Looking for practical Oromo to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Oromo 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 Oromo 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 Oromo 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.
Akkam
Mgbakpa
Galatoomi
Ior na
Baga nagaan dhufte
Mgbakpa u sha
Baga nagaan dhufte galgala
Mgbakpa u kpa
Baga nagaan dhufte
Mgbakpa u ter
Baga halkan gaariidha
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Akkamitti si arguu
Kpa a joo
Nagaan buli
Ior a joo
Maqaan kee maali?
Ior m ngu?
Maqaan koo John dha
M ngu John
Akkam jirtu?
Ior m nande?
Siin wal arguu bareedaa
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni Afaan Ingiliffaa dubbataa?
I kpa English?(Inni Afaan Ingiliffaa dubbataa?)
Ani Afaan Hindiin gaariidhaan dubbachuu hin dandeenye.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ani hin hubadhu.
M nahan usha.
Maaf si'a dheeraa dubbadhu.
M nahan usha kpa.
Itti deebi'ee ni jechuu dandeessaa?
I kpa a sha?
Baatroomni eessa?
I we a joo?
Magaalaa gidduutti akkamitti deema?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Bitaa jijjiiri.
Kpa a joo.
Mirga jijjiiri.
Kpa a nahan.
Qajeelatti deemi.
Kpa a sha.
Kafaltiin meeqa?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Karte tokko, maaloo.
I kpa a ticket, please.
As irraa fagaataa?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ani dhabuun jira.
M nahan sha.
Kaarraa SIM bituuf eessa deemaa?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyyee
Ee
Lakkii
Naa
Bakka bu'aa
Iye
Ani waliigala
M na a kpa
Ani hin waliigalu
M na a kpa nahan
Suni gaariidha
I kpa a kpa
Maaltu si yaadachiisa?
U kpa a nahan?
Na gargaaraa?
U kpa m nahan?
Gargaarsa naaf barbaachisa
M na a kpa nahan
Yeroo tokkoof eegi
Kpa a kpa
Dhiifama
M na a kpa
Rakkoo hin qabu
Naa a kpa
Baga gammaddan
I kpa a kpa
Baga dhaloota kee gammaddan
A kpa a kpa
Imala nagaa qabaadhu
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eessa buufata konkolaataa jira?
Ior a kpa?(Eessa buufata konkolaataa jira?)
Eessa dhaabbata bussa?
Ior a nyam?(Eessa dhaabbata bussa?)
Keenya maali?
Ior a gande?(Keenya maali?)
Yeroo kamiin ni deema?
Nenge a kpa?(Yeroo kamiin ni deema?)
Kuni karaa sirrii dha?
Ior a nenge a?(Kuni karaa sirrii dha?)
As irratti jiru
I na kpa a.(As irratti jiru)
As irraa fagoo dha
I na kpa a kpa.(As irraa fagoo dha)
Mappa irratti na agarsiisuu dandeessaa?
I ma ior a gande?(Mappa irratti na agarsiisuu dandeessaa?)
As dhaabi, maaloo
Kpa a, please.(As dhaabi, maaloo)
Yeroo meeqa fudhata?
Nenge a kpa?(Yeroo meeqa fudhata?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kun maali?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Inni baay'ee gurguddaa dha.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Wanti gatii xiqqaa qabu jira?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Kaardii irratti kaffaluun ni danda'amaa?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Teessoo lamaaf barbaada.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Karoora, mee.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Tajaajilli dabalataa?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ani foon hin nyaadhu.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Nyaata aannan hin qabu, mee.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Kun mi'aawaa dha.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Menyuun naaf kennaa?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Bishaan gubbaa, mee.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Polisii waami
Kpa a police
Ambulaansii waami
Kpa a ambulance
Doktorri na barbaachisa
M ba a doctor
Nyaata dhukkuba qabu
M kpa a kpa
Boonyaa qamadii natti dhukkuba
M kpa a nyam
Hospitaala dhihaatu eessa?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
I kpa a sha
Phaaspoortii kiyya dhabe
M kpa a passport m
Hoteela kiyya waamuu dandeessaa?
I kpa a hotel m?
Gargaarsa!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Siin wal arguun gaariidha
Ior u kpa.(siin wal arguun gaariidha)
Walgahiin qopheessuu haa goonu
Ka a hia ikyô.(walgahiin qopheessuu haa goonu)
Yeroo kami siif mijataa?
Nî kpa u kpa?(yeroo kami siif mijataa)
Gabaasa har'a erga
M gbanor u kpe.(gabaasa har'a erga)
Bor irratti haasa'uu dandeenya?
A hia nî u hia?(bor irratti haasa'uu dandeenya)
Faayilii walitti hidhamte argadhu
M kpa u venge.(faayilii walitti hidhamte argadhu)
Yeroo keetiif galatoomi
Ior u nenge.(yeroo keetiif galatoomi)
Siin waliin hojjechuu kootiif eeggachaa jira
M hia u kpa.(siin waliin hojjechuu kootiif eeggachaa jira)
Phaawundii sana ifa gochuu dandeessaa?
Ior a hia u mba?(phaawundii sana ifa gochuu dandeessaa)
Ani siif deebisuuf ni yaala
Ka m hia u.(ani siif deebisuuf ni yaala)
Guyyaan xumuraa Jimaata
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(guyyaan xumuraa Jimaata)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.