Looking for practical Tiv to Maori phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv phrase first, then the Maori translation (Maori) — 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 Maori.
Tip: pick five Maori 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 Tiv to Maori 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.
Mgbakpa
Kia ora
Ior na
Ngā mihi
Mgbakpa u sha
Ata mārie
Mgbakpa u kpa
Pō mārie
Mgbakpa u ter
Pō nui
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Nō reira
Kpa a joo
Ka kite anō
Ior a joo
Haere rā
Ior m ngu?
Ko wai tō ingoa?
M ngu John
Ko John tōku ingoa
Ior m nande?
Kei te pēhea koe?
Ior m nande a joo
He pai ki te tūtaki i a koe
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Ka korero koe i te reo Ingarihi?(kah korero koe ee teh reh-oh ingarihi)
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Kaore au e korero pai i te reo Hīndi(kaore ow ee kah-raw pai ee teh reh-oh hindee)
M nahan usha.
Kaore au e mohio(kaore ow ee moh-ee-oh)
M nahan usha kpa.
Tena koa korero āta(teh-nah koh-ah kah-raw-oh ah-tah)
I kpa a sha?
Ka taea e koe te korero ano?(kah tah-eh eh koh-eh teh kah-raw-oh ah-no)
I we a joo?
Kei hea te wharepaku?(kay he-ah teh fah-reh-pah-koo)
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Me pehea au e tae ki te pokapū o te tāone?(meh peh-heh-ah ow eh tie keh teh poh-kah-poo oh teh tah-oh-neh)
Kpa a joo.
Huri ki mauī(hoo-ree kee mow-ee)
Kpa a nahan.
Huri ki te taha matau(hoo-ree kee teh tah-hah mah-tow)
Kpa a sha.
Haere tika(high-reh tee-kah)
Nenge a kpa a fare?
E hia te utu?(eh hee-ah teh oo-too)
I kpa a ticket, please.
Kotahi te tikiti, please(koh-tah-hee teh tee-kee-tee)
I we a nahan a nahan?
Kei tawhiti mai i konei?(kay tah-whee-tee my ee koh-nay)
M nahan sha.
Kua ngaro au(koo-ah nah-roh ow)
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Kei hea e taea ai e au te hoko kāri SIM?(kay he-ah eh tah-eh ah-ee eh ow teh hoh-koh kah-ree sim)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Āe
Naa
Kāo
Iye
Tērā pea
M na a kpa
Kei te whakaae au
M na a kpa nahan
Kāore au e whakaae
I kpa a kpa
He pai tēnā
U kpa a nahan?
He aha tāu e whakaaro ana?
U kpa m nahan?
Ka taea e koe te awhina i au?
M na a kpa nahan
Kei te hiahia au i te awhina
Kpa a kpa
Tēnā tūrua
M na a kpa
Aroha mai
Naa a kpa
Kāore he raru
I kpa a kpa
Ngā mihi
A kpa a kpa
Hari huritau
U kpa a kpa
Kia pai te haerenga
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Kei hea te teihana tereina?(Kei hea te teihana tereina?)
Ior a nyam?
Kei hea te pooti?(Kei hea te pooti?)
Ior a gande?
Ko wai te papa?(Ko wai te papa?)
Nenge a kpa?
He aha te wa e wehe ai?(He aha te wa e wehe ai?)
Ior a nenge a?
Kei te tika tēnei ara?(Kei te tika tēnei ara?)
I na kpa a.
Kei konei tata mai(Kei konei tata mai)
I na kpa a kpa.
Kei tawhiti mai i konei(Kei tawhiti mai i konei)
I ma ior a gande?
Ka taea e koe te whakaatu ki ahau i runga i te mapi?(Ka taea e koe te whakaatu ki ahau i runga i te mapi?)
Kpa a, please.
Tū mai i konei, koa(Tū mai i konei, koa)
Nenge a kpa?
E hia te wā e tango ana?(E hia te wā e tango ana?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
E hia te utu o tēnei?(ehia te utu o tei nei)
Ior u kpa a kpa
He tino utu tēnā(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
Kei a koe he mea iti ake?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ior m gban a card?
Ka taea e au te utu mā te kāri?(ior m gban a card)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
E hiahia ana au ki te tepu mō te rua.(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ior a bill, please
Tēnā, te rīhi.(ior a bill, please)
Ior a service m nahan?
Kei roto i te utu te ratonga?(ior a service m nahan)
A m vegetarian
He veggie ahau.(a m vegetarian)
A m nahan a spicy food
Kāore he kai pārearea, tēnā.(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ior a kpa
He reka tēnei.(ior a kpa)
Ior m gban a menu?
Ka taea e au te rārangi kai?(ior m gban a menu)
A glass a water, please
Tēnā, he karaihe wai.(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Karanga ki te pirihimana
Kpa a ambulance
Karanga ki te āwhina
M ba a doctor
Kei te hiahia au i te rata
M kpa a kpa
Kei te pāngia au e te mate
M kpa a nyam
He pātea au ki ngā pāhiri
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kei hea te hōhipera tata?
I kpa a sha
E mamae ana i konei
M kpa a passport m
I ngaro taku pasapo
I kpa a hotel m?
Ka taea e koe te karanga ki taku hōtera?
Kpa!
Tautoko!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ior u kpa.
Ka pai te kite i a koe
Ka a hia ikyô.
Me whakarite tātou i tētahi hui
Nî kpa u kpa?
He aha te wā e pai ana ki a koe?
M gbanor u kpe.
Ka tukuna e au te pūrongo i tēnei rā
A hia nî u hia?
Ka taea e tātou te kōrero āpōpō?
M kpa u venge.
Tēnā tirohia te kōnae e piri ana
Ior u nenge.
Ngā mihi mo tō wā
M hia u kpa.
Kei te titiro whakamua au ki te mahi ki a koe
Ior a hia u mba?
Ka taea e koe te whakamarama i taua kōrero?
Ka m hia u.
Me hoki au ki a koe
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Ko te mutunga wā ko te Paraire
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.