Looking for practical Luo to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo 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 Luo 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.
Naki
Mgbakpa(Naki)
Asante
Ior na(Asante)
Naki chuo
Mgbakpa u sha(Naki chuo)
Naki ng'ato
Mgbakpa u kpa(Naki ng'ato)
Naki owadgi
Mgbakpa u ter(Naki owadgi)
Naki buya
Mgbakpa u ter sha(Naki buya)
Ting' kendo
Kpa a joo(Ting' kendo)
Naki
Ior a joo(Naki)
Ine ng'ama in?
Ior m ngu?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Inyalo John
M ngu John(Inyalo John)
Okwere?
Ior m nande?(Okwere?)
Naki konyo
Ior m nande a joo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
I kpa English?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Nyingi.
M nahan usha.
Tende konyo chalo.
M nahan usha kpa.
Naki konyo to?
I kpa a sha?
Ith gi toilet?
I we a joo?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Konyo chike.
Kpa a joo.
Konyo duto.
Kpa a nahan.
Yie chalo.
Kpa a sha.
Ning'eyo koro?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nin gi chalo.
M nahan sha.
Ith gi SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ee
Ayi
Naa
Kaka
Iye
Akwong'
M na a kpa
Ayi Akwong'
M na a kpa nahan
Ong'eyo
I kpa a kpa
Ine owuon?
U kpa a nahan?
Naki gi chalo?
U kpa m nahan?
Nind gi chalo
M na a kpa nahan
Chakre
Kpa a kpa
Naki
M na a kpa
Ayi koro
Naa a kpa
Naki chalo
I kpa a kpa
Naki buo
A kpa a kpa
Naki chalo gi chalo
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Ior a kpa?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Ior a nyam?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Ior a gande?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Nenge a kpa?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ior a nenge a?
Niko neno.
I na kpa a.
Niko piny.
I na kpa a kpa.
Okwong' ni on map?
I ma ior a gande?
Dhi here, please.
Kpa a, please.
Naki koro ng'ato?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
I konyo kanyo?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Chakruok, plis.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Isango ni gi?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nin gi vegeterian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Owino ni gi dho.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Kpa a police
Nedhi ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Aneedo daktari
M ba a doctor
Akwong' gi chalo
M kpa a kpa
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
M kpa a nyam
Naki hospital mar koro?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Okwong' mana
I kpa a sha
Nying' my passport
M kpa a passport m
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
I kpa a hotel m?
Konyo!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Ior u kpa.(Naki konyo)
Nying' konyo joma
Ka a hia ikyô.(Nying' konyo joma)
Naki konyo nigi?
Nî kpa u kpa?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
M gbanor u kpe.(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
A hia nî u hia?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Chieng' ni file ni
M kpa u venge.(Chieng' ni file ni)
Asante gi chako
Ior u nenge.(Asante gi chako)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
M hia u kpa.(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
Ior a hia u mba?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi
Ka m hia u.(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Dede ni Friday
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.