Looking for practical Tiv to Papiamento phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv phrase first, then the Papiamento translation (Papiamento) — 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 Papiamento.
Tip: pick five Papiamento 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 Papiamento 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
Halo
Ior na
Dank'i
Mgbakpa u sha
Bon dia
Mgbakpa u kpa
Bon tardi
Mgbakpa u ter
Bon nochi
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Bon nochi
Kpa a joo
Hasta luego
Ior a joo
Ayo
Ior m ngu?
Kiko ta bo nòmber?
M ngu John
Mi nòmber ta John
Ior m nande?
Kon ta bai?
Ior m nande a joo
Dushi pa konosé bo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Bo ta papia Ingles?(Bo ta papia Ingles?)
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Mi no ta papia Hindi bon(Mi no ta papia Hindi bon)
M nahan usha.
Mi no ta komprondé(Mi no ta komprondé)
M nahan usha kpa.
Por fabor, papia lentamente(Por fabor, papia lentamente)
I kpa a sha?
Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?(Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?)
I we a joo?
Unda ta e baño?(Unda ta e baño?)
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?(Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?)
Kpa a joo.
Duna ku left(Duna ku left)
Kpa a nahan.
Duna ku right(Duna ku right)
Kpa a sha.
Bai straight(Bai straight)
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Kantu ta e tarifa?(Kantu ta e tarifa?)
I kpa a ticket, please.
Un tiket, por fabor(Un tiket, por fabor)
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ta leu for di aki?(Ta leu for di aki?)
M nahan sha.
Mi ta perdo(Mi ta perdo)
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?(Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Si
Naa
No
Iye
Quizás
M na a kpa
Mi ta akordá
M na a kpa nahan
Mi no ta akordá
I kpa a kpa
Esaki ta suena bon
U kpa a nahan?
Kiko bo ta pensa?
U kpa m nahan?
Bo por yuda mi?
M na a kpa nahan
Mi mester yuda
Kpa a kpa
Spera un momentu
M na a kpa
Mi ta diskulpa
Naa a kpa
No tin problema
I kpa a kpa
Felicidades
A kpa a kpa
Feliz cumpleaños
U kpa a kpa
Ten un viahe seguro
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Unda ta e stasyon di tren?
Ior a nyam?
Unda ta e parada di bus?
Ior a gande?
Kual plataforma ta?
Nenge a kpa?
Kico ora e ta bai?
Ior a nenge a?
Esaki ta e manera correctu?
I na kpa a.
E ta cerca aki
I na kpa a kpa.
E ta leu for di aki
I ma ior a gande?
Poei mostra mi na e mapa?
Kpa a, please.
Para aki, por fabor
Nenge a kpa?
Kantu tempu e ta tuma?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
Kiko ta e precio di esaki?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ior u kpa a kpa
Esaki ta demasiado caro.(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
Bo tin algo mas barato?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ior m gban a card?
Porke mi por paga ku tarjeta?(ior m gban a card)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
Mi ke un mesa pa dos.(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ior a bill, please
E cuenta, por fabor.(ior a bill, please)
Ior a service m nahan?
E servicio ta inkludí?(ior a service m nahan)
A m vegetarian
Mi ta vegetariano.(a m vegetarian)
A m nahan a spicy food
No komida picante, por fabor.(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ior a kpa
Esaki ta sabroso.(ior a kpa)
Ior m gban a menu?
Porke mi por tin e menu?(ior m gban a menu)
A glass a water, please
Un bashi di awa, por fabor.(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Llama polis
Kpa a ambulance
Llama un ambulansia
M ba a doctor
Mi mester un doktor
M kpa a kpa
Mi ta sinti mal
M kpa a nyam
Mi ta alergiko pa maní
I kpa a hospital mza?
Unda ta e hospital mas cercano?
I kpa a sha
Ta doli aki
M kpa a passport m
Mi a perde mi pasaporte
I kpa a hotel m?
Bo por llama mi hotel?
Kpa!
Yuda!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ior u kpa.
Bon dii pa conoce bo
Ka a hia ikyô.
Deja nos programa un reuníon
Nî kpa u kpa?
Kiko ora ta bon pa bo?
M gbanor u kpe.
Mi ta manda e report di awor
A hia nî u hia?
Por ta papia mañan?
M kpa u venge.
Por fabor, haya e file anexa
Ior u nenge.
Danki pa bo tempo
M hia u kpa.
Mi ta spera pa traha ku bo
Ior a hia u mba?
Bo por klarifica esaki?
Ka m hia u.
Deja mi a volve na bo
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
E deadline ta dia dushi
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.