Learn Hardcore Hausa: Don Allah ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta. - Please press the bank card PIN on the computer.

In everyday speech, though, it mostly functions like “please” or “I beg you / I’m asking you nicely”. It does still have a religious flavor (invoking God), but it’s extremely common and doesn’t usually sound heavy or dramatic.

So in this sentence, Don Allah makes the command more polite:

Ka danna lambar sirri… = “Enter the PIN…”
Don Allah ka danna lambar sirri… = “Please enter the PIN…”

Why is ka used here? Does it mean “you”? What would change for a woman or for more than one person?

Yes, ka is the 2nd person masculine singular subject pronoun used in this kind of command.

In imperative-like sentences with a pronoun before the verb, Hausa often uses:

ka = you (male, singular)
ki = you (female, singular)
ku = you (plural, or polite)

So:

Don Allah ka danna…
Talking to one man: “Please (you m.sg.) press…”
Don Allah ki danna lambar sirri…
Talking to one woman.
Don Allah ku danna lambar sirri…
Talking to several people, or polite/formal “you”.

The rest of the sentence stays the same; only ka / ki / ku changes.

What exactly does danna mean? Is it “press,” “click,” or “type”?

Danna means to press or to push down on something.

In modern usage with devices, it can cover:

Pressing keys on a keyboard: danna maballin kwamfuta – press the computer key.
Pressing buttons: danna maballi – press buttons.
Clicking with a mouse or on a touchscreen: danna maɓallin linzamin kwamfuta – click the mouse button.

So in this sentence, ka danna lambar sirri… is basically “press/enter the PIN” (by pressing the keys).

How is lambar sirri structured? Why is it not just lamba sirri?

Breakdown:

lamba = number
sirri = secret
lambar = lamba + -r, a linker that usually appears when a noun is followed by a modifier or possessor.

So:

lamba sirri is not correct in this context.
lambar sirri = “the secret number” (literally number-the secret).

The -r on lambar is a linking consonant (genitive/attributive form) showing that sirri is describing lamba. This is the normal form when you say “X of Y” or “X that is Y” with a following noun.

What does ta katin banki mean, and why is ta used instead of na?

Ta katin banki = “of the bank card”.

Breakdown:

lambar sirri = the secret number/PIN.
ta = feminine singular linker “of”.
kati = card.
katin banki = bank card (literally “card of bank”).

So lambar sirri ta katin banki = “the secret number of the bank card” / “the bank card’s PIN”.

Why ta?
Because lamba (number) is grammatically feminine in Hausa. The linker must match the gender of the head noun (lambar sirri), not the card:

Feminine singular head noun ⇒ ta
Masculine singular head noun ⇒ na

Examples:

lambar sirri ta katin banki – PIN of the card (lamba is feminine).
sunan mai katin banki na banki – the name of the bank card holder (suna ‘name’ is masculine, so na).

Why do we say lambar sirri ta katin banki instead of something shorter like just lambar sirri?

You can say just lambar sirri if the context is clear (everyone knows you mean the PIN of a certain card or device).

Adding ta katin banki makes it specific:

lambar sirri = a/that PIN, secret number (unspecified).
lambar sirri ta katin banki = the PIN of the bank card (very explicit).

In instructions where clarity matters (e.g. on an ATM), Hausa often spells things out like this to avoid ambiguity.

How does katin banki work grammatically? Is katin one word or two?

Grammatically:

kati = card.
-n attached: katin = “card-of”, a linker form.
banki = bank.

This is the same linking pattern you saw with lambar:

kati (card) → katin when followed by another noun.
katin banki = “card of bank” = “bank card”.

So katin is kati + linker -n, not a completely separate word.

What does a kan mean here? Is it different from akan?

In this sentence, a kan means “on (top of) / onto”:

a kan kwamfuta = on the computer (e.g. on the computer keyboard, on the computer interface).

About a kan vs akan:

a kan as two words
- a = in/at/on (generic preposition)
- kan = top, surface, head
  Together: on top of, literally “on the top/surface of”.
akan as one word
- Often used with meanings like “about / concerning / regarding”.
  Example: muna magana akan aikinka – we are talking about your job.

In physical location contexts like “on the computer,” you usually see a kan (two words).

Could the word order be different, like moving Don Allah or a kan kwamfuta around?

Some variation is possible, but certain orders are most natural.

Original:

Don Allah ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.

Common, natural variants:

Ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta, don Allah.
Same meaning, you just moved Don Allah to the end.
Don Allah, ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.
Adding a comma after Don Allah is just an English writing habit; in speech, same as original.

Placing a kan kwamfuta earlier, like:

✗ Don Allah ka a kan kwamfuta danna lambar sirri…
would sound wrong. The place phrase a kan kwamfuta normally stays after the object phrase, as in the original.

How polite or strong does this sentence sound? Is it more like “Please enter…” or “You must enter…”?

With Don Allah, it sounds polite but still clearly a command/request.

Nuances:

Ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.
Neutral command: “Enter the PIN…”.
Don Allah ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.
Polite request: “Please enter the PIN…”.

So it’s closer to a polite instruction (like on a machine or from a clerk) than a harsh order. If you drop Don Allah, it becomes more bare/instructional but still normal for written or on‑screen instructions.

For on-screen or written instructions, would Hausa still use ka, or would it drop the pronoun?

Both styles are found, but each has a feel:

With ka (or ku):
- Ka danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.
  Feels like speaking directly to you (one user), often in spoken instructions or informal notices.
Without the pronoun:
- A danna lambar sirri ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.
  Using the passive/impersonal a can feel more formal / instruction-like, similar to “The PIN should be entered…” or “Enter the PIN…” on screens and signs.

So yes, written instructions might use forms like a danna… instead of ka danna… depending on style.

Could Hausa just use the English word “PIN” instead of lambar sirri?

Yes, in everyday speech people often mix in PIN, but they usually still keep lamba:

Common patterns:

lambar PIN – PIN number.
lambar sirri (PIN) – secret number (PIN).
PIN ɗin katin banki – the PIN of the bank card.

So you might hear:

Don Allah ka danna lambar PIN ta katin banki a kan kwamfuta.

Your original sentence is perfectly good pure Hausa without the English borrowing.

How would I say “my PIN” or “your PIN” based on this sentence?

You attach possessive pronouns to lambar sirri (or to lamba):

lambar sirrina – my PIN
(sirri + -na “my”)
lambar sarrinka – your PIN (to a man, sg.)
(sirri + -nka)
lambar sarrinki – your PIN (to a woman, sg.)
(sirri + -nki)
lambar sarrinku – your PIN (plural “you”)
(sirri + -nku)

In a full sentence:

Don Allah ka danna lambar sirrinka a kan kwamfuta.
“Please enter your PIN on the computer.”