Learn Hardcore Hausa: Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri, in ba haka ba ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba. - Don’t forget the password; otherwise you will not be able to enter the website.

To a woman: kar ki manta…
To more than one person: kar ku manta…
A slightly more formal/common variant: kada ka manta… instead of kar ka manta…

All of these mean “don’t forget,” just with different addressees or style levels.

Why do we say manta da kalmar sirri instead of just manta kalmar sirri?

The verb manta = “to forget,” and it normally takes its object with the preposition da.

manta da X = “forget X”
kar ka manta da kalmar sirri = “don’t forget the password”

In everyday standard Hausa, da is expected after manta when you name what you’re forgetting. Omitting da (manta kalmar sirri) can sound non‑standard or influenced by other languages, even if people might still understand you.

What exactly does kalmar sirri mean? How is it built?

kalmar sirri literally means “secret word”, and it’s the usual term for a password.

Breakdown:

kalma = “word”
kalmar = “the word / word of …” (the final -r links it to the following noun)
sirri = “secret”

So:

kalmar sirri = “the word of secret” → “secret word” → “password”

You’ll also see:

lambar sirri = “secret number” → a PIN code

What does in ba haka ba mean literally, and how is it used?

in ba haka ba is a fixed expression meaning “otherwise / if not / or else.”

Literal breakdown:

in = “if”
ba = the negative particle
haka = “like this / this way / so”
ba (the one at the end) closes the negation

So literally: “if it is not like this, [then]…’’
In practice, you just learn in ba haka ba as “otherwise”:

Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri, in ba haka ba…
“Don’t forget the password, otherwise…”

Why are there two ba in ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba?

Hausa often uses double ba to negate future‑like forms with za.

Pattern:

Affirmative future ability: za ka iya shiga… = “you will be able to enter…”
Negative: ba za ka iya shiga… ba = “you will not be able to enter…”

Structure:

ba (first) = opens the negation
za ka iya shiga shafin intanet = “you will be able to enter the website”
ba (second) = closes the negation

So ba … ba together mark negation around the future phrase with za.

What does za ka iya mean, and why do we need both words?

za ka iya expresses future ability – “you will be able (to).”

Breakdown:

za = future marker (“will / shall / going to”)
ka = “you” (singular, masculine subject pronoun)
iya = “to be able (to), can”

So:

za ka iya shiga… = “you will be able to enter…”
In the sentence: ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba = “you will not be able to enter the website.”

What does shiga shafin intanet literally mean?

shiga shafin intanet literally means “enter the internet site/page.”

Breakdown:

shiga = “to enter, to go into, to log in/access”
shafi = “page, site”
shafin = “the page/site of …” (the -n links it to what follows)
intanet = “internet”

So:

shafi-n intanet → shafin intanet = “internet site / web page”
shiga shafin intanet = “enter the website / log into the site”

How does shafin intanet show possession or “of” in Hausa?

Hausa often shows an “X of Y” or “Y’s X” relationship by attaching -n / -r to the first noun.

Pattern:

shafi = “page/site”
shafi + n = shafin = “the page of …”
shafin intanet = “the page/site of the internet” → “internet site / website”

Another example:

kalma (word) + -r = kalmar
kalmar sirri = “the word of secret” → “secret word / password”

Why is the pronoun ka used twice in the sentence?

Hausa normally repeats the subject pronoun in each clause.

The sentence has two main parts:

Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri → “Don’t you forget the password”
ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba → “you will not be able to enter the website”

Both clauses have ka = “you (singular, masculine).”
Each clause needs its own subject, so ka appears in both:

First clause (imperative): kar ka manta…
Second clause (future negation): ba za ka iya shiga… ba

Is the ka here specifically masculine? How would it change for a woman or a group?

Yes. ka is 2nd person singular masculine (“you” to a man).

Alternatives:

To a woman (singular):
- Kar ki manta da kalmar sirri, in ba haka ba ba za ki iya shiga shafin intanet ba.
To more than one person:
- Kar ku manta da kalmar sirri, in ba haka ba ba za ku iya shiga shafin intanet ba.

So:

ka = you (one man)
ki = you (one woman)
ku = you (plural)

Can I say kada ka manta instead of kar ka manta?

Yes.

kada ka manta and kar ka manta both mean “don’t forget.”

kada is very common and slightly more neutral/formal.
kar is also widely used; in many contexts they’re interchangeable.

Examples:

Kada ka manta da kalmar sirri.
Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri.

Both: “Don’t forget the password.”

Is in ba haka ba the only way to say “otherwise” in Hausa?

in ba haka ba is the most common set phrase for “otherwise / if not / or else.”

Two related options:

idan ba haka ba – same meaning; idan is another word for “if.”
in ba haka ba, ba za ka iya… ba – the typical pattern: “otherwise, you will not be able…”

So while you can technically rephrase the whole sentence using other “if” constructions, in ba haka ba is the standard, natural way to say “otherwise.”

Could the sentence be shorter, like Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri, ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba without in ba haka ba?

Yes, grammatically you can say:

Kar ka manta da kalmar sirri, ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba.

This would sound like:

“Don’t forget the password, you won’t be able to enter the website.”

However:

Adding in ba haka ba makes the logical connection explicit: “otherwise you won’t be able…”
Native style usually prefers the full in ba haka ba ba za ka iya… ba in this kind of warning sentence.

So the shorter version is understandable, but the original is more idiomatic.

Is there any tense difference between ba ka iya shiga… and ba za ka iya shiga… ba?

Yes:

ba ka iya shiga shafin intanet
→ “you are not able to enter the website” (present state, no za → not future)
ba za ka iya shiga shafin intanet ba
→ “you will not be able to enter the website” (future or consequence)

In the given sentence:

The idea is a future consequence of forgetting, so ba za ka iya… ba is correct:
“otherwise you won’t be able to log in.”