Looking for practical Kituba to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kituba 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 Kituba 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 Kituba 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
Matondo
Ior na
Mbote na ntanga
Mgbakpa u sha
Mbote na moke
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mbote na nsuka
Mgbakpa u ter
Malamu na lola
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tala moke
Kpa a joo
Kende malamu
Ior a joo
Nani na yo?
Ior m ngu?
Nani na ngai John
M ngu John
Oyo olingi?
Ior m nande?
Nionso na yo
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo azali koloba Lingala?
I kpa English?
Nani nazali koloba Hindi malamu te
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Nani nazali koyeba te
M nahan usha.
Soki, koloba na mbala moke
M nahan usha kpa.
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
I kpa a sha?
Bato ya mbala eza wapi?
I we a joo?
Nani nakoki kokende na centre ya ville?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Tika na ngonga ya mabele
Kpa a joo.
Tika na ngonga ya likolo
Kpa a nahan.
Yaka na mbala moke
Kpa a sha.
Mbongo ya nzela ezali boni?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
I kpa a ticket, please.
Eza mbali na awa?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nani nazali na nzela te
M nahan sha.
Nani nakoki kotonga SIM card wapi?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eee
Ee
Te
Naa
Pamba
Iye
Nani na yo
M na a kpa
Nani te na yo
M na a kpa nahan
Eza malamu
I kpa a kpa
Oyo olingi nini?
U kpa a nahan?
Okanisa ngai?
U kpa m nahan?
Nalingi lisungi
M na a kpa nahan
Tika moke
Kpa a kpa
Nasalisa
M na a kpa
Te na mabe
Naa a kpa
Mbote na yo
I kpa a kpa
Mbote na mokolo ya mbotama
A kpa a kpa
Zala na nzela ya malamu
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nani esika ya ndako ya treni?
Ior a kpa?(nani esika ya ndako ya treni)
Nani esika ya ndako ya bisi?
Ior a nyam?(nani esika ya ndako ya bisi)
Nani esika ya platform?
Ior a gande?(nani esika ya platform)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Nenge a kpa?(nani ntango ebandaka)
Nani nzela ya malamu?
Ior a nenge a?(nani nzela ya malamu)
Eza na nsima
I na kpa a.(eza na nsima)
Eza na mbali
I na kpa a kpa.(eza na mbali)
Okoki na ngai na mape?
I ma ior a gande?(okoki na ngai na mape)
Kanga awa, s'il vous plaît
Kpa a, please.(kanga awa, s'il vous plaît)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Nenge a kpa?(nani ntango ebandaka)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbuta nini?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Eza mingi mbala
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Oyo oza na ntina ya moke?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Nakanisa na carte?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nalingi mesa ya mibale
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Bilanga, s'il vous plaît
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Eza na mosala?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nani moke
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Te mbongo ya mpasi, s'il vous plaît
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Oyo eza malamu
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Nakanisa menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Mokolo ya mai, s'il vous plaît
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tanga polisi
Kpa a police
Tanga ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nazali na nganga
M ba a doctor
Nazali na maladi
M kpa a kpa
Nayebi na maladi ya mbala
M kpa a nyam
Hospital ya libanda ezali wapi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Ezalaka na nzala awa
I kpa a sha
Nasali pasi ya passport na ngai
M kpa a passport m
Okoki kolinga hotel na ngai?
I kpa a hotel m?
Lendaki!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nki na yo
Ior u kpa.
Tondima kosala libanda
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ntango nini eza malamu na yo?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nakanisa lipanda lelo
M gbanor u kpe.
Tosala nzela lelo?
A hia nî u hia?
Soki, tanga file oyo ekomi na likolo
M kpa u venge.
Mersi po na ntango na yo
Ior u nenge.
Nabondeli na kosala na yo
M hia u kpa.
Okoki kolakisa yango?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nakanisa yo na nsima
Ka m hia u.
Tango ya nsuka eza na Mokolo ya zamba
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.