Once upon a time speaking a second or third language could have been considered taboo but in light of all the wonderful cultures and likeness America has to offer, exchanging language pleasantries seems only right. You never know, if you haven’t already you too will bump into someone from Botswana and have the opportunity to say, Dumela, Ke itumelela go goitsi!
Setswana is one of the Bantu language groups, mostly spoken in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia (Southern Africa). Tswana is an official language and lingua franca of Botswana, where four million people speak the language. Tswana has two tones, high and low, although the latter has a much wider distribution in words than the former like any language.
When reading a language becomes difficult and frustrating, listening and following along is the best next thing.
| English | Setswana (Tswana) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | O amogetswe (sg) Le amogetswe (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Dumela |
| How are you? | O tsogile jang (sg) Le kae? (sg) Le tsogile jang? (pl) |
| Reply to ‘How are you?’ | Ke tsogile sentle (sg) Re teng (sg) Re tsogile sentle (pl) |
| Long time no see | Ke kgale re sa bonane |
| What’s your name? | Leina le gago ke mang? (frm) O mang? (inf) |
| My name is … | Leina la me ke … |
| Where are you from?< | Ko gae ke kae? |
| I’m from … | Ke tswa ko … |
| Pleased to meet you | Ke itumelela go goitsi |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) | Dumêla rra (frm>m) Dumêla mma (frm>f) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) | Thupama e e monate |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) | Muitsibowa a a monate |
| Good night | Borôkô! Robala sentle (sleep well) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) | Tsamaya sentle (go well – said when leaving) Sala sentle (stay well – said when staying) Go siame (see you) Ke tla go bona (see you) Ke tla go bôna kamoso (see you tomorrow) Ke tla go bôna kgantele (see you later) |
| Good luck | Masego ke ao O nne le masego |
| Cheers! (Toasts used when drinking) | Pholo e ntle! |
| Have a nice day | Tlhôla sentle |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | Itumelele dijo |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Tselatshweu |
| I understand | Ke a tlhaloganya |
| I don’t understand | Ga ke tlhaloganye |
| I don’t know | Ga ke itse sepe |
| Please speak more slowly | Bua ka bonya |
| Please say that again | Ke kopa o boeletse gape |
| Please write it down | Ke kopa o e kwale fa fatshe |
| Do you speak Tswana? | A o bua Setswana? |
| Yes, a little (reply to ‘Do you speak …?’) | Ee, fela ga nnyane |
| How do you say … in Tswana? | Wa bo o reng … ka Setswana? |
| Excuse me | Intshwarele |
| How much is this? | E ke bokae? |
| Sorry | Ke kopa tshwarelo |
| Please | Tswêê-tswêê |
| Thank you | Ke a leboga, rra (frm>m) Ke a leboga, mma (frm>f) Ke itumetse, rra (frm>m) Ke itumetse, mma (frm>f) |
| Reply to thank you | Ke itumetse, rra (frm>m) Ke itumetse, mma (frm>f) |
| Where’s the toilet? | Ntlwana ya boitiketso e kae? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Lekau le le tsile go duela tsotlhe |
| This lady will pay for everything | Lekgarebe le le tsile go duela tsotlhe |
| Would you like to dance with me? | A ga o batle go bina? |
| I miss you | Ke go gopotse |
| I love you | Ke a go rata |
| Get well soon | O fole ka potlako |
| Go away! | Tsamaya kusa! |
| Leave me alone! | Ntlogele! |
| Help! | Nthuse! |
| Fire! | Molelo! |
| Stop! | Ema! |
| Call the police! | Bitsa mapodisi! |
| Christmas and New Year greetings | Keresemose e e monate le ngwaga o o itumedisang |
| Easter greetings | Malatsi a paseka aa itumedisang |
| Birthday greetings | Letsatsi la tswalo lele monate |
| One language is never enough | Laleme le le lengwe ga le a lekanela |
| My hovercraft is full of eels Why this phrase? | Mokoro wa me o tletse ditlhapi |
For more on pronunciation of seTswana, visit here for more videos.
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