Looking for practical Venda to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tiv-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Venda 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.
Ndi matsheloni
Mgbakpa
Ndi a livhuwa
Ior na
Ndi matsheloni
Mgbakpa u sha
Ndi masiari
Mgbakpa u kpa
Ndi madekwana
Mgbakpa u ter
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Tshilidzi
Kpa a joo
Vhuyani
Ior a joo
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Ior m ngu?
Dzina langa ndi John
M ngu John
Ni khou itea?
Ior m nande?
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
I kpa English?(ni a thota n'wambo)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
M nahan Hindi nahan.(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
A ndi ḓivhi
M nahan usha.(a ndi dhiwi)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
M nahan usha kpa.(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
I kpa a sha?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Bani hu na khotani?
I we a joo?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Fhulu u ya shango
Kpa a joo.(fhulu u ya shango)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
Kpa a nahan.(fhulu u ya thoho)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Kpa a sha.(dhi thota nga thoho)
Fhasi i na hani?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(fhasi i na hani)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
I kpa a ticket, please.(ticket ye la, nd please)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
I we a nahan a nahan?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndi a fhedza
M nahan sha.(ndi a fhedza)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(ndi nga wana SIM card phi)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ee
Aih
Naa
Ndi nga si
Iye
Ndi a livhuwa
M na a kpa
Ndi a sa livhuwi
M na a kpa nahan
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
I kpa a kpa
U vhona mini?
U kpa a nahan?
U nga nthusa?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndi na nyito
M na a kpa nahan
Langa muthu
Kpa a kpa
Ndi a humbula
M na a kpa
A hu na nḓila
Naa a kpa
Ndi a livhuwa
I kpa a kpa
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
A kpa a kpa
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Ior a kpa?
Uphi i-bus stop?
Ior a nyam?
I-platform efani na?
Ior a gande?
Iri ngafhi?
Nenge a kpa?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Ior a nenge a?
Iri khathihi na.
I na kpa a.
Iri khulwane na.
I na kpa a kpa.
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
I ma ior a gande?
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Kpa a, please.
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zwi khou itea ngani?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Izwi ndi zwihulu.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndi muvegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Izi ndi zwitukwama.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fhonelela mapolisa
Kpa a police
Fhonelela ambulanse
Kpa a ambulance
Ndi funa ngaka
M ba a doctor
Ndi a shota
M kpa a kpa
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
M kpa a nyam
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
I kpa a sha
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
M kpa a passport m
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
I kpa a hotel m?
Ramba!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga
Ior u kpa.
A ri vhe na thendo
Ka a hia ikyô.
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
M gbanor u kpe.
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
A hia nî u hia?
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
M kpa u venge.
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Ior u nenge.
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
M hia u kpa.
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
Ior a hia u mba?
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Ka m hia u.
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.