Looking for practical Bemba to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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 Bemba 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 Bemba 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.
Shani
Mgbakpa
Natotela
Ior na
Muli shani
Mgbakpa u sha
Muli shani
Mgbakpa u kpa
Muli shani
Mgbakpa u ter
Shalenipo bwino
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tukakutana
Kpa a joo
Twalumba
Ior a joo
Iwe ulishani?
Ior m ngu?
Ndefwaya John
M ngu John
Uli bwanji?
Ior m nande?
Nashitasha kukumona
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
I kpa English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
M nahan usha.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
M nahan usha kpa.
Ningaloleleko?
I kpa a sha?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
I we a joo?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Kpa a joo.
Fumya kumwendo
Kpa a nahan.
Enda pamo
Kpa a sha.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ticket imwe, nomba
I kpa a ticket, please.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndi lost
M nahan sha.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Ee
Awe
Naa
Panga
Iye
Ndi bwino
M na a kpa
Ndi bwino na
M na a kpa nahan
Ilyo lishibukile
I kpa a kpa
Uchite shani?
U kpa a nahan?
Ushakufwa?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
M na a kpa nahan
Leka ifi
Kpa a kpa
Nshakufwa
M na a kpa
Takwaba shani
Naa a kpa
Nshakufwa bwino
I kpa a kpa
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
A kpa a kpa
Ube na mulimo wabwino
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Ior a kpa?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Ior a nyam?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Ior a gande?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Nenge a kpa?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Ior a nenge a?
Ili pamo na pano.
I na kpa a.
Ili lishilu na pano.
I na kpa a kpa.
Ushibukishe pa mape?
I ma ior a gande?
Leka pano, chonde.
Kpa a, please.
Kuli shani?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ili lya kuli
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Icilanga, tapali
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndi mvegetarian
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ili lya bwino
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Kpa a police
Tuma ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
M ba a doctor
Nshikala bwino
M kpa a kpa
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
M kpa a nyam
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kuli ububi pano
I kpa a sha
Nashitile passport yangu
M kpa a passport m
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
I kpa a hotel m?
Chikondi!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Ior u kpa.(na-sha-mu-ke-ni)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Ka a hia ikyô.(tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Nî kpa u kpa?(nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
M gbanor u kpe.(ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
A hia nî u hia?(twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
M kpa u venge.(nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)
Natotela pa nshita
Ior u nenge.(na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
M hia u kpa.(ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
Ior a hia u mba?(wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)
Nizakukumbusha
Ka m hia u.(ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)
Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.