Looking for practical Tsonga to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga phrase first, then the Tiv translation (Tiv) — 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 Tiv.
Tip: read the Tiv line out loud three times, then cover the Tsonga side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tsonga to Tiv 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.
Xewani
Mgbakpa
Ndza khensa
Ior na
Xewani xitulu
Mgbakpa u sha
Xewani ntlhanu
Mgbakpa u kpa
Xewani nhloko
Mgbakpa u ter
Xewani xihlayo
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tshamisa
Kpa a joo
Sala kahle
Ior a joo
U vitaniwani?
Ior m ngu?
Ndzina i John
M ngu John
U njhani?
Ior m nande?
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
I kpa English?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
A ndzi twisisi.
M nahan usha.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
M nahan usha kpa.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
I kpa a sha?
Xikombiso xihi?
I we a joo?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Kpa a joo.
Khandziya ekunene.
Kpa a nahan.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Kpa a sha.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
I kpa a ticket, please.
I yini ku tlula kona?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndzi khomiwe.
M nahan sha.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Ee
A hi kona
Naa
Swi nga va tano
Iye
Ndzi amukela
M na a kpa
Ndzi nga amukeli
M na a kpa nahan
Iku na switlhavelo
I kpa a kpa
U ehleketa yini?
U kpa a nahan?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
M na a kpa nahan
Hlayisa nkarhi
Kpa a kpa
Ndzi tsundzuka
M na a kpa
A hi na xiphiqo
Naa a kpa
Ndzakuva
I kpa a kpa
Mavongele yo tsakela
A kpa a kpa
U va na ndlela yo olova
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Ior a kpa?
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Ior a nyam?
I platform yihi?
Ior a gande?
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Nenge a kpa?
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Ior a nenge a?
I kona edzongeni.
I na kpa a.
I le n'hweti.
I na kpa a kpa.
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
I ma ior a gande?
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Kpa a, please.
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndza va vegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Leswi i switlhavi.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndzaku na menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tivisa mapolisa
Kpa a police
Tivisa ambalansi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndzi lava dokotela
M ba a doctor
Ndzi khoma ku vava
M kpa a kpa
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
M kpa a nyam
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Ku vava laha
I kpa a sha
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
M kpa a passport m
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
I kpa a hotel m?
Shelp!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ku tsakela ku hlangana na wena
Ior u kpa.
A hi endla xihlanganiso
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ntiyiso wo sungula ku tirha na wena?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndzi ta rhumela xitlhavelo namuntlha
M gbanor u kpe.
Kambe hi nga vulavula sweswi?
A hia nî u hia?
Ndza kombela u kuma faayela ku hlanganisiwa
M kpa u venge.
Ndza nkhensa hi nkarhi wa wena
Ior u nenge.
Ndza langutela ku tirha na wena
M hia u kpa.
U nga ku hlamusela xiphemu lexi?
Ior a hia u mba?
A ndzi ta vuya eka wena
Ka m hia u.
Nkarhi wo heta i Friday
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.