresses (plural)

What does domin mean in domin lafiyar baya?

domin means for, for the sake of, because of, in order to.

Here it introduces a purpose:

• domin lafiyar baya = for the health of the back / for back health

Other examples:

• Na yi haka domin kai. = I did this for you.
• Sun zo domin taro. = They came for a meeting.

You’ll also see the shorter don used in very similar ways.

How does lafiyar baya work grammatically? Why lafiyar and not just lafiya?

lafiya means health, well-being.
When it’s followed by another noun in a possessive/genitive sense (health of X), it usually takes a linking consonant -r (or -n with some words):

• lafiya → lafiyar (before another noun)

So:

• lafiyar baya = the health of the back / back health
• lafiyar jiki = bodily health
• lafiyar zuciya = heart health

This -r is just a linker connecting the two nouns.

What does baya mean here? Does it always mean back?

baya often means:

1. the back / rear / back part (of the body or of something)
2. behind / after in space or time (depending on context)

In this sentence, baya clearly refers to the back (part of the body):

• ciwon baya = back pain
• a bayan kujerar = behind the chair

So lafiyar baya = the health of the (body’s) back.

How would I say the same sentence in a negative future, like “New mattresses will not be put in the hotel for back health”?

To make a negative future, you usually use ba za a … ba.

So a natural negative version would be:

• Ba za a sa katifu sabbi a otel ɗin domin lafiyar baya ba.
  = New mattresses will not be put in the hotel for back health.

Structure:
ba + za a + verb phrase + ba.