Idan katin banki ya ɓace, dole ne mu kira banki cikin gaggawa.

if

Breakdown of Idan katin banki ya ɓace, dole ne mu kira banki cikin gaggawa.

• mu: we
• kira: to call
• dole ne: must

Questions & Answers about Idan katin banki ya ɓace, dole ne mu kira banki cikin gaggawa.

What does idan mean here, and is it more like “if” or “when”?

Idan is a conditional subordinator that usually translates as “if” or “when”.

• In this sentence, Idan katin banki ya ɓace… = “If the bank card is lost…”
• It can also mean “when(ever)” in contexts that describe something habitual:
  
  • Idan na gaji, ina kwanciya. – When(ever) I’m tired, I lie down.

So the basic idea is “if/when (on the condition that)”, and context decides whether English sounds more natural with if or when.

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How is katin banki structured? Why is it in that order instead of “bank card” like in English?

Katin banki is a genitive (possessive-like) construction.

• kati = card
• -n = linker/possessive marker attached to kati
• banki = bank

So katin banki is literally “card-of bank”, i.e. bank card.
In Hausa, the thing being possessed usually comes first, then the possessor:

• motar Malam – Malam’s car (car-of Malam)
• gidansu – their house (house-their)

So the order kati-n banki is normal for “bank card.”

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Why is it ya ɓace and not just ɓace after ? What does do?