Hausa

noun

Hau·​sa ˈhau̇-sə 

-zə

plural Hausa or Hausas

1

: the Chadic language of the Hausa people widely used in western Africa as a trade language

2

: a member of a people of northern Nigeria and southern Niger

Examples of Hausa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Languages with tens of millions of speakers, including Bengali and Hausa, barely appear. — Gareth Barkin, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026

Ghana’s education minister emphasized the importance of including Hausa — spoken by around 22 million people across West Africa — in the AI initiative. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026

In Kano and Northern Nigeria, this marks the start of the Durbar festival, an annual cultural, religious and equestrian celebration showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of the Hausa people. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Unlike international outlets, which typically broadcast in French, community stations use local languages such as Songhai, Fulfulde, Hausa, and Bambara. — Adrien Marotte, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Nov. 2025

Muslim traders and missionaries began traveling to Hausa lands in the twelfth century, and much of the society gradually converted to Islam. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Sep. 2025

Hundreds of protesters attended the event chanting slogans and songs in English and the Hausa language spoken widely in northern Nigeria. — Hamza Ibrahim, semafor.com, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Hausa Hausā

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1