Looking for practical Swahili to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swahili 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 Swahili 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.
Habari
Mgbakpa
Asante
Ior na
Habari ya asubuhi
Mgbakpa u sha
Habari ya mchana
Mgbakpa u kpa
Habari ya jioni
Mgbakpa u ter
Usiku mwema
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tutaonana baadaye
Kpa a joo
Kwaheri
Ior a joo
Jina lako nani?
Ior m ngu?
Jina langu ni John
M ngu John
Habari gani?
Ior m nande?
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unazungumza Kiingereza?
I kpa English?
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Sielewi.
M nahan usha.
Tafadhali ongea polepole.
M nahan usha kpa.
Unaweza kusema tena?
I kpa a sha?
Choo kiko wapi?
I we a joo?
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Geuka kushoto.
Kpa a joo.
Geuka kulia.
Kpa a nahan.
Nenda moja kwa moja.
Kpa a sha.
Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Je, ni mbali na hapa?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nimepotea.
M nahan sha.
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ndio
Ee
Hapana
Naa
Pengine
Iye
Ninakubaliana
M na a kpa
Sikubaliani
M na a kpa nahan
Inasikika vizuri
I kpa a kpa
Unafikiriaje?
U kpa a nahan?
Unaweza kunisaidia?
U kpa m nahan?
Nahitaji msaada
M na a kpa nahan
Subiri kidogo
Kpa a kpa
Ninasikitika
M na a kpa
Hakuna shida
Naa a kpa
Hongera
I kpa a kpa
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema
A kpa a kpa
Safari njema
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?
Ior a kpa?
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?
Ior a nyam?
Ni jukwaa gani?
Ior a gande?
Inatoka saa ngapi?
Nenge a kpa?
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?
Ior a nenge a?
Iko karibu hapa
I na kpa a.
Iko mbali na hapa
I na kpa a kpa.
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?
I ma ior a gande?
Simama hapa, tafadhali
Kpa a, please.
Inachukua muda gani?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Hiyo ni ghali sana
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ningependa meza ya watu wawili
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Tafadhali, bili
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Je, huduma imejumuishwa?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Mimi ni mboga
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Hii ni tamu
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Naweza kupata menyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Tafadhali, glasi ya maji
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Piga simu polisi
Kpa a police
Piga simu ya wagonjwa
Kpa a ambulance
Nahitaji daktari
M ba a doctor
Ninajisikia mgonjwa
M kpa a kpa
Nina mzio wa karanga
M kpa a nyam
Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Inaniuma hapa
I kpa a sha
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
M kpa a passport m
Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu?
I kpa a hotel m?
Nisaidie!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nafurahi kukutana nawe
Ior u kpa.
Tuweke mkutano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ni saa ngapi inakufaa?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Nitaituma ripoti leo
M gbanor u kpe.
Tunaweza kuzungumza kesho?
A hia nî u hia?
Tafadhali pata faili iliyoambatishwa
M kpa u venge.
Asante kwa muda wako
Ior u nenge.
Natarajia kufanya kazi na wewe
M hia u kpa.
Unaweza kufafanua hiyo pointi?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nitarudi kwako
Ka m hia u.
Muda wa mwisho ni Ijumaa
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.