Looking for practical Zulu to Tiv phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu 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 Zulu 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.
Sawubona
Mgbakpa
Ngiyabonga
Ior na
Sawubona
Mgbakpa u sha
Good afternoon
Mgbakpa u kpa
Ubusuku obuhle
Mgbakpa u ter
Lala kahle
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Sizobonana
Kpa a joo
Hamba kahle
Ior a joo
Ubani igama lakho?
Ior m ngu?
Igama lami nginguJohn
M ngu John
Unjani?
Ior m nande?
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Ior m nande a joo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
I kpa English?
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Angiqondi.
M nahan usha.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
M nahan usha kpa.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
I kpa a sha?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
I we a joo?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Jika kwesobunxele.
Kpa a joo.
Jika kwesokudla.
Kpa a nahan.
Hamba phambili.
Kpa a sha.
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ingabe kude lapha?
I we a nahan a nahan?
Ngilahlekile.
M nahan sha.
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Ee
Cha
Naa
Mhlawumbe
Iye
Ngiyavuma
M na a kpa
Angivumi
M na a kpa nahan
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
I kpa a kpa
Ucabanga ukuthini?
U kpa a nahan?
Ungangisiza?
U kpa m nahan?
Ngidinga usizo
M na a kpa nahan
Linda umzuzu
Kpa a kpa
Ngiyaxolisa
M na a kpa
Akukho nkinga
Naa a kpa
Halala
I kpa a kpa
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
A kpa a kpa
Uhambo olunempilo
U kpa a kpa
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
Ior a kpa?(iphi isitishi sesitimela)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
Ior a nyam?(iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
Ior a gande?(iphi ipulatifomu)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
Nenge a kpa?(ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
Ior a nenge a?(ingabe le yindlela efanele)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
I na kpa a.(ikhaya lapha eduze)
Ikude lapha
I na kpa a kpa.(ikude lapha)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
I ma ior a gande?(ungangikhombisa emmaphini)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Kpa a, please.(misa lapha, ngiyacela)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
Nenge a kpa?(kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini lokhu?
Ior kwagh nahan?(ior kwagh nahan)
Lokho kubiza kakhulu.
Ior u kpa a kpa(ior u kpa a kpa)
Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi?
Ior m ngu u kpa?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
Ior m gban a card?(ior m gban a card)
Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili.
A doo a table m ngu a yô(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ibhili, ngiyacela.
Ior a bill, please(ior a bill, please)
Inkonzo ifakiwe?
Ior a service m nahan?(ior a service m nahan)
Ngiyisithuthuthu.
A m vegetarian(a m vegetarian)
Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo.
A m nahan a spicy food(a m nahan a spicy food)
Lokhu kuhle.
Ior a kpa(ior a kpa)
Ngicela imenyu?
Ior m gban a menu?(ior m gban a menu)
Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela.
A glass a water, please(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Shayela amaphoyisa
Kpa a police
Shayela i-ambulensi
Kpa a ambulance
Ngidinga udokotela
M ba a doctor
Ngizizwa ngigula
M kpa a kpa
Ngine-allergy kumantongomane
M kpa a nyam
Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?
I kpa a hospital mza?
Kubuhlungu lapha
I kpa a sha
Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami
M kpa a passport m
Ungashayela ihhotela lami?
I kpa a hotel m?
Usizo!
Kpa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Ior u kpa.
Masihlele umhlangano
Ka a hia ikyô.
Yisiphi isikhathi esikufanele?
Nî kpa u kpa?
Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla
M gbanor u kpe.
Singakhuluma kusasa?
A hia nî u hia?
Sicela uthole ifayela elixhunywe
M kpa u venge.
Ngiyabonga ngalesi sikhathi
Ior u nenge.
Ngibheke phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
M hia u kpa.
Ungacacisa leyo ndaba?
Ior a hia u mba?
Ngizobuyela kuwe
Ka m hia u.
Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu
Ikyô u kpa a Friday.
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.