Looking for practical Sango to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sango 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 Sango 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.
Mbote
Mgbakpa
Mokolo
Ior na
Mbote na nganga
Mgbakpa u sha
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Mgbakpa u kpa
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Mgbakpa u ter
Ndeko na nganga
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tango na yo
Kpa a joo
Ayo
Ior a joo
Nani na yo?
Ior m ngu?
Nani na nga John
M ngu John
Oza malamu?
Ior m nande?
Mokili na yo
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
O yo na nganga English?
I kpa English?
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
O na yo na mboka.
M nahan usha.
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
M nahan usha kpa.
O tanga na mboka?
I kpa a sha?
Banga na yo na ndako?
I we a joo?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Kanga na mboko.
Kpa a joo.
Kanga na nganga.
Kpa a nahan.
Kende na mboka.
Kpa a sha.
Nde na yo na mboka?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
I kpa a ticket, please.
O na mboka na mboka?
I we a nahan a nahan?
O na yo na mboka.
M nahan sha.
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
O
Ee
Té
Naa
Sâ
Iye
Ngâ tî
M na a kpa
Ngâ té tî
M na a kpa nahan
O bô
I kpa a kpa
Nâ tî yé?
U kpa a nahan?
O kâ yé tî?
U kpa m nahan?
Ngâ kâ tî
M na a kpa nahan
Bê na
Kpa a kpa
Ngâ tî na
M na a kpa
Té bô
Naa a kpa
Mâ tî
I kpa a kpa
Mâ na mbâ
A kpa a kpa
O kâ na mbê
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
O na wâ na gare?
Ior a kpa?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Ior a nyam?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Ior a gande?
O na tî na mbô?
Nenge a kpa?
O na wâ na yâ?
Ior a nenge a?
O na bô na kâ.
I na kpa a.
O na fâ na kâ.
I na kpa a kpa.
O kâ tî na mappa?
I ma ior a gande?
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Kpa a, please.
O na tî na mbô?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mboka na yo?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Oko na mboka mingi
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ozo na nanga mboka?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Naka na yeke na carte?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Naka na table ya mibale
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Bilan, s'il vous plaît
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Service ezali na yango?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Nani na mboka ya nyama
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Oyo ezali malamu
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Naka na menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Banga nganga
Kpa a police
Banga ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Mbi na doctor
M ba a doctor
Mbi na yeke
M kpa a kpa
Mbi na alerji na kolo
M kpa a nyam
A na hospital ya mboka?
I kpa a hospital mza?
E yeke na mboko
I kpa a sha
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
M kpa a passport m
O tanga hotel na ngai?
I kpa a hotel m?
Sango!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mbi na yo
Ior u kpa.(Mbi na yo)
Tala na yeke mboka
Ka a hia ikyô.
Nani ti na yo?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nde na yeke report na tî
M gbanor u kpe.
Oka na yeke na lobi?
A hia nî u hia?
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî
M kpa u venge.
Mesi na yo na tî
Ior u nenge.
Nde na tî na yeke na yo
M hia u kpa.
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?
Ior a hia u mba?
Tala na yeke na yo
Ka m hia u.
Nani na lobi na vendredi
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.