Looking for practical Xhosa to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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.
Molo
Mgbakpa
Enkosi
Ior na
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u sha
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u kpa
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u ter
Lala ngoxolo
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Kpa a joo
Hamba kakuhle
Ior a joo
Ngubani igama lakho?
Ior m ngu?
Igama lam nguJohn
M ngu John
Unjani?
Ior m nande?
Kuhle ukukwazi
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
I kpa English?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Andiqondi
M nahan usha.
Nceda thethe kancinci
M nahan usha kpa.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
I kpa a sha?
Iphi ibhafu?
I we a joo?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Kpa a joo.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Kpa a nahan.
Hamba ngqo
Kpa a sha.
Iholo ingakanani?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ndilahlekile
M nahan sha.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ee
Hayi
Naa
Mhlawumbi
Iye
Ndiyavuma
M na a kpa
Andivumi
M na a kpa nahan
Okuhle
I kpa a kpa
Ucinga ntoni?
U kpa a nahan?
Ungandinceda?
U kpa m nahan?
Ndidinga uncedo
M na a kpa nahan
Linda umzuzu
Kpa a kpa
Ndicela uxolo
M na a kpa
Akukho ngxaki
Naa a kpa
Wamkelekile
I kpa a kpa
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
A kpa a kpa
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Ior a kpa?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Ior a nyam?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Ior a gande?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Nenge a kpa?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Ior a nenge a?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
I na kpa a.
Ikude apha
I na kpa a kpa.
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
I ma ior a gande?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
Kpa a, please.
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Unayo into engabizi?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ibhili, nceda.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ndiyavegetarian.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Oku kumnandi.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Kpa a police
Biza i-ambulensi
Kpa a ambulance
Ndifuna ugqirha
M ba a doctor
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
M kpa a kpa
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
M kpa a nyam
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kubuhlungu apha
I kpa a sha
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
M kpa a passport m
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
I kpa a hotel m?
Uncedo!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Ior u kpa.
Masihlele umhlangano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
M gbanor u kpe.
Singathetha ngomso?
A hia nî u hia?
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
M kpa u venge.
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Ior u nenge.
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
M hia u kpa.
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
Ior a hia u mba?
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Ka m hia u.
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.