Looking for practical Acholi to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Tiv translation (Tiv) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Tiv.
Tip: when a Tiv phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Acholi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Tiv translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ayo
Mgbakpa(ah-yo)
Naki
Ior na(nah-kee)
Bok moti
Mgbakpa u sha(bok mo-tee)
Bok nongo
Mgbakpa u kpa(bok non-go)
Bok obedo
Mgbakpa u ter(bok oh-beh-do)
Bok ngat
Mgbakpa u ter sha(bok ngat)
Tye kany
Kpa a joo(tye kan-yee)
Itye
Ior a joo(ee-tye)
Iti ma ineno?
Ior m ngu?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Ineno John
M ngu John(ee-neh-no John)
Iti ma inyo?
Ior m nande?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Gat ma inyo
Ior m nande a joo(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
I kpa English?
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Nye neno.
M nahan usha.
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
M nahan usha kpa.
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
I kpa a sha?
Iti kanyim ngat?
I we a joo?
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Konyo kuc.
Kpa a joo.
Konyo kuc.
Kpa a nahan.
Tye kanyim.
Kpa a sha.
Iti kanyim ngat?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
One ticket, please.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Iti kanyim kanyim?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nye konyo.
M nahan sha.
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ee
Bila
Naa
Kweyo
Iye
Ng'ato konyo
M na a kpa
Ng'ato konyo ni
M na a kpa nahan
Okwero kany
I kpa a kpa
Ika kany?
U kpa a nahan?
Ikwok kany?
U kpa m nahan?
Ng'ato konyo kany
M na a kpa nahan
Tye kany
Kpa a kpa
Ng'ato konyo
M na a kpa
Bila kany
Naa a kpa
Tye kany
I kpa a kpa
Aye konyo
A kpa a kpa
Tye kany ma ng'ato
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Ior a kpa?(Atye kany kwo?)
Atye kany bura?
Ior a nyam?(Atye kany bura?)
Kati onyo kwo?
Ior a gande?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Nye kwo nongo?
Nenge a kpa?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Kik kwo gwen?
Ior a nenge a?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Okwang kany ici
I na kpa a.(Okwang kany ici)
Okwang kany piny
I na kpa a kpa.(Okwang kany piny)
Nye konyo i map?
I ma ior a gande?(Nye konyo i map?)
Doko ici, pe?
Kpa a, please.(Doko ici, pe?)
Nye kwo ngat?
Nenge a kpa?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nye keken me?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Okwero keken
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Itye keken me?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Nye konyo kadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nye tye kany kwo
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Kaka, nyinga
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Kati kany me?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nye konyo wot
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Kati wot kany, nyinga
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Iti kany
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Nye konyo kadi me?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Kadi me kic, nyinga
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Yat ma police
Kpa a police
Yat ma ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nye konyo doctor
M ba a doctor
Nye konyo wot
M kpa a kpa
Nye konyo kany kic
M kpa a nyam
Kati ki hospital ma kany?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Okwero ineno
I kpa a sha
Nye tye konyo passport
M kpa a passport m
Okwero yat ma hotel amoni?
I kpa a hotel m?
Yat!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nye kany me
Ior u kpa.(Nye kany me)
Dano kany oting
Ka a hia ikyô.(Dano kany oting)
Nye kany ma kany?
Nî kpa u kpa?(Nye kany ma kany?)
Ngatye kany report kany
M gbanor u kpe.(Ngatye kany report kany)
Nye kany ma kany tye?
A hia nî u hia?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Nye kany ma file kany
M kpa u venge.(Nye kany ma file kany)
Atye kany ma kany
Ior u nenge.(Atye kany ma kany)
Nye kany ma kany kany
M hia u kpa.(Nye kany ma kany kany)
Nye kany ma kany tye?
Ior a hia u mba?(Nye kany ma kany tye?)
Dano kany ma kany
Ka m hia u.(Dano kany ma kany)
Kany kany Friday
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(Kany kany Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.