Looking for practical Lingala to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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 Lingala 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 Lingala 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
Melesi
Ior na
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Mgbakpa u sha
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Mgbakpa u ter
Malamu na butu
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tala yo nsima
Kpa a joo
Kende malamu
Ior a joo
Nkombo na yo nani?
Ior m ngu?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
M ngu John
Ozalaki malamu?
Ior m nande?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
I kpa English?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
M nahan Hindi nahan.(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
M nahan usha.(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
M nahan usha kpa.(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
I kpa a sha?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
I we a joo?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Kpa a joo.(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Kpa a nahan.(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Kpa a sha.(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
I kpa a ticket, please.(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
I we a nahan a nahan?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
M nahan sha.(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Ee
Te
Naa
Soki
Iye
Nalingi
M na a kpa
Nalingi te
M na a kpa nahan
Eza malamu
I kpa a kpa
Oyo olingi nini?
U kpa a nahan?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
U kpa m nahan?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
M na a kpa nahan
Sunga moke
Kpa a kpa
Nasalaki mabe
M na a kpa
Nani azali na problème
Naa a kpa
Mokolo malamu
I kpa a kpa
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
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.
Eko zali wapi?
Ior a kpa?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Ior a nyam?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Ior a gande?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Nenge a kpa?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Ior a nenge a?
Ezali pene awa.
I na kpa a.
Ezali mbali awa.
I na kpa a kpa.
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
I ma ior a gande?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Kpa a, please.
Ekozala ntango nini?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Service eza na kati?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nazali mvegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Yango ezali malamu.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Leki ya mayi, 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.
Tindá polisi
Kpa a police
Tindá ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nalingi médecin
M ba a doctor
Nazali na maladi
M kpa a kpa
Nazali na allergie na mbala
M kpa a nyam
Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Ezalaka na nse awa
I kpa a sha
Nazwi passport na ngai
M kpa a passport m
Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?
I kpa a hotel m?
S.O.S!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nasepeli na yo
Ior u kpa.
Tika tozala na mitema
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Naboya raport lelo
M gbanor u kpe.
Tango tozali na mposo?
A hia nî u hia?
S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela
M kpa u venge.
Mersi mpo na ntango na yo
Ior u nenge.
Nasalela yo na mosala
M hia u kpa.
Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?
Ior a hia u mba?
Napesi yo nzela
Ka m hia u.
Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.