Looking for practical Malagasy to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malagasy 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 Malagasy wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Malagasy 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.
Salama
Mgbakpa
Misaotra
Ior na
Salama maraina
Mgbakpa u sha
Salama tolakandro
Mgbakpa u kpa
Salama hariva
Mgbakpa u ter
Alina tsara
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Hizara indray
Kpa a joo
Veloma
Ior a joo
Inona no anaranao?
Ior m ngu?
Ny anarako dia John
M ngu John
Inona ny vaovao?
Ior m nande?
Faly mihaona aminao
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?
I kpa English?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho
M nahan Hindi nahan.(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Tsy azoko
M nahan usha.(Tsy azoko)
Azafady, miteny moramora
M nahan usha kpa.
Azonao averina ve izany?
I kpa a sha?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
I we a joo?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Mivadika ankavia
Kpa a joo.
Mivadika ankavanana
Kpa a nahan.
Mandehana mivantana
Kpa a sha.
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tapakila iray, azafady
I kpa a ticket, please.
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Very very
M nahan sha.
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eny
Ee
Tsia
Naa
Angamba
Iye
Manaiky aho
M na a kpa
Tsy manaiky aho
M na a kpa nahan
Tsara izany
I kpa a kpa
Inona ny hevitrao?
U kpa a nahan?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
U kpa m nahan?
Mila fanampiana aho
M na a kpa nahan
Miandrasa kely
Kpa a kpa
Miala tsiny aho
M na a kpa
Tsy olana
Naa a kpa
Arahabaina
I kpa a kpa
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
A kpa a kpa
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aiza ny gara?
Ior a kpa?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
Ior a nyam?
Iza ny sehatra?
Ior a gande?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
Nenge a kpa?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
Ior a nenge a?
Eto akaiky izy.
I na kpa a.
Lavitra eto izy.
I na kpa a kpa.
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
I ma ior a gande?
Mijanona eto, azafady.
Kpa a, please.
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ohatrinona ity?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Maharitra be loatra izany
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ny faktiora, azafady
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Misy ny serivisy ve?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Vegetariana aho
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Aza misy sakafo maharary, azafady
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Tsara be ity
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Afaka mahazo ny menu ve aho?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Rano iray vera, azafady
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Antsoy ny polisy
Kpa a police
Antsoy ny ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Mila dokotera aho
M ba a doctor
Mahatsapa ho marary aho
M kpa a kpa
Misy allergie amin'ny voanjo aho
M kpa a nyam
Aiza ny hopitaly akaiky indrindra?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Maharary eto
I kpa a sha
Very ny pasipaoroko
M kpa a passport m
Azonao atao ve ny miantso ny hotelyko?
I kpa a hotel m?
Vonjeo!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Faly mihaona aminao
Ior u kpa.
Andao handamina fivoriana
Ka a hia ikyô.
Inona ny ora mety aminao?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Halehoko ny tatitra anio
M gbanor u kpe.
Afaka miresaka ve isika rahampitso?
A hia nî u hia?
Azafady, jereo ny rakitra mifandray
M kpa u venge.
Misaotra anao noho ny fotoananao
Ior u nenge.
Manantena ny hiara-hiasa aminao
M hia u kpa.
Azonao hazavaina ve io teboka io?
Ior a hia u mba?
Avelao aho hiverina aminao
Ka m hia u.
Ny daty farany dia ny zoma
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.