Tswana phrasebook

Tswana (Setswana) is spoken in Botswana and South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN  bula CLOSED  tswala ENTRANCE  kgoro/mojako/lebati EXIT  tswa fa PUSH  kgorometsa PULL  goga TOILET  ntlwana ya boithuselo MEN  banna/borre WOMEN  basadi/bomme FORBIDDEN

Hello. 

Dumela.

(Dumela Rra - pronounced "borra" - when addressing men, Dumela Mma - pronounced "bomma" - when addressing women)

Hello. (informal) 

. (dumela )

How are you? 

O tsogíle jang? (o tsogile ?)

Fine, thank you. 

. (Ke tsogile / ke a leboga )

What is your name? 

? (leina la gago ke mang ?)

My name is ______ . 

______ . (leina lame ke ____.)

Nice to meet you. 

. (ke itumela go go itse )

Please. 

. (ka tsweetswee )

Thank you. 

. (ke a leboga )

You're welcome. 

. (o amogelesegile )

Yes. 

. (ee )

No. 

. (nnyaa )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. ( )

I'm sorry. 

. (ke kopa maitshwarelo )

Goodbye Sala sentle - stay well Tsamaya sentle - go well

Goodbye (informal) 

Go siame

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. (ga ke kgone go bua teme [sentle ])

Do you speak English? 

? (o bua sekgowa ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

? (a gona le mongwe fa yo o buang sekgowa ?)

Help! 

! (thusa !)

Look out! 

! (bona koo !)

Good morning. 

. (Moso o itumedisang )

Good evening. 

. (motshegare )

Good night. 

. (bosigo jo bo monate/boitumedisang )

Good night (to sleep) 

. (robala sentle )

I don't understand. 

. (ga ke tlhaloganye )

Where is the toilet? 

? (ntlwana ya boithusetso e kae?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

. (ntlogele .)

Don't touch me! 

! (o seka wa ntshwara/o seka wa nkgoma !)

I'll call the police. 

. (ke tla leletsa mapodise .)

Police! 

! (mapodise !)

Stop! Thief! 

! ! (ema !legodu !)

I need your help. 

. (ke kopa thuso ya gago .)

It's an emergency.  

. (ke ga tshoganetso .)

I'm lost. 

. (ke latlhegile/ke timetse .)

I lost my bag. 

. (ke latlhegetswe ke kgetsana yame .)

I lost my wallet. 

. (ke latlhile sepache same .)

I'm sick. 

. (ke a lwala .)

I've been injured. 

. (ke gobetse .)

I need a doctor. 

. (ke batla ngaka .)

Can I use your phone? 

? (ke ka dirisa mogala wa gago ?)

Numbers

1 

(bongwe )

2 

(bobedi )

3 

(boraro )

4 

(bone )bone

5 

(botlhano )

6 

(boratato )

7 

(bosupa )

8 

(borobabobedi )

9 

(borobabongwe )

10 

(lesome )lesome

11 

(lesome-le-bongwe )

12 

(lesome-le-bobedi )

13 

(lesome-le-boraro' )

14 

(lesome-le-bone)

15 

(lesome-le-botlhano )

16 

(lesome-le-borataro )

17 

(lesome-le-bosupa )

18 

(lesome-le-borobabobedi )

19 

(lesome-le-borobabongwe )

20 

(masome-a-mabedi )

21 

(masome-a-mabedi-le bongwe )

22 

(masome-a-mabedi-le-bobedi' )

23 

(masome-a-mabedi-le-boraro )

30 

(masome-a-maroro )

40 

(masome-a-mane )

50 

(masome-a-matlhano )

60 

(masome-a-marataro )

70 

(masome-a-supa )ma

80 

(masome-a-robabobedi )

90 

(masome-a-robabongwe )

100 

(lekgolo )lekgolo

200 

(makgolo-a-mabedi )

300 

(makgolo-a-mararo )

1,000 

(sekete )sekete

2,000 

(kete-tse-pedi )

1,000,000 

(sedikadike )

1,000,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000,000 

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

(dipalo )

half 

(sephatlo )

less 

(bonnye )

more 

(bontsi )

Time

now 

(jaanong )

later 

(kgantele )

before 

(lantlha )

morning 

(moso )

afternoon 

(motshegare )

evening 

(maitsebowa )

night 

(bosigo )

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

(nako ya bongwe maphakela )

two o'clock AM 

(nako ya bobedi maphakela )

noon 

(motshegare )

one o'clock PM 

(nako ya bongwe maitsebowa )

two o'clock PM 

(nako ya bobedi maistebowa )

midnight 

(bosigo-gare )

Duration

10_____ minute(s) 

(metsotso' )

___5__ hour(s) 

(di oura )

_____ day(s) 

(matsatsi )

_____ week(s) 

(dibeke )

_____ month(s) 

(dikgwedi )

_____ year(s) 

(dingwaga )

Days

today 

(gompieno )g

yesterday 

(maabane )

tomorrow 

(kamoso )

this week 

(beke e tlang )

last week 

(beke ee fetileng )

next week 

(beke ee tlang )

Sunday 

(tshipi )

Monday 

(mosupologo )

Tuesday 

(labobedi )

Wednesday 

(laboraro )

Thursday 

(labone )

Friday 

( labotlhano)

Saturday 

(matlhatso )

Months

January 

(Ferikgong )

February 

(tlhakole )

March 

(mopitlwe)

April 

(moranang )

May 

(motsheganong )

June 

(seetebosigo )

July 

(phukwi )

August 

(phatwe )

September 

(lwesti )

October 

(Diphalane )

November 

(ngwanatsele )

December 

(sedimonthole )

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

(bontsho )

white 

(bosweu )

gray 

(borokwa )

red 

(bohibidu )

blue 

(botala jwa loapi )

yellow 

(lephutshe )

green 

(botala jwa tlhaga )

orange 

( )

purple 

( )

brown 

(bosetlha )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

(thekete ke bokae? )

One ticket to _____, please. 

(thekete e le nngwe ke________tsweetswee )

Where does this train/bus go? 

(terena kgotsa base e e ya kae? )

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

(terena kgotsa base e ya ko_______? )

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

(a base kgotsa terenae e ema ko_______? )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

(terenakgotsa base e e tla goroga leng ko______?)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

(ke goroga jang koo______? )

...the train station? 

(....maemelo a terena? )

...the bus station? 

(....maemelo a dibaee? )

...the airport? 

(...maemelo a difofane? )

...downtown? 

(ko toropong? )

...the youth hostel? 

( )

...the _____ hotel? 

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

( )

Where are there a lot of... 

(ke ko kae ko go nang le_______se sentsi? )

...hotels? 

( )

...restaurants? 

( )

...bars? 

(dibara? )

...sites to see? 

( )

Can you show me on the map? 

(a o ka mpontsha mo mmepeng? )

street 

(mokgwatha )

Turn left. 

(kapogela ho molema )

Turn right. 

(kapogela ho moja)

left 

(molema )

right 

(moja )

straight ahead 

(stamaela ho sele )

towards the _____ 

(go lebagana le______ )

past the _____ 

(fetaa fa.... )

before the _____ 

(sele ga________ )

Watch for the _____. 

(o lebelele_______ )

intersection 

(mahosano )

north 

(botlkaba )

south 

(bopkirima )

east 

(bohone )

west 

(botwa )

uphill 

(jodimo ja thaba )

downhill 

(ho tlase ja thaba )

Taxi

Taxi! 

( )

Take me to _____, please. 

(tonki)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

(ke go ya ko....? )

Take me there, please. 

(nkisa teng,ka tsweetswee )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

(a le ya borobalo ee senang ope? )

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

(ke bokae ntlwana ya borobalo fa motho a le mongwe kgotsa ba le babedi? )

Does the room come with... 

(a ntlwana e tla ka_______? )

...bedsheets? 

( )

...a bathroom? 

(ntlawana ya go tlhapela? )

...a telephone? 

(mogala? )

...a TV? 

(setshwantsho sa motshikinyego?)

May I see the room first? 

(a nkabona ntlwana ya borobalo pele? )

Do you have anything quieter? 

( )

...bigger? 

(setona? )

...cleaner? 

(bophepa? )

...cheaper? 

(tlhwatlhwa tlase? )

OK, I'll take it. 

(go siame,ke tla e tsaya )

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

(ke nna bosigo(ma)a le______)

Can you suggest another hotel? 

( )

Do you have a safe? 

( )

...lockers? 

( )

Is breakfast/supper included? 

(a dijo tsa phakela kgotsa bosigo mo teng? )

What time is breakfast/supper? 

(dijo tsa phakela kgotsa bosigo ke nako mang? )

Please clean my room. 

(ka tsweetswee phepafatsa ntlwana yame ya borobalo )

Can you wake me at _____? 

(a o ka ntsosa ka______? )

I want to check out. 

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

( )

Do you accept British pounds? 

( )

Do you accept Euros? 

( )

Do you accept credit cards? 

( )

Can you change money for me? 

( )

Where can I get money changed? 

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

( )

What is the exchange rate? 

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

(ke kopa tafole ya motho ale mongwe kgotsa ba le babedi,ka tsweetswee )

Can I look at the menu, please? 

( )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

(a nka bona mo ntlwaneng ya boapeelo? )

Is there a house specialty? 

(a gona le tsa ntlo tse di kgethegileng? )

Is there a local specialty? 

(a gona le tsa setso/setswana tse di kgethegileng? )

I'm a vegetarian. 

(ke ja merogo fela )

I don't eat pork. 

(ga ke je nama ya kolobe )

I don't eat beef. 

(ga ke je nama ya kgomo )

I only eat kosher food. 

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

( )

fixed-price meal 

( )

a la carte 

( )

breakfast 

(dijo tsa moso/phakela )

lunch 

(dijo tsa motshegare )

tea (meal) 

(tee/mogodungwana (dijo) )

supper 

(dijo tsa selalelo/maitseboa )

I want _____. 

(ke batla go ________ )

I want a dish containing _____. 

(ke batla tse di nang le_______ )

chicken 

(nama ya koko )

beef 

(nama ya kgomo )

fish 

(tlhapi )

ham 

( )

sausage 

( )

cheese 

(botoro )

eggs 

(mae )

salad 

( )

(fresh) vegetables 

(merogo e e phepa )

(fresh) fruit 

(maungo a a phepa )

bread 

(borotho/senkgwe )

toast 

( )

noodles 

( )

rice 

( )

beans 

(dinawa )

May I have a glass of _____? 

(ke kopa galase ya_______? )

May I have a cup of _____? 

(ke kopa kopi ya________? )

May I have a bottle of _____? 

(ke kopa botlele ya_______? )

coffee 

(kofi )

tea (drink) 

(tee/mogodungwana (nwa) )

juice 

( )

(bubbly) water 

( )

(still) water 

( )

beer 

(biri )

red/white wine 

(mofine o mohibidu/o mosweu )

May I have some _____? 

(ke kopa_____? )

salt 

(letswai )

black pepper 

( )

butter 

(botoro )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished. 

(ke feditse )

It was delicious. 

(go ne go le monate )

Please clear the plates. 

(ka tsweetswee tsaya dijana )

The check, please. 

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

(o rekisa bojalwa? )

Is there table service? 

( )

A beer/two beers, please. 

(beri /diberi bobedi )

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

( )

A pint, please. 

( )

A bottle, please. 

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

( )

whiskey 

(ugologo )

vodka 

( )

rum 

( )

water 

(metsi )

club soda 

( )

tonic water 

( )

orange juice 

( )

Coke (soda) 

( )

Do you have any bar snacks? 

( )

One more, please. 

(e nngwe,ka tsweetswee )

Another round, please. 

( )

When is closing time? 

(go tswalwa nako mang? )

Cheers! 

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

( )

How much is this? 

(ke bokae se? )

That's too expensive. 

(se a tura thata )

Would you take _____? 

(ao ka tsaya_______? )

expensive 

(tura )

cheap 

(ga se turu )

I can't afford it. 

( )

I don't want it. 

(ga ke e batle )

You're cheating me. 

(o a ntsietsa )

I'm not interested. 

(.ga kena kgatlhego.)

OK, I'll take it. 

(go siame,ke tla e tsaya )

Can I have a bag? 

(ke kopa beke? )

Do you ship (overseas)? 

( )

I need... 

(ke batla_______ )

...toothpaste. 

(borache jwa meno )

...a toothbrush. 

( )

...tampons. 

. ( )

...soap. 

(molora oo tlhapang )

...shampoo. 

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

( )

...cold medicine. 

(molemo oo tsidid )

...stomach medicine. 

... (molemo wa mala )

...a razor. 

(legare )

...an umbrella. 

(sekhukhu )

...sunblock lotion. 

(setlolo sa go ithireletsa letsatsi )

...a postcard. 

( )

...postage stamps. 

(stempe sa poso )

...batteries. 

( )

...writing paper. 

(pampiri ya go kwalela )

...a pen. 

(pena )

...English-language books. 

(buka ya sekgoa/se esemane )

...English-language magazines. 

( )

...an English-language newspaper. 

(pampiri ya dikgang ya sekgoa )

...an English-English dictionary. 

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

(ke batla go adimisa koloi )

Can I get insurance? 

( )

stop (on a street sign) 

(ema )

one way 

(tsela ele nngwe )

yield 

( )

no parking 

( )

speed limit 

(selekanyetso sa lobelo )

gas (petrol) station 

( )

petrol 

( )

diesel 

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

(ga ke a dira sepe se se molato )

It was a misunderstanding. 

(e ne e le tlhoka kutlwisisanyo )

Where are you taking me? 

(o nkisa kae? )

Am I under arrest? 

(a ke tsena mo kgolegelong? )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

(ke moagedi wa ko america/australia/britis/canadian )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

(ke batla go bua le mmueledi )

Can I just pay a fine now? 

(a ke ka duela madi a molato jaanong?)

Learning more

Setswana Info wiki - A Tswana reference for residents of Botswana