Looking for practical Tumbuka to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka 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.
Moni
Mgbakpa
Zikomo
Ior na
Muli bwanji
Mgbakpa u sha
Muli bwanji
Mgbakpa u kpa
Muli bwanji
Mgbakpa u ter
Usiku wabwino
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tiwonana
Kpa a joo
Tsalani bwino
Ior a joo
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Ior m ngu?
Dzina langa ndi John
M ngu John
Muli bwanji?
Ior m nande?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
I kpa English?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
M nahan Hindi nahan.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
M nahan usha.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
M nahan usha kpa.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
I kpa a sha?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
I we a joo?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Kpa a joo.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Kpa a nahan.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Kpa a sha.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
I kpa a ticket, please.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
I we a nahan a nahan?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
M nahan sha.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ee
Ayi
Naa
Pang'ono
Iye
Ndikugwirizana
M na a kpa
Sindikugwirizana
M na a kpa nahan
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
I kpa a kpa
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
U kpa a nahan?
Mungandithandize?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndikufuna thandizo
M na a kpa nahan
Dikirani pang’ono
Kpa a kpa
Ndikupemphera
M na a kpa
Palibe vutoli
Naa a kpa
Zikomo
I kpa a kpa
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
A kpa a kpa
Pita bwino pa ulendo
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Ior a kpa?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Ior a nyam?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ior a gande?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Nenge a kpa?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ior a nenge a?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
I na kpa a.
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
I na kpa a kpa.
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
I ma ior a gande?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Kpa a, please.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Chikalata, chonde
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndine wopanda nyama
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Kpa a police
Fufuzani ambulansi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
M ba a doctor
Ndikuwona bwino
M kpa a kpa
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
M kpa a nyam
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kuli kuuma apa
I kpa a sha
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
M kpa a passport m
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
I kpa a hotel m?
Thandizani!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ior u kpa.
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Ka a hia ikyô.
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
M gbanor u kpe.
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
A hia nî u hia?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
M kpa u venge.
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Ior u nenge.
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
M hia u kpa.
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Ior a hia u mba?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Ka m hia u.
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.