Tiv Words Beginning with N | Tiv

Every Tiv word in the archive's dictionary that begins with “N” — 209 entries, in alphabetical order (part 1 of 2). Each entry gives the English meaning and part of speech, and, where the archive records them, the pronunciation, an example sentence in Tiv with its English translation, and notes on usage. Select a word to open its own page with related words and sources.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

Na

give

Verb

na

give

Verb

Example: Na un kwaghyan (give him/her food). Na m (give me). Na ibo (blame, fault). Na jime (turn your back)—disregard someone. Na m (give me), ; nam mngerem (give me (some) water); Na se (give us), nav ve (give them). — “Na ikaan (Give an answer).”

na

give

Verb

Example: Nam ve — “Give it to them”

na

gave

Verb

Also means: handed over
Example: Orteen nam imusan. — “The seller gave me a discount.”

na

give

Verb

na

his

Pronoun

Also means: her / its

na ian

allow

Verb

na ishimataver

encouraged

Noun

na jighjigh ken

faithful

Adjective

Na mlumum

answer

Verb

Nagh

Offering

Noun

Nagh

His/Hers

Noun

naha

row a boat

Verb

Example: Naha tso wou fere fe fere. — “Row your boat fast.”

naha

knead

Verb

Example: Naha ruam. Kneed fufu. Ruam nahan (kneeded fufu), noun clause.

naha

oar, wooden spoon

Noun

Example: 1. 2. Tôô naha za naha ruam. — “Wa naha shin ityo tso ture mngerem tso a yem. Place the oar under the boat and push the water to move the boat. Take the wooden spoon to kneed the fufu.”

naha

drive

Verb

naha1

row a boat

Verb

Also means: to make a boat move
Example: Naha tso wou fere fe fere — “Row your boat fast”

naha2

knead

Verb

Also means: stir into a thick paste with spoon
Example: Naha ruam — “Kneed fufu. Ruam nahan (kneeded fufu), noun clause”

naha3

oar, wooden spoon

Noun

Also means: tool or implement used for steering a boat or for stirring food. 1
Example: Wa naha shin ityo tso ture mngerem tso a yem — “Place the oar under the boat and push the water to move the boat. 2. Tôô naha za naha ruam. Take the wooden spoon to kneed the fufu”

nahan

so, so that

Conjunction

Example: M vôr her; nahan, m yem m za yav. — “I was still tired; so, I went and slept.”

nahan

like, as, by

Preposition

nahan

Conjunction

nahan

Preposition

Also means: like / as

nahan

Preposition

Also means: as / by

naira

Nigeria currency

Noun

Example: Naira mom ka kobo deri. One naira equals one hundred kobo.

nam

give me

Phrase

nam injô

forgive me

Verb

Also means: I’m sorry
Example: Nam injô sha ieren i bo yam. — “Forgive me for the wrong I have done.”

nam injô

sorry

Adjective

nam injô

forgive me; I’m sorry

Verb

Also means: to express a fault or wrongdoing
Example: Nam injô sha ieren i bo yam — “Forgive me for the wrong I have done”

nambe

offer a gift

Verb

Example: Nambe un amar. — “Offer a gift of money for a good dance.”

namegh

thigh

Noun

Example: Namegh ku ikegh. — “Chicken thigh.”
Usage: Anamaikegh (thighs), plural noun.

nan

mother

Noun

Also means: give me

nande

burn

Verb

Example: Nande toho. — “Burn the bush (grass).”

nande

yell

Verb

Example: M nande a wanye. — “I yelled at the child.”

nande

shouting

Verb

Also means: yelling
Example: Mbayam mba nande sha kasua. — “Traders are shouting at the market.”

nande1

burn

Verb

Also means: to set fire to something
Example: Nande toho — “Burn the bush (grass)”

nande2

yell

Verb

Also means: shout at someone or something
Example: M nande a wanye — “I yelled at the child”

nanjighjigh

value (to value)

Verb

Naregh

Stretch out

Noun

naregh

stretch

Verb

Example: Naregh roba. — “Stretch the rubber band. Compare, kôôm (to straighten), verb.”

Ndaha

small

Adjective

ndahar

small

Adjective

Example: Nortar ndahar ga; a kehe. — “An elephant is not small; it’s big.”

ndahar

little, small

Adjective

Nder

wake

Verb

nder

wake up

Verb

Example: M nder wanikundan. — “I woke up the baby.”

nder

woke

Verb

Also means: woke up
Example: M nder faa iyange. — “I woke up early in the morning.”

ndôhol

cold

Adjective

Ndohoo

cold

Adjective

Also means: wet

ndoo

fresh

Adjective

ndoor

shed

Verb

Example: Ika ndoor. — “The leaves dropped.”

ndoor

shed leaves

Verb

ndor

wet

Adjective

Example: Ikondo ngi ndor. — “The cloth is wet.”

nduhar

hoe

Noun

Example: nduhar ka kwagh u kahan sule a min — “a hoe is for farming”

nduur

shake off

Verb

Example: Nduur ikondo i sha gambe ihundu i due sha. — “Shake off the dust from the bed sheet.”

Ne

You

Pronoun

ne

you

Pronoun

ne

you, plural

Noun

Example: Ne mba nena? How are you (pl)?

ne

you (plural)

Pronoun

neer

excess

Noun

neer

excess

Adjective

Example: Kwaghyan neer. — “Here is excess food.”

neer

excess

Noun

nemba

number

Noun

Example: M tôô nemba utar ken atô u mbayev pue. — “I took number three out of ten children.”

Nena

Now / today / this moment

Adverb

nena

how

Adverb

Example: U ngu nena? How are you (sing.)?

Nenge

Saw

Verb

Also means: See

Nenge

see

Verb

nenge

see

Verb

Example: M nenge a we ga. Nenge avegher cii (examine); nenge shami (observe). — “I didn’t see you.”

nenge

look, see

Verb

nenge

see, observe, examine

Verb

nenge shamin

examine

Verb

nengen hanmakwagh vough

fair

Adjective

nes

nurse

Noun

Example: Ngumimi ka nes. — “Ngumimi is a nurse.”

ngee

de ishar

Noun

Example: I made a feast; there was a variety of meats.

ngee a ukola

colorful

Adjective

Nger

write

Verb

ngi purugh

the bat flies

Noun

Example: An umbrella can fold (inima ka I faityo u hulen. anema (bats, umbrellas), plural noun.

ngise

previously

Adverb

Example: Peturu ngise i doo ishe. — “Petrol was previously inexpensive.”

Ngô

Mother

Noun

Ngó

Mother

Noun

ngô

mother, female-type

Noun

Example: Amina ka ngô u Shehu. Also, ngô kwase (old woman—impolite); rather: kwase vesen or tamen kwase (elderly woman). ngôbua (cow); — “Amina is the mother of Shehu.”