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Common Tiv to Zulu phrases

100 practical Tiv to Zulu phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Tiv to Zulu phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv phrase first, then the Zulu translation (Zulu) — 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 Zulu.

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Zulu-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tiv to Zulu 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.

  1. Mgbakpa

    Sawubona

  2. Ior na

    Ngiyabonga

  3. Mgbakpa u sha

    Sawubona

  4. Mgbakpa u kpa

    Good afternoon

  5. Mgbakpa u ter

    Ubusuku obuhle

  6. Mgbakpa u ter sha

    Lala kahle

  7. Kpa a joo

    Sizobonana

  8. Ior a joo

    Hamba kahle

  9. Ior m ngu?

    Ubani igama lakho?

  10. M ngu John

    Igama lami nginguJohn

  11. Ior m nande?

    Unjani?

  12. Ior m nande a joo

    Ngiyajabula ukukwazi

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. I kpa English?

    Ukhuluma isiNgisi?

  2. M nahan Hindi nahan.

    Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.

  3. M nahan usha.

    Angiqondi.

  4. M nahan usha kpa.

    Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.

  5. I kpa a sha?

    Ungakuphinda lokho?

  6. I we a joo?

    Iphi indlu yangasese?

  7. Nenge a kpa a city center?

    Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?

  8. Kpa a joo.

    Jika kwesobunxele.

  9. Kpa a nahan.

    Jika kwesokudla.

  10. Kpa a sha.

    Hamba phambili.

  11. Nenge a kpa a fare?

    Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?

  12. I kpa a ticket, please.

    Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.

  13. I we a nahan a nahan?

    Ingabe kude lapha?

  14. M nahan sha.

    Ngilahlekile.

  15. I we a kpa a SIM card?

    Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Ee

    Yebo

  2. Naa

    Cha

  3. Iye

    Mhlawumbe

  4. M na a kpa

    Ngiyavuma

  5. M na a kpa nahan

    Angivumi

  6. I kpa a kpa

    Lokho kuzwakala kahle

  7. U kpa a nahan?

    Ucabanga ukuthini?

  8. U kpa m nahan?

    Ungangisiza?

  9. M na a kpa nahan

    Ngidinga usizo

  10. Kpa a kpa

    Linda umzuzu

  11. M na a kpa

    Ngiyaxolisa

  12. Naa a kpa

    Akukho nkinga

  13. I kpa a kpa

    Halala

  14. A kpa a kpa

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. U kpa a kpa

    Uhambo olunempilo

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Ior a kpa?

    Iphi isitishi sesitimela? (iphi isitishi sesitimela)

  2. Ior a nyam?

    Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi? (iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)

  3. Ior a gande?

    Iphi ipulatifomu? (iphi ipulatifomu)

  4. Nenge a kpa?

    Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba? (ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)

  5. Ior a nenge a?

    Ingabe le yindlela efanele? (ingabe le yindlela efanele)

  6. I na kpa a.

    Ikhaya lapha eduze (ikhaya lapha eduze)

  7. I na kpa a kpa.

    Ikude lapha (ikude lapha)

  8. I ma ior a gande?

    Ungangikhombisa emmaphini? (ungangikhombisa emmaphini)

  9. Kpa a, please.

    Misa lapha, ngiyacela (misa lapha, ngiyacela)

  10. Nenge a kpa?

    Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani? (kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Ior kwagh nahan?

    Kubiza malini lokhu? (ior kwagh nahan)

  2. Ior u kpa a kpa

    Lokho kubiza kakhulu. (ior u kpa a kpa)

  3. Ior m ngu u kpa?

    Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi? (ior m ngu u kpa)

  4. Ior m gban a card?

    Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi? (ior m gban a card)

  5. A doo a table m ngu a yô

    Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili. (a doo a table m ngu a yô)

  6. Ior a bill, please

    Ibhili, ngiyacela. (ior a bill, please)

  7. Ior a service m nahan?

    Inkonzo ifakiwe? (ior a service m nahan)

  8. A m vegetarian

    Ngiyisithuthuthu. (a m vegetarian)

  9. A m nahan a spicy food

    Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo. (a m nahan a spicy food)

  10. Ior a kpa

    Lokhu kuhle. (ior a kpa)

  11. Ior m gban a menu?

    Ngicela imenyu? (ior m gban a menu)

  12. A glass a water, please

    Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela. (a glass a water)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Kpa a police

    Shayela amaphoyisa

  2. Kpa a ambulance

    Shayela i-ambulensi

  3. M ba a doctor

    Ngidinga udokotela

  4. M kpa a kpa

    Ngizizwa ngigula

  5. M kpa a nyam

    Ngine-allergy kumantongomane

  6. I kpa a hospital mza?

    Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?

  7. I kpa a sha

    Kubuhlungu lapha

  8. M kpa a passport m

    Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami

  9. I kpa a hotel m?

    Ungashayela ihhotela lami?

  10. Kpa!

    Usizo!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ior u kpa.

    Ngiyajabula ukukwazi

  2. Ka a hia ikyô.

    Masihlele umhlangano

  3. Nî kpa u kpa?

    Yisiphi isikhathi esikufanele?

  4. M gbanor u kpe.

    Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla

  5. A hia nî u hia?

    Singakhuluma kusasa?

  6. M kpa u venge.

    Sicela uthole ifayela elixhunywe

  7. Ior u nenge.

    Ngiyabonga ngalesi sikhathi

  8. M hia u kpa.

    Ngibheke phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

  9. Ior a hia u mba?

    Ungacacisa leyo ndaba?

  10. Ka m hia u.

    Ngizobuyela kuwe

  11. Ikyô u kpa a Friday.

    Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ior a kpa?

    Kuyini isikhathi? (ku-yee-nee ee-sih-khah-teh?)

  2. Ior a tyoor

    Kuyisithathu (koo-yee-see-thah-thu)

  3. Ior

    Namuhla (nah-moo-hlah)

  4. Kpa

    Kusasa (koo-sah-sah)

  5. Ior a sha

    Izolo (ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Ior a yô

    uMsombuluko (oom-sohm-boo-loo-koh)

  7. Ior a kô

    uMsombuluko (oom-sohm-boo-loo-koh)

  8. Ior a ngô

    uLwesithathu (ool-weh-see-thah-thu)

  9. Mba

    Kunye (koon-yeh)

  10. Ishô

    Kubili (koo-bee-lee)

  11. Tyoor

    Kuthathu (koo-thah-thu)

  12. Ishê

    Ishumi (ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Mba kpa

    Ishumi elinhlanu (ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-hlah-noo)

  14. Ior a kpa

    Iphinifa (ee-pee-nee-fah)

  15. Ior a kpa

    Okuningi (oh-koo-neen-gee)

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