Looking for practical Marshallese to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Marshallese 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tiv-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Marshallese 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.
Yokwe
Mgbakpa(yoh-kweh)
Komol tata
Ior na(koh-mol tah-tah)
Yokwe in the morning
Mgbakpa u sha(yoh-kweh in the morning)
Yokwe in the afternoon
Mgbakpa u kpa(yoh-kweh in the afternoon)
Yokwe in the evening
Mgbakpa u ter(yoh-kweh in the evening)
Yokwe in the night
Mgbakpa u ter sha(yoh-kweh in the night)
Aolep in
Kpa a joo(ah-oh-lep in)
Aolep
Ior a joo(ah-oh-lep)
Ejjab in name?
Ior m ngu?(eh-jahb in name)
Ejjab in John
M ngu John(eh-jahb in John)
Iakwe?
Ior m nande?(ee-ah-kweh)
Ejjab in an
Ior m nande a joo(eh-jahb in an)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ijo im jab in English?
I kpa English?(Ijo im jab in English?)
Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj
M nahan Hindi nahan.(Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj)
Ej jab in jorren
M nahan usha.(Ej jab in jorren)
Jab in jorren bwe enaj
M nahan usha kpa.(Jab in jorren bwe enaj)
Ejjab in jorren an?
I kpa a sha?(Ejjab in jorren an?)
Ejjab in wōt ian?
I we a joo?(Ejjab in wōt ian?)
Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?)
Jab in jorren jān
Kpa a joo.(Jab in jorren jān)
Jab in jorren jān
Kpa a nahan.(Jab in jorren jān)
Jab in jorren wōt
Kpa a sha.(Jab in jorren wōt)
Ejjab in jorren eok?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Jab in ticket, please
I kpa a ticket, please.(Jab in ticket, please)
Ejjab in jorren eok?
I we a nahan a nahan?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Ej jab in jorren
M nahan sha.(Ej jab in jorren)
Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ejjab
Ee
Aolep
Naa
Ejjab im aolep
Iye
Ejjab im an
M na a kpa
Aolep im an
M na a kpa nahan
Ejjab in aolep
I kpa a kpa
Nin in ke ejjake?
U kpa a nahan?
Ien ke eja in?
U kpa m nahan?
Enaaj ejjake
M na a kpa nahan
Jab in
Kpa a kpa
Ejjab in jorren
M na a kpa
Aolep in jorren
Naa a kpa
Bwij in jorren
I kpa a kpa
Yokwe in jorren
A kpa a kpa
Jab in ad jorren
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Enaaj im jab in train?
Ior a kpa?(enaaj im jab in train)
Enaaj im jab in bus?
Ior a nyam?(enaaj im jab in bus)
Iakwe im jab in platform?
Ior a gande?(iakwe im jab in platform)
Nin in kijen?
Nenge a kpa?(nin in kijen)
Enaaj in jiban?
Ior a nenge a?(enaaj in jiban)
Enaaj jikin in?
I na kpa a.(enaaj jikin in)
Enaaj jikin in jikin?
I na kpa a kpa.(enaaj jikin in jikin)
Enaaj im jab in map?
I ma ior a gande?(enaaj im jab in map)
Jab in jikin, please
Kpa a, please.(jab in jikin, please)
Enaaj im jab in jikin?
Nenge a kpa?(enaaj im jab in jikin)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Enaaj im jab?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ej juon im jab.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Enaaj im jab aolep?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Enaaj im jipan eñ?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Enaaj im jipan table roñ.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Enaaj im jipan bill.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Enaaj im jab service?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ej im vegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Enaaj im jab spicy food.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ej ej jab.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Enaaj im jipan menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Enaaj im jipan glass wōt.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kōmmani ian jān
Kpa a police(kōmmani ian jān)
Kōmmani ian ambulance
Kpa a ambulance(kōmmani ian ambulance)
Ej jekōn doctor
M ba a doctor(ej jekōn doctor)
Ej jekūn
M kpa a kpa(ej jekūn)
Ej jekūn jab in jekōn
M kpa a nyam(ej jekūn jab in jekōn)
Ejjab jān hospital in jān?
I kpa a hospital mza?(ejjab jān hospital in jān?)
Ej jekūn in
I kpa a sha(ej jekūn in)
Ej jekūn passport
M kpa a passport m(ej jekūn passport)
Ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?
I kpa a hotel m?(ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?)
Jab!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ij jorren in
Ior u kpa.(I am glad to meet you)
Kij in jorren eok
Ka a hia ikyô.(Let's arrange a meeting)
Ejjab in jorren?
Nî kpa u kpa?(What time is good for you?)
Ej jekar in report an
M gbanor u kpe.(I will send the report today)
Ejjab in jorren ak jorren?
A hia nî u hia?(Can we talk tomorrow?)
Jab in jorren eok file an
M kpa u venge.(Please see the attached file)
Komol tata in jorren
Ior u nenge.(Thank you for your time)
Ij jorren in jab in jorren
M hia u kpa.(I look forward to working with you)
Ejjab in jorren eok?
Ior a hia u mba?(Can you clarify that point?)
Kij in jorren eok
Ka m hia u.(Let me return to you)
Ejjab in jorren Friday
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(The deadline is Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.