Looking for practical Kinyarwanda to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kinyarwanda 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 Kinyarwanda 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.
Muraho
Mgbakpa
Urakoze
Ior na
Bwakire bwiza
Mgbakpa u sha
Nimugoroba mwiza
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mwaramutse mwiza
Mgbakpa u ter
Ijoro ryiza
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tuzabonana nyuma
Kpa a joo
Murabeho
Ior a joo
Witwa nde?
Ior m ngu?
Nitwa John
M ngu John
Umeze ute?
Ior m nande?
Nishimiye kukumenya
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
I kpa English?
Sinavuga Hindi neza
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Sinumva
M nahan usha.
Nyabuneka vuga buhoro
M nahan usha kpa.
Wabivuga ukundi?
I kpa a sha?
Aho ubwiherero buri he?
I we a joo?
Nagenda nte ku mugi?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Hindukira ibumoso
Kpa a joo.
Hindukira iburyo
Kpa a nahan.
Genda imbere
Kpa a sha.
Igiciro ni ikihe?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Itike imwe, nyabuneka
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ni kure hano?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndi mu kaga
M nahan sha.
Nshobora kugura SIM card he?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Ee
Oya
Naa
Birashoboka
Iye
Ndemeranya
M na a kpa
Sinemeranya
M na a kpa nahan
Birumvikana neza
I kpa a kpa
Ubitekerezaho iki?
U kpa a nahan?
Urashobora kumfasha?
U kpa m nahan?
Nkeneye ubufasha
M na a kpa nahan
Tegereza gato
Kpa a kpa
Ndakwinginze
M na a kpa
Nta kibazo
Naa a kpa
Ibyishimo
I kpa a kpa
Isabukuru nziza
A kpa a kpa
Ugire urugendo rwiza
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?
Ior a kpa?(Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?)
Aho ahagarara bisi?
Ior a nyam?(Aho ahagarara bisi?)
Ni iyihe platform?
Ior a gande?(Ni iyihe platform?)
Igihe izava ryari?
Nenge a kpa?(Igihe izava ryari?)
Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?
Ior a nenge a?(Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?)
Iri hafi hano
I na kpa a.(Iri hafi hano)
Iri kure hano
I na kpa a kpa.(Iri kure hano)
Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
I ma ior a gande?(Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuneka
Kpa a, please.(Hagarara hano, nyabuneka)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Nenge a kpa?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi igura angahe?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ibyo ni ibihenze cyane.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ufite ikintu cyoroheje?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Nshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nashaka ameza y'abantu babiri.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ndagusabye, umwenda.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Serivisi irimo?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndi umunyvegetari.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Ntimukanyuze ibiryo birimo umunyu.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ibi biraryoshye.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Nshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ndagusabye, igikombe cy'amazi.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Hamagara polisi
Kpa a police
Hamagara ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nkeneye umuganga
M ba a doctor
Ndumva ndwaye
M kpa a kpa
Mfite allergie ku mbuto z'ihene
M kpa a nyam
Ihagararanye ry'ubuvuzi rihe?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Birambabaza hano
I kpa a sha
Nabuze pasiporo yanjye
M kpa a passport m
Urashobora guhamagara hoteli yanjye?
I kpa a hotel m?
Fasha!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye guhura nawe
Ior u kpa.
Reka dushyireho inama
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ni ryari byakugendekera?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
M gbanor u kpe.
Dushobora kuvugana ejo?
A hia nî u hia?
Nyamuneka reba dosiye iri hano
M kpa u venge.
Urakoze ku gihe cyawe
Ior u nenge.
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
M hia u kpa.
Wansobanurira icyo kibazo?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nzakugarukira
Ka m hia u.
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.