Looking for practical Tiv to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: when a Yoruba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tiv wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tiv to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Ior na
O seun(oh shayoon)
Mgbakpa u sha
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Mgbakpa u kpa
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Mgbakpa u ter
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Mgbakpa u ter sha
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Kpa a joo
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Ior a joo
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Ior m ngu?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
M ngu John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Ior m nande?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Ior m nande a joo
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
M nahan usha.
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
M nahan usha kpa.
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
I kpa a sha?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
I we a joo?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Kpa a joo.
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Kpa a nahan.
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Kpa a sha.
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
M nahan sha.
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Bẹẹni
Naa
Rara
Iye
Bóyá
M na a kpa
Mo gba
M na a kpa nahan
Mo kọ
I kpa a kpa
Iyẹn dára
U kpa a nahan?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
U kpa m nahan?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
M na a kpa nahan
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Kpa a kpa
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
M na a kpa
Mo bínú
Naa a kpa
Kò sí ìṣòro
I kpa a kpa
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
A kpa a kpa
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
U kpa a kpa
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Ior a nyam?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ior a gande?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Nenge a kpa?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ior a nenge a?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
I na kpa a.
O sunmọ ibi yi
I na kpa a kpa.
O jinna si ibi yi
I ma ior a gande?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Kpa a, please.
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Nenge a kpa?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Ior u kpa a kpa
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ior m gban a card?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Ior a bill, please
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Ior a service m nahan?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
A m vegetarian
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
A m nahan a spicy food
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Ior a kpa
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ior m gban a menu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
A glass a water, please
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Kpa a ambulance
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
M ba a doctor
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
M kpa a kpa
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
M kpa a nyam
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
I kpa a hospital mza?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
I kpa a sha
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
M kpa a passport m
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
I kpa a hotel m?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Kpa!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ior u kpa.
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Ka a hia ikyô.
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Nî kpa u kpa?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
M gbanor u kpe.
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
A hia nî u hia?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
M kpa u venge.
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Ior u nenge.
O seun fun akoko rẹ
M hia u kpa.
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Ior a hia u mba?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Ka m hia u.
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.