Looking for practical Sesotho to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sesotho 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 Sesotho 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.
Lumelang
Mgbakpa
Kea leboha
Ior na
Dumelang
Mgbakpa u sha
Molo
Mgbakpa u kpa
Dumelang
Mgbakpa u ter
Borai
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Re tla kopana hamorao
Kpa a joo
Tsamaya hantle
Ior a joo
O na le lebitso lefe?
Ior m ngu?
Lebitso la ka ke John
M ngu John
O kae?
Ior m nande?
Ke thabela ho kopana le wena
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Na u bua Senyesemane?
I kpa English?
Ke sitwa ho bua Hindi hantle
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ke sitwa ho utloisisa
M nahan usha.
Ka kopo bua butle
M nahan usha kpa.
Na u ka boela ua re?
I kpa a sha?
Ntloana e kae?
I we a joo?
Ke etse joang ho ea bohareng ba toropo?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Fetola ho ea letsohong
Kpa a joo.
Fetola ho ea ka ho letona
Kpa a nahan.
Eya ka pela
Kpa a sha.
Chelete ea sekepe ke e kae?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tiket e le 'ngoe, ka kopo
I kpa a ticket, please.
Na e hole le mona?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ke lahlehile
M nahan sha.
Ke kae moo ke ka rekang kharejamo?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ee
Che
Naa
Mohlomong
Iye
Ke lumela
M na a kpa
Ke sitwa
M na a kpa nahan
Seo se utloahala hantle
I kpa a kpa
O nahana eng?
U kpa a nahan?
Na o ka nthusa?
U kpa m nahan?
Ke hloka thuso
M na a kpa nahan
Emisa motsotso
Kpa a kpa
Ke maswabi
M na a kpa
Ha ho bothata
Naa a kpa
O amohelehile
I kpa a kpa
Letsatsi le monate la tsoalo
A kpa a kpa
Ebe le tsamaea hantle
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ke kae seteishene sa terene?
Ior a kpa?(ke kae seteishene sa terene)
Ke kae borai?
Ior a nyam?(ke kae borai)
Ke sehlopha sefe?
Ior a gande?(ke sehlopha sefe)
Nako e kae e tlohang?
Nenge a kpa?(nako e kae e tlohang)
Na ena ke tsela e nepahetseng?
Ior a nenge a?(na ena ke tsela e nepahetseng)
E haufi le mona
I na kpa a.(e haufi le mona)
E hole le mona
I na kpa a kpa.(e hole le mona)
O ka mpontša ka mapeng?
I ma ior a gande?(o ka mpontša ka mapeng)
Emisa mona, ka kopo
Kpa a, please.(emisa mona, ka kopo)
E nka nako e kae?
Nenge a kpa?(e nka nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Se kostang hakaale?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Seo ke se theko e phahameng
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Na le na le eng e theko e tlase?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Na nka lefa ka kharete?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ke batla tafole bakeng sa batho ba babeli
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Bille, ka kopo
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Na ts'ebeletso e kenyelletsoe?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ke moithuti oa meroho
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Tse ling tse chesang, ka kopo
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Se monate
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Na nka fumana lenane la mealtime?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Khalase ea metsi, ka kopo
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Calla mapolesa
Kpa a police
Calla ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Ke hloka ngaka
M ba a doctor
Ke ikutloa ke sitwa
M kpa a kpa
Ke na le allergy ho peanuts
M kpa a nyam
Hospital e haufi e kae?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Ho bohloko mona
I kpa a sha
Ke lahlehetsoe ke passport
M kpa a passport m
Na o ka bitsa hotele ea ka?
I kpa a hotel m?
Thusa!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ke thabile ho kopana le uena
Ior u kpa.
A re etse kopano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Nako e kae e loketseng uena?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ke tla romela rapoto kajeno
M gbanor u kpe.
Na re ka bua ka moso?
A hia nî u hia?
Ka kopo, fumana faele e amanang
M kpa u venge.
Kea leboha ka nako ea hau
Ior u nenge.
Ke lebeletse ho sebetsa le uena
M hia u kpa.
Na u ka hlakisa ntlha eo?
Ior a hia u mba?
A ke tle ke u boele
Ka m hia u.
Nako e felletseng ke Labohlano
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.