Looking for practical Afar to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tiv-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar 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.
Nagaad
Mgbakpa(nagaad)
Galatooma
Ior na(galatooma)
Bariis
Mgbakpa u sha(bariis)
Galab
Mgbakpa u kpa(galab)
Haal
Mgbakpa u ter(haal)
Haalka habeen
Mgbakpa u ter sha(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Kpa a joo(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Ior a joo(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Ior m ngu?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
M ngu John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Ior m nande?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Ior m nande a joo(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
I kpa English?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
M nahan Hindi nahan.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
M nahan usha.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
M nahan usha kpa.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
I kpa a sha?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
I we a joo?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Kpa a joo.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Kpa a nahan.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Kpa a sha.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
I kpa a ticket, please.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
I we a nahan a nahan?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
M nahan sha.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ee(ee-yee)
Maya
Naa(mah-yah)
Gara
Iye(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
M na a kpa(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
M na a kpa nahan(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
I kpa a kpa(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
U kpa a nahan?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
U kpa m nahan?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
M na a kpa nahan(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Kpa a kpa(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
M na a kpa(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Naa a kpa(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
I kpa a kpa(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
A kpa a kpa(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
U kpa a kpa(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Ior a kpa?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Ior a nyam?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Ior a gande?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Nenge a kpa?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Ior a nenge a?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
I na kpa a.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
I na kpa a kpa.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
I ma ior a gande?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Kpa a, please.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Nenge a kpa?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Iyayka xayl
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Karta ka'ayka?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Xisaab, fadlan
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Tani waa macaan
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Kpa a police(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Kpa a ambulance(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
M ba a doctor
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
M kpa a kpa
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
M kpa a nyam
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
I kpa a sha
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
M kpa a passport m
Hoteela koo waaqa?
I kpa a hotel m?
Gargaarsa!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Ior u kpa.(na-gaad waa-yi)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Ka a hia ikyô.(na-gaad kaa-bir-na waa-yi)
Waqti mee waayi?
Nî kpa u kpa?(waq-ti mee waa-yi)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
M gbanor u kpe.(war-qad kaan di-ra-ya har-ra)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
A hia nî u hia?(maan-ta waa-yi ha-dal-naa)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
M kpa u venge.(fayl-ka ku li-faa-qan fad-lan)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Ior u nenge.(ma-had-sa-nid waq-ti-ga-a-ga)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
M hia u kpa.(wax-aan ra-jeen-yaa-in aan la sha-qee-yo)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
Ior a hia u mba?(ma ca-dayn kar-taa dhi-bi-cda-as)
Iga raadi dib
Ka m hia u.(i-ga raa-di dib)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(waq-ti-ga ka-ma dam-bay-sta waa jim-co)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.