Looking for practical Swati to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swati 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.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Sawubona
Mgbakpa
Ngiyabonga
Ior na
Siyaphila
Mgbakpa u sha
Siyaphila
Mgbakpa u kpa
Siyaphila
Mgbakpa u ter
Lalani kahle
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Sizobonana
Kpa a joo
Hamba kahle
Ior a joo
Ubani igama lakho?
Ior m ngu?
Igama lami nguJohn
M ngu John
Unjani?
Ior m nande?
Kuhle ukuhlangana nawe
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma ngesiNgisi?
I kpa English?
Angikhulumi kahle ngesiHindi.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Angiqondi.
M nahan usha.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
M nahan usha kpa.
Ungakuphindze lokho?
I kpa a sha?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
I we a joo?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emkhatsini?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Phendukela kwesobunxele.
Kpa a joo.
Phendukela kwesokudla.
Kpa a nahan.
Hamba phambili.
Kpa a sha.
Kubiza malini?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ithikithi linye, ngiyacela.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Kude lapha?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ngilahlekile.
M nahan sha.
Ngingathenga kuphi ikhadi le-SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Ee
Cha
Naa
Mhlawumbe
Iye
Ngiyavuma
M na a kpa
Ngiyaphikisa
M na a kpa nahan
Lokho kuhle
I kpa a kpa
Ucabanga ukuthini?
U kpa a nahan?
Ungangisiza?
U kpa m nahan?
Ngidinga usizo
M na a kpa nahan
Linda umzuzu
Kpa a kpa
Ngiyaxolisa
M na a kpa
Akukho nkinga
Naa a kpa
Siyabonga
I kpa a kpa
Siyavuma usuku lokuzalwa
A kpa a kpa
Uhambe kahle
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuphi isiteshi sebhasi?
Ior a kpa?(ku-pee ee-see-tay-shee seh-bah-see)
Kuphi umphakatsi webhasi?
Ior a nyam?(ku-pee oom-pah-kah-tsee weh-bah-see)
Iyiphi i-platform?
Ior a gande?(ee-yee-pee ee-platform)
Ngasiphi isikhathi iyahamba?
Nenge a kpa?(ngah-see-pee ee-see-kah-thee ee-yah-hah-mba)
Ngabe le yindlela efanele?
Ior a nenge a?(ngah-beh leh een-dleh-lah eh-fah-neh-leh)
Kusondela lapha
I na kpa a.(koo-son-deh-lah lah-pah)
Kude lapha
I na kpa a kpa.(koo-deh lah-pah)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphweni?
I ma ior a gande?(oon-gah-nee-khom-bee-sah em-mah-poh-nee)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Kpa a, please.(mee-sah lah-pah, ngee-yah-cheh-lah)
Kuthathe isikhathi esingaki?
Nenge a kpa?(koo-thah-teh ee-see-kah-thee eh-sing-ah-kee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini le?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Lokhu kubiza kakhulu
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Unayo yini leyo ephansi?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ngithanda itafula lababili
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ibhili, ngiyacela
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Inkonzo ibhajetwe?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ngiyi-vegetarian
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Akukho ukudla okushisayo, ngiyacela
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Lokhu kuhle
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ngicela imenyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza emaphoyisa
Kpa a police
Biza i-ambulance
Kpa a ambulance
Ngidinga udokotela
M ba a doctor
Ngizizwa ngigula
M kpa a kpa
Ngiyavuma emantongomane
M kpa a nyam
Kuphi esibhedlela esiseduze?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kukhala lapha
I kpa a sha
Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami
M kpa a passport m
Ungabiza ihhotela yami?
I kpa a hotel m?
Siza!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle kukuhlangana nawe
Ior u kpa.
Masihlele umhlangano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Yini isikhathi esikufanele?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla
M gbanor u kpe.
Singakhuluma kusasa?
A hia nî u hia?
Sicela uthole ifayela elihlanganisiwe
M kpa u venge.
Ngiyabonga ngesikhathi sakho
Ior u nenge.
Ngilindele ukusebenza nawe
M hia u kpa.
Ungacacisa le ndaba?
Ior a hia u mba?
Ngizobuyela kuwe
Ka m hia u.
Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.