Looking for practical Qeqchi to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Qeqchi 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 Qeqchi 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.
Sa'qi
Mgbakpa(sah-kee)
Uxlab'äl
Ior na(ook-lah-bahl)
Sa'qi k'ay
Mgbakpa u sha(sah-kee kay)
Sa'qi k'ik'
Mgbakpa u kpa(sah-kee keek)
Sa'qi k'ux
Mgbakpa u ter(sah-kee koosh)
Sa'qi k'ik' k'ux
Mgbakpa u ter sha(sah-kee keek koosh)
K'ux k'ik'
Kpa a joo(koosh keek)
K'ux
Ior a joo(koosh)
Jach'och' k'ut?
Ior m ngu?(ha-choch kut)
In k'ut John
M ngu John(een koot John)
K'ut k'ax?
Ior m nande?(kut k'ash)
K'ax k'ut k'ux
Ior m nande a joo(kash kut koosh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ruk'uxik in English?
I kpa English?
Nuk'uxik Hindi man k'utun.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Nuk'uxik k'utun.
M nahan usha.
Por favor, ruk'uxik k'utun k'ay.
M nahan usha kpa.
¿Ruk'uxik k'utun k'ay?
I kpa a sha?
¿Ja' ri k'utun?
I we a joo?
¿Jas ri k'utun k'ay ri k'ay?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
K'utun ri k'ay.
Kpa a joo.
K'utun ri k'ay.
Kpa a nahan.
K'utun k'ay.
Kpa a sha.
¿Ja' ri k'utun?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
K'utun ri k'ay.
I kpa a ticket, please.
¿Ja' ri k'utun?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nuk'uxik k'utun.
M nahan sha.
¿Ja' ri k'utun ri SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ja'
Ee
Nok
Naa
K'a riq
Iye
In k'ut
M na a kpa
In k'ut nok
M na a kpa nahan
K'ut in k'ut
I kpa a kpa
¿Ja' k'ut in k'ut?
U kpa a nahan?
¿K'ax k'ut in k'uch?
U kpa m nahan?
In k'uch k'ax
M na a kpa nahan
K'ut k'ax riq
Kpa a kpa
In k'ut k'ax
M na a kpa
Nok k'ut
Naa a kpa
K'ut in k'ut riq
I kpa a kpa
K'ut in k'ut k'uch
A kpa a kpa
K'ut in k'ut riq k'uch
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Ja' k'utun ri tren?
Ior a kpa?(ja' kutun ri tren)
¿Ja' k'utun ri bus?
Ior a nyam?(ja' kutun ri bus)
¿K'utun ri platform?
Ior a gande?(kutun ri platform)
¿Jas k'utun ri?
Nenge a kpa?(jas kutun ri)
¿¿¿K'utun ri k'ax?
Ior a nenge a?(kutun ri k'ax)
Ri k'utun k'utun
I na kpa a.(ri kutun kutun)
Ri k'utun k'ax
I na kpa a kpa.(ri kutun k'ax)
¿Jas k'utun ri mapa?
I ma ior a gande?(jas kutun ri mapa)
¿K'utun ri, por favor?
Kpa a, please.(kutun ri por favor)
¿Jas k'utun ri?
Nenge a kpa?(jas kutun ri)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
K'utun ri'?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
K'utun ri' k'utun ch'ich'
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
¿Ruk'ux ri' k'utun ch'ich'?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
¿K'utun ri' k'utun rax?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
In k'utun ri' k'ax ri' ch'och'
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ri' k'utun, por favor
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
¿Ri' k'utun ch'ich'?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
In k'utun ri' vegetarian
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Man k'utun ri' ch'ich', por favor
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
K'utun ri' ch'ich'
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
¿K'utun ri' k'utun menú?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ri' k'utun k'ay, por favor
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
K'uxi' ri policía
Kpa a police
K'uxi' ri ambulancia
Kpa a ambulance
In k'utun ri médico
M ba a doctor
In k'utun ri k'ax
M kpa a kpa
In k'utun ri k'ik'
M kpa a nyam
Ja ri hospital k'utun?
I kpa a hospital mza?
K'ax ri' k'ot
I kpa a sha
In k'utun ri pasaporte
M kpa a passport m
¿K'uxi' ri hotel in?
I kpa a hotel m?
Ayuda!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux
Ior u kpa.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' xk'utun ri' k'axk'ux
Ka a hia ikyô.(K'utun ri' xk'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'utun k'axk'ux?
Nî kpa u kpa?(K'utun ri' k'utun k'axk'ux?)
K'utun ri' k'utun k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux
M gbanor u kpe.(K'utun ri' k'utun k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux?
A hia nî u hia?(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux?)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux
M kpa u venge.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux
Ior u nenge.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux
M hia u kpa.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux?
Ior a hia u mba?(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux?)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux
Ka m hia u.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
K'utun ri' k'axk'ux
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.(K'utun ri' k'axk'ux)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.