Looking for practical Kikongo to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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.
Mbote
Mgbakpa
Mele
Ior na
Mokolo mayele
Mgbakpa u sha
Mokolo ya ntango
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mokolo ya mambu
Mgbakpa u ter
Mokolo ya mpembe
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tala mosi
Kpa a joo
Tata
Ior a joo
Nki yina nzo?
Ior m ngu?
Nzo yami ke John
M ngu John
Oko wanga?
Ior m nande?
Nki ya mosi na yo
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
I kpa English?
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Nkeni kanga.
M nahan usha.
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
M nahan usha kpa.
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
I kpa a sha?
Kutu wapi banzela?
I we a joo?
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Tanda na luma.
Kpa a joo.
Tanda na mambu.
Kpa a nahan.
Enda na mosi.
Kpa a sha.
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Nki feti na wapi?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nkeni zola.
M nahan sha.
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ee
Te
Naa
Kasi
Iye
Nkiadi
M na a kpa
Nkiadi te
M na a kpa nahan
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
I kpa a kpa
Nkiadi nini?
U kpa a nahan?
Okanza kudi nki?
U kpa m nahan?
Nkiadi kudi nki
M na a kpa nahan
Lela na nki
Kpa a kpa
Nkiadi na nki
M na a kpa
Te na nki
Naa a kpa
Tata na nki
I kpa a kpa
Mokolo ya mbote
A kpa a kpa
Tala na nzala ya malamu
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Ior a kpa?(Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)
Wana wanga na bus?
Ior a nyam?(Wana wanga na bus?)
Nki platform yai?
Ior a gande?(Nki platform yai?)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Nenge a kpa?(Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Ior a nenge a?(Yai ke nzila ya nki?)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
I na kpa a.(Eza na nsi ya nzo)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
I na kpa a kpa.(Eza na mosi ya nzo)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
I ma ior a gande?(Okanisa ngai na mape?)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Kpa a, please.(Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
Nenge a kpa?(Nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nki yina kudi?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Yina kele na nsi
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ona kima ki nsi?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ncanza kudi na kadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Kadi, ndakisa
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndi muvegetari
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Kaka mfu, ndakisa
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Yina kele na nsi
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ncanza na menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Landa boma
Kpa a police
Landa ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nkeni mosi
M ba a doctor
Nkeni na mbisi
M kpa a kpa
Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu
M kpa a nyam
Wana hospital ya mbote?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Eka na nki
I kpa a sha
Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai
M kpa a passport m
Olanda hotel na ngai?
I kpa a hotel m?
Tala!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nzo ya kima
Ior u kpa.(Nzò ya kima)
Tukala na mbandu
Ka a hia ikyô.(Tukàla na mbàndu)
Nki nsi ya ntangu?
Nî kpa u kpa?(Nki nsi ya ntángu?)
Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu
M gbanor u kpe.(Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)
Tukala na kanda se
A hia nî u hia?(Tukàla na kànda sè?)
Tula nsi ya file ya kima
M kpa u venge.(Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)
Mosi na nsi ya ntangu
Ior u nenge.(Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)
Ndi zola ku zola na yo
M hia u kpa.(Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)
Nki o zola ku zola nki?
Ior a hia u mba?(Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)
Ndi zola ku yindula na yo
Ka m hia u.(Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)
Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.