Looking for practical Yoruba to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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.
Bawo
Mgbakpa(bawoh)
O seun
Ior na(oh shayoon)
E kaaro
Mgbakpa u sha(eh kah-roh)
E kaasan
Mgbakpa u kpa(eh kah-sahn)
E kuurole
Mgbakpa u ter(eh koo-roh-leh)
O daaro
Mgbakpa u ter sha(oh dah-roh)
A ri e laipe
Kpa a joo(ah ree eh lie-peh)
O dabọ
Ior a joo(oh dah-boh)
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?
Ior m ngu?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Orukọ mi ni John
M ngu John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Bawo ni?
Ior m nande?(bawoh nee)
Inu mi dun lati pade e
Ior m nande a joo(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?
I kpa English?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa
M nahan Hindi nahan.(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Mi ò ye mi
M nahan usha.(Mee oh yeh mee)
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan
M nahan usha kpa.(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?
I kpa a sha?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Nibo ni baluwe wa?
I we a joo?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?
Nenge a kpa a city center?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Yí si apa osi
Kpa a joo.(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Yí si apa otun
Kpa a nahan.(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Lọ taara
Kpa a sha.(Law tah-rah)
Elo ni owo ọkọ?
Nenge a kpa a fare?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Ticket kan, jọwọ
I kpa a ticket, please.(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?
I we a nahan a nahan?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Mo ti sọnù
M nahan sha.(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?
I we a kpa a SIM card?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Bẹẹni
Ee
Rara
Naa
Bóyá
Iye
Mo gba
M na a kpa
Mo kọ
M na a kpa nahan
Iyẹn dára
I kpa a kpa
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
U kpa a nahan?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
U kpa m nahan?
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
M na a kpa nahan
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Kpa a kpa
Mo bínú
M na a kpa
Kò sí ìṣòro
Naa a kpa
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
I kpa a kpa
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
A kpa a kpa
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?
Ior a kpa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?
Ior a nyam?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?
Ior a gande?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?
Nenge a kpa?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?
Ior a nenge a?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
O sunmọ ibi yi
I na kpa a.
O jinna si ibi yi
I na kpa a kpa.
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?
I ma ior a gande?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Kpa a, please.
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Nenge a kpa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Elo ni eyi?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Eyi dára
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Pe iroyin ọlọpa
Kpa a police(pe iroyin olopa)
Pe ambulance
Kpa a ambulance(pe ambulance)
Mo nilo dokita
M ba a doctor(mo nilo dokita)
Mo n ni irora
M kpa a kpa(mo n ni irora)
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́
M kpa a nyam(mo ni akunya si efo)
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?
I kpa a hospital mza?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
O n dun nibi
I kpa a sha(o n dun nibi)
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi
M kpa a passport m(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?
I kpa a hotel m?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
I ranlọwọ!
Kpa!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Inu mi dun lati pade e
Ior u kpa.(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Ka a hia ikyô.
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
M gbanor u kpe.
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
A hia nî u hia?
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
M kpa u venge.
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Ior u nenge.
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
M hia u kpa.
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Ior a hia u mba?
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Ka m hia u.
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.