Looking for practical Somali to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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 Somali wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Somali 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.
Salaan
Mgbakpa
Mahadsanid
Ior na
Subax wanaagsan
Mgbakpa u sha
Duhur wanaagsan
Mgbakpa u kpa
Habeen wanaagsan
Mgbakpa u ter
Habeen wanaagsan
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Ilaa dambe
Kpa a joo
Nabad gelyo
Ior a joo
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Ior m ngu?
Magacaygu waa John
M ngu John
Sidee tahay?
Ior m nande?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
I kpa English?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Ma fahmin
M nahan usha.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
M nahan usha kpa.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
I kpa a sha?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
I we a joo?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Bidix u leexo
Kpa a joo.
Midig u leexo
Kpa a nahan.
Toos u soco
Kpa a sha.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Waan lumay
M nahan sha.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Ee
Maya
Naa
Malaha
Iye
Waan ku raacsanahay
M na a kpa
Waan ku raacsaneyn
M na a kpa nahan
Taasi waa wax fiican
I kpa a kpa
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
U kpa a nahan?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
U kpa m nahan?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
M na a kpa nahan
Sug daqiiqad
Kpa a kpa
Waan ka xumahay
M na a kpa
Dhib malahan
Naa a kpa
Hambalyo
I kpa a kpa
Dhalasho wacan
A kpa a kpa
Safar wanaagsan
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Ior a kpa?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Ior a nyam?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ior a gande?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Nenge a kpa?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ior a nenge a?
Waa halkan u dhow
I na kpa a.
Waa halkan fog
I na kpa a kpa.
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
I ma ior a gande?
Halkan joog, fadlan
Kpa a, please.
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Fadlan, biilka.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Tani waa macaan.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ma heli karaa menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Kpa a police
Wac ambalaas
Kpa a ambulance
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
M ba a doctor
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
M kpa a kpa
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
M kpa a nyam
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
I kpa a sha
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
M kpa a passport m
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
I kpa a hotel m?
Caawimaad!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Ior u kpa.
Aan qorshayno kulan
Ka a hia ikyô.
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
M gbanor u kpe.
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
A hia nî u hia?
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
M kpa u venge.
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Ior u nenge.
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
M hia u kpa.
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Ior a hia u mba?
Aan ku soo laabto
Ka m hia u.
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.