Looking for practical Chichewa to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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: pick five Tiv phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chichewa 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.
Moni
Mgbakpa
Zikomo
Ior na
M'mawa wabwino
Mgbakpa u sha
Masana abwino
Mgbakpa u kpa
Madziwabwino
Mgbakpa u ter
Usiku wabwino
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tiwonana
Kpa a joo
Tsalani bwino
Ior a joo
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Ior m ngu?
Dzina langa ndi John
M ngu John
Muli bwanji?
Ior m nande?
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
I kpa English?(Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
M nahan Hindi nahan.(Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
M nahan usha.(Sindikumva)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
M nahan usha kpa.(Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
I kpa a sha?(Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
I we a joo?(Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)
Pangani kumanzere
Kpa a joo.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pangani kumanzere
Kpa a nahan.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pitani mwachindunji
Kpa a sha.(Pitani mwachindunji)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(Ndi ndalama zingati?)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
I kpa a ticket, please.(Tiket imodzi, chonde)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
I we a nahan a nahan?(Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)
Ndakhalapo
M nahan sha.(Ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Ee
Ayi
Naa
Mwina
Iye
Ndikugwirizana
M na a kpa
Sindikugwirizana
M na a kpa nahan
Zimakoma
I kpa a kpa
Mumaganiza chiyani?
U kpa a nahan?
Mungandithandize?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndikufuna thandizo
M na a kpa nahan
Dikirani pang'ono
Kpa a kpa
Ndikupemphera
M na a kpa
Palibe vuto
Naa a kpa
Zikomo
I kpa a kpa
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
A kpa a kpa
Pita bwino
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Ior a kpa?
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Ior a nyam?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ior a gande?
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Nenge a kpa?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ior a nenge a?
Ili pafupi pano
I na kpa a.
Ili kutali pano
I na kpa a kpa.
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
I ma ior a gande?
Khalani pano, chonde
Kpa a, please.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zimatenga ndalama zingati?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Chikonthe, chonde.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndine mvegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Izi ndizochuluka.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndingathe kupeza menyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani apolisi
Kpa a police
Fufuzani ambulansi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
M ba a doctor
Ndikumva kutopa
M kpa a kpa
Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala
M kpa a nyam
Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kukonda apa
I kpa a sha
Ndapeza pasipoti yanga
M kpa a passport m
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
I kpa a hotel m?
Thandizani!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu
Ior u kpa.
Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndzatumiza lipoti lero
M gbanor u kpe.
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
A hia nî u hia?
Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa
M kpa u venge.
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Ior u nenge.
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
M hia u kpa.
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu
Ka m hia u.
Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.