The Verb "To Have"

This unit covers the verb “to have” in Zarma, along with expressions for wanting and needing things.

Affirmative: “gonda”

The form “gonda” is the same for all pronouns.

Zarma	English
Ay gonda tira	I have a book
Ni gonda moto	You have a car
A gonda fu	He/She has a house
Ay gonda noru	I have money
A gonda bari da farkay	He has a horse and a donkey

Negative: “sinda”

The form “sinda” is the same for all pronouns.

Zarma	English
Ay sinda nooru	I haven’t money
I sinda moto	They haven’t a car
Ni sinda gaabi	You lack strength
A sinda bari	He has not a horse

Wanting: “ga ba” / “si ba”

Zarma	English
Ay ga ba ay ma koy Niamey	I would like to go to Niamey
Ay ga ba ni ma nwa banana	I would like you to eat banana
Ay ga ba ay ma di ni	I would like to see you
Ay ga ba ay ma fulanzam	I would like to rest
Ay si ba ay ma koy dosso	I don’t want to go to Dosso
Ni si ba ni ma fulanzam	You don’t want to rest
Ay si ba ay ma dira	I don’t want to leave

Expressing Needs: “gonda…muradu”

The needed thing is sandwiched between “gonda” and “muradu.”

Zarma	English
John gonda cawyan muradu	John needs to study
Ir gonda jirbi muradu	We need to sleep
Ni gonda Coca muradu	You need a Coke
A gonda fulanzam muradu	He needs to rest
Ay sinda fori muradu	I don’t need to play
Omar sinda bagi muradu	Omar doesn’t need a beer