Looking for practical Shona to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tiv-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
Mgbakpa
Ndatenda
Ior na
Mangwanani akanaka
Mgbakpa u sha
Masikati akanaka
Mgbakpa u kpa
Manheru akanaka
Mgbakpa u ter
Usiku hwakanaka
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tichasangana gare gare
Kpa a joo
Sara zvakanaka
Ior a joo
Zita rako ndiani?
Ior m ngu?
Zita rangu ndiri John
M ngu John
Uri sei?
Ior m nande?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
I kpa English?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
M nahan Hindi nahan.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
M nahan usha.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
M nahan usha kpa.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
I kpa a sha?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
I we a joo?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Kpa a joo.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Kpa a nahan.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Kpa a sha.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
I kpa a ticket, please.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
I we a nahan a nahan?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
M nahan sha.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Ee
Kwete
Naa
Pangove
Iye
Ndinobvumirana
M na a kpa
Handibvumirane
M na a kpa nahan
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
I kpa a kpa
Unofungei?
U kpa a nahan?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
M na a kpa nahan
Mirira kwechinguva
Kpa a kpa
Ndine urombo
M na a kpa
Hapana chakaipa
Naa a kpa
Makorokoto
I kpa a kpa
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
A kpa a kpa
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Ior a kpa?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Ior a nyam?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Ior a gande?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Nenge a kpa?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Ior a nenge a?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
I na kpa a.(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
I na kpa a kpa.(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
I ma ior a gande?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Kpa a, please.(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Nenge a kpa?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndiri muvegetarian
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Izvi zvinonaka
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Kpa a police
Fonera amburensi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndiri kuda chiremba
M ba a doctor
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
M kpa a kpa
Ndine allergic kumapundu
M kpa a nyam
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Zvinorwadza pano
I kpa a sha
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
M kpa a passport m
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
I kpa a hotel m?
Rubatsiro!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Ior u kpa.
Ngatirongei musangano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
M gbanor u kpe.
Tingataure mangwana here?
A hia nî u hia?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
M kpa u venge.
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Ior u nenge.
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
M hia u kpa.
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Ior a hia u mba?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Ka m hia u.
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.