Looking for practical Dombe to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dombe 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: read the Tiv line out loud three times, then cover the Dombe side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dombe 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.
Salibonani
Mgbakpa
Ngiyabonga
Ior na
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u sha
Uhlanga oluhle
Mgbakpa u kpa
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u ter
Lala kahle
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Siyaphinda
Kpa a joo
Hamba kahle
Ior a joo
Ubani igama lakho?
Ior m ngu?
Igama lami nguJohn
M ngu John
Unjani?
Ior m nande?
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uta kuta chiRungu?
I kpa English?
Ndi ndakuta Hindi zvakanaka.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ndi ndinzwisise.
M nahan usha.
Ndapota kuta zvishoma.
M nahan usha kpa.
Ungazvitaura zvakare?
I kpa a sha?
Chikamu chechimbuzi chiri kupi?
I we a joo?
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwekugara?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Tendeuka kuruboshwe.
Kpa a joo.
Tendeuka kurudyi.
Kpa a nahan.
Enda mberi.
Kpa a sha.
Mitero inodhura zvakadini?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tikiti imwe, ndapota.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Iri kure here kubva pano?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndakanyura.
M nahan sha.
Ndingatenga sei kadhi reSIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Ee
Aih
Naa
Zvichida
Iye
Ndinobvumirana
M na a kpa
Ndinopikisa
M na a kpa nahan
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
I kpa a kpa
Unofungei?
U kpa a nahan?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
M na a kpa nahan
Mirira kwechinguva
Kpa a kpa
Ndine hurombo
M na a kpa
Hapana dambudziko
Naa a kpa
Makorokoto
I kpa a kpa
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
A kpa a kpa
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi yehamba yechitima?
Ior a kpa?(ku-pi ye-hamba ye-chi-ti-ma)
Kupi yehamba yebhazi?
Ior a nyam?(ku-pi ye-hamba ye-bha-zi)
Ndeipi chikuva?
Ior a gande?(Nde-i-pi chi-ku-va)
Ndeipi nguva inobva?
Nenge a kpa?(Nde-i-pi ngu-va i-no-bva)
Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama?
Ior a nenge a?(I-yi ndi-yo nzi-ra ya-ka-ru-ra-ma)
Iri pedyo pano
I na kpa a.(I-ri pe-dyo pa-no)
Iri kure nepanotangira
I na kpa a kpa.(I-ri ku-re ne-pa-no-tan-gi-ra)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu?
I ma ior a gande?(U-no-go-na kun-di-ra-ti-dza pa-me-pu)
Mira pano, ndapota
Kpa a, please.(Mi-ra pa-no, n-da-po-ta)
Inotora nguva yakareba?
Nenge a kpa?(I-no-to-ra ngu-va ya-ka-re-ba)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iri chingani?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Iri kutengesa kwazvo
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Une chimwe chiri kutengesa chiri pasi?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndinoda tafura yevaviri
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Sevhisi yakasanganisirwa here?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndiri vegetarian
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Iri rinonaka
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fona mapurisa
Kpa a police
Fona amburensi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndiri kuda chiremba
M ba a doctor
Ndiri kurwara
M kpa a kpa
Ndine allergy kumapere
M kpa a nyam
Papi chipatara chiri pedyo?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Zvinorwadza pano
I kpa a sha
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
M kpa a passport m
Unogona kufona hotera yangu?
I kpa a hotel m?
Rubatsiro!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndiwe wakanaka
Ior u kpa.
Ngatironge musangano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi
M gbanor u kpe.
Tingataure mangwana here?
A hia nî u hia?
Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa
M kpa u venge.
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Ior u nenge.
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
M hia u kpa.
Ungajekesa ipapo here?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nditende kuti ndidzoke kwauri
Ka m hia u.
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.