Looking for practical Luganda to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda 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 Luganda wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Oli otya?
Mgbakpa(Oli otya?)
Webale
Ior na(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Mgbakpa u sha(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Mgbakpa u kpa(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Mgbakpa u ter(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Mgbakpa u ter sha(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Kpa a joo(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Ior a joo(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Ior m ngu?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
M ngu John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Ior m nande?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Ior m nande a joo(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
I kpa English?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Sijja kumanya.
M nahan usha.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
M nahan usha kpa.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
I kpa a sha?
Ekitanda kiki?
I we a joo?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Genda ku kkono.
Kpa a joo.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Kpa a nahan.
Genda mu maaso.
Kpa a sha.
Ekitundu kiki?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ticket emu, please.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Kiki kirekera wano?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndi mu bubi.
M nahan sha.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Ee
Nedda
Naa
Okwagala
Iye
Nnaakuwandiika
M na a kpa
Sikuwandiika
M na a kpa nahan
Kyo kyekirungi
I kpa a kpa
Otekayo ki?
U kpa a nahan?
Osobola okundabira?
U kpa m nahan?
Nfuna obuyambi
M na a kpa nahan
Saba omukutu
Kpa a kpa
Nsaba
M na a kpa
Tewali kibadde
Naa a kpa
Okwagaliza
I kpa a kpa
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
A kpa a kpa
Genda bulungi
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Ior a kpa?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Ior a nyam?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Ior a gande?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Nenge a kpa?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Ior a nenge a?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
I na kpa a.(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
I na kpa a kpa.(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
I ma ior a gande?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Kpa a, please.(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
Nenge a kpa?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ekitabo, please.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ono mulungi.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Nneetaaga menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Mpozzi polisi
Kpa a police
Mpozzi ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Nfuna daktari
M ba a doctor
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
M kpa a kpa
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
M kpa a nyam
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Bikozesa wano
I kpa a sha
Nfuuse passport yange
M kpa a passport m
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
I kpa a hotel m?
Mbadde!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Ior u kpa.(Nkwagala okubaako)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Ka a hia ikyô.(Tugende mu nteekateeka)
Okwesiga ki?
Nî kpa u kpa?(Okwesiga ki?)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
M gbanor u kpe.(Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
A hia nî u hia?(Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)
Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa
M kpa u venge.(Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa)
Webale ku ssaawa yo
Ior u nenge.(Webale ku ssaawa yo)
Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe
M hia u kpa.(Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe)
Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?
Ior a hia u mba?(Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?)
Nja kukuwandiikira
Ka m hia u.(Nja kukuwandiikira)
Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.