Looking for practical Rundi to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi 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 Rundi 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(na-kee)
Urakoze
Ior na(oo-rah-koh-zeh)
Mwaramutse
Mgbakpa u sha(mwa-rah-moot-seh)
Mwiriwe
Mgbakpa u kpa(mwee-ree-weh)
Mwiriwe
Mgbakpa u ter(mwee-ree-weh)
Ijoro ryiza
Mgbakpa u ter sha(ee-jo-roh ree-zah)
Nzakubona
Kpa a joo(nza-koo-boh-nah)
Nuhagurane
Ior a joo(nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)
Icyo witwa n'iki?
Ior m ngu?(ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)
Nitwa John
M ngu John(nee-twah John)
Umeze gute?
Ior m nande?(oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Ior m nande a joo(nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
I kpa English?
Sinavuga Hindi neza.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Sinumva.
M nahan usha.
Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.
M nahan usha kpa.
Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?
I kpa a sha?
Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?
I we a joo?
Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Hindukira ibumoso.
Kpa a joo.
Hindukira iburyo.
Kpa a nahan.
Genda imbere.
Kpa a sha.
Igiciro ni igiki?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Birakomeye kuva hano?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndi mu kaga.
M nahan sha.
Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Ee
Oya
Naa
Birashoboka
Iye
Ndemera
M na a kpa
Ntidemera
M na a kpa nahan
Ivyo birashimishije
I kpa a kpa
Utekereza iki?
U kpa a nahan?
Urashobora kumfasha?
U kpa m nahan?
Nkeneye gufasha
M na a kpa nahan
Teza akanya
Kpa a kpa
Ndi umwiyahuzi
M na a kpa
Nta kibazo
Naa a kpa
Ishimwe
I kpa a kpa
Isabukuru nziza
A kpa a kpa
Urugendo rwiza
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho hantu y'igari?
Ior a kpa?(Aho hantu y'igari?)
Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?
Ior a nyam?(Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?)
Ihagararo ni irihe?
Ior a gande?(Ihagararo ni irihe?)
Igihe ni igiki gishika?
Nenge a kpa?(Igihe ni igiki gishika?)
Ubu ni bwo buryo?
Ior a nenge a?(Ubu ni bwo buryo?)
Birahari hafi
I na kpa a.(Birahari hafi)
Birahari kure
I na kpa a kpa.(Birahari kure)
Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
I ma ior a gande?(Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuna
Kpa a, please.(Hagarara hano, nyabuna)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Nenge a kpa?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi irahenda angahe?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Iyo irahenda cane
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ufise ikintu ciza cane?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ibarura, ndakwinginze
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Serivisi irarimwo?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Iyi iraryoshye
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Terefona polisi
Kpa a police
Terefona ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Ndakeneye umuganga
M ba a doctor
Ndumva ndarwaye
M kpa a kpa
Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza
M kpa a nyam
Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Birandya hano
I kpa a sha
Nabuze pasiporo yanje
M kpa a passport m
Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?
I kpa a hotel m?
Mfasha!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye kukumenya
Ior u kpa.
Tugire inama
Ka a hia ikyô.
Igihe kiwukora?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
M gbanor u kpe.
Dushobora kuganira ejo?
A hia nî u hia?
Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe
M kpa u venge.
Urakoze ku mwanya wawe
Ior u nenge.
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
M hia u kpa.
Woshobora gusobanura ico?
Ior a hia u mba?
Ndemeye kubandanya
Ka m hia u.
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.