Looking for practical Fon to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon 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 Fon 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 Fon 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.
Nɔ́
Mgbakpa(nɔ́)
Mèdɔ́
Ior na(mèdɔ́)
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ
Mgbakpa u sha(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Mèdɔ́ ɖe
Mgbakpa u kpa(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe
Mgbakpa u ter(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ
Mgbakpa u ter sha(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Nɔ́ wɛ
Kpa a joo(nɔ́ wɛ)
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe
Ior a joo(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Ior m ngu?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mè nɔ́ John
M ngu John(mè nɔ́ John)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Ior m nande?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́
Ior m nande a joo(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
I kpa English?
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Mè n'kó nù.
M nahan usha.
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
M nahan usha kpa.
Mè s'kà yé nù?
I kpa a sha?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
I we a joo?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Tò n'kà kè.
Kpa a joo.
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Kpa a nahan.
Lè n'kà kè.
Kpa a sha.
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
M nahan sha.
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ɛ
Ee(e)
Ayi
Naa(ayi)
Mɛ
Iye(me)
Mè yé
M na a kpa(me ye)
Mè n'yi
M na a kpa nahan(me n'yi)
N'kɔ nɔ
I kpa a kpa(n'ko no)
N'kɔ a kɔ?
U kpa a nahan?(n'ko a ko)
I n'kɔ mɛ?
U kpa m nahan?(i n'ko me)
Mè n'kɔ mɛ
M na a kpa nahan(me n'ko me)
Tɔ́ nɔ
Kpa a kpa(to no)
Mè nɔ n'kɔ
M na a kpa(me no n'ko)
Ayi n'kɔ
Naa a kpa(ayi n'ko)
Mè nɔ wé
I kpa a kpa(me no we)
Mè nɔ tɔ́
A kpa a kpa(me no to)
N'kɔ a wé dɔ
U kpa a kpa(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
N'ye wé train station?
Ior a kpa?(N'ye wé train station?)
N'ye wé bus stop?
Ior a nyam?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Ké platform na?
Ior a gande?(Ké platform na?)
Ké sa a yé?
Nenge a kpa?(Ké sa a yé?)
N'ye wé yé na?
Ior a nenge a?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Yé na hɛn
I na kpa a.(Yé na hɛn)
Yé na hɛn gbo
I na kpa a kpa.(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?
I ma ior a gande?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît
Kpa a, please.(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Ké sa a yé?
Nenge a kpa?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mè wé na?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Sè wé bɔ́?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Yè wé sɔ́.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́
Kpa a police(nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́)
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans
Kpa a ambulance(nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans)
Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́
M ba a doctor(mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́)
Mè tɔ́ dɔ́
M kpa a kpa(mè tɔ́ dɔ́)
Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́
M kpa a nyam(mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́)
Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?
I kpa a hospital mza?(fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?)
A hùn nɔ́
I kpa a sha(a hùn nɔ́)
Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́
M kpa a passport m(mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́)
Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?
I kpa a hotel m?(kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?)
Sè!
Kpa!(sè!)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mè wá nɔ́
Ior u kpa.(Me wa no)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Ka a hia ikyô.(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Nî kpa u kpa?(No ko so ko?)
Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́
M gbanor u kpe.(Me ye so no ko bo)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́
A hia nî u hia?(Me to no ko bo ko)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́
M kpa u venge.(Me to no ko so no)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́
Ior u nenge.(Me to no ko no)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
M hia u kpa.(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Ior a hia u mba?(No ko so ko?)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Ka m hia u.(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(No ko so ko)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.