Looking for practical Kanuri to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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.
Sannu
Mgbakpa
Nagode
Ior na
Ina kwana
Mgbakpa u sha
Ina yamma
Mgbakpa u kpa
Ina dare
Mgbakpa u ter
Sai da safe
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Zan ganka
Kpa a joo
Sai anjima
Ior a joo
Menene sunanka?
Ior m ngu?
Sunana John
M ngu John
Lafiya lau?
Ior m nande?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
I kpa English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ba na fahimta.
M nahan usha.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
M nahan usha kpa.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
I kpa a sha?
Ina wanka?
I we a joo?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Juya hagu.
Kpa a joo.
Juya dama.
Kpa a nahan.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Kpa a sha.
Nawa ne farashin?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Na ɓace.
M nahan sha.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Ee(ee-y)
A'a
Naa(ah-ah)
Wata
Iye(wah-tah)
Na amu
M na a kpa(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
M na a kpa nahan(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
I kpa a kpa(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
U kpa a nahan?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
U kpa m nahan?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
M na a kpa nahan(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Kpa a kpa(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
M na a kpa(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Naa a kpa(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
I kpa a kpa(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
A kpa a kpa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
U kpa a kpa(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Ior a kpa?
Nye boko na bas?
Ior a nyam?
Wane boko na?
Ior a gande?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Nenge a kpa?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ior a nenge a?
Yana kusa da nan
I na kpa a.
Yana nesa da nan
I na kpa a kpa.
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
I ma ior a gande?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Kpa a, please.
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Lissafi, don Allah.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Wannan yana da dadi.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Zan iya samun menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Kpa a police(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Kpa a ambulance(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
M ba a doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
M kpa a kpa(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
M kpa a nyam(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
I kpa a hospital mza?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
I kpa a sha(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
M kpa a passport m(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
I kpa a hotel m?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Ior u kpa.(nde gaishe)
Mu gaishe taro
Ka a hia ikyô.(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Nî kpa u kpa?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
M gbanor u kpe.(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
A hia nî u hia?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
M kpa u venge.(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Ior u nenge.(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
M hia u kpa.(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Ior a hia u mba?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Ka m hia u.(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.