Arabic Loanwords in Hausa Language: A Morphological Analysis of Contemporary Usage in Kano State

Arabic has exerted a profound lexical influence on Hausa, one of Nigeria's most widely spoken languages, particularly through centuries of Islamic scholarship and trans-Saharan trade. This study examines Arabic loanwords currently in use within Hausa-speaking communities in Kano State, focusing on their morphological adaptation into Hausa phonology and grammar. The research adopts a descriptive linguistic methodology, collecting data through structured interviews and recorded natural speech from 120 participants drawn from urban and semi-urban communities across three local government areas in Kano. A purposive sampling technique is used to ensure representation across age groups, educational backgrounds, and occupational categories. The study analyses how Arabic words undergo phonological modification, plural formation, and semantic shift upon integration into Hausa. Findings are expected to reveal that loanwords in religious, commercial, and educational domains have undergone the most extensive morphological adaptation, reflecting the functional contexts of Arabic-Hausa contact. The research contributes to Nigerian applied linguistics by documenting living patterns of language contact and change in a geopolitically significant region. It also provides pedagogical insights for Arabic language teachers working in northern Nigerian communities. The study draws on recent scholarship in contact linguistics, morphological typology, and sociolinguistics to frame its analysis. Keywords: Arabic loanwords, Hausa language, morphological adaptation, language contact, Kano State.