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