Tswana phrasebook

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

Greeting

 * Hello. : Dumela (One person) Dumelang (More than one person)
 * Dumela Rra - when addressing a man, Dumela Borra - when addressing men, more than one
 * Dumela Mma - when addressing a woman Dumela Bomma - when addressing women, more than one

Tshwarelo rre:. ( )
 * Hello. (informal) : . (Dumela ), singular; (Dumelang), plural
 * 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 la me 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 Tswana [well]. : [ ]. ( [Ga ke itse go bua Setswana sentle ])
 * Do you speak English? : ? (A 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 )
 * I (really) don't know. : (Ga ke itse (tota))
 * Come here boy/girl. : (Tla kwano mosimane/mosetsana)
 * 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 !)
 * Are you crazy?! : ? ! (Wa tsenwa?!)
 * I will beat you! : ! (Ke tlago betsa!)
 * I need your help. :. (ke kopa thuso ya gago .)
 * It's an emergency. :. (ke ka 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 : (Hirikgong )
 * February : (tlhakole )
 * March : (mopitlo)
 * April : (moranang )
 * May : (motsheganong )
 * June : (seetebosigo )
 * July : (phukwi )
 * August : (phatwe )
 * September : (lwetsi )
 * October : (Diphalane )
 * November : (ngwanatsele )
 * December : (sedimonthole )

Colors

 * black : (bontsho )
 * white : (bosweu )
 * gray : (borokwa )
 * red : (boshibidu )
 * blue : (botala jwa loapi )
 * yellow :(seroloana )
 * green : (botala jwa tlhaga )
 * orange : (meals wa namune/wa lephutshe )
 * purple : (phepole )
 * brown : (bosetlha )

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : (thekete ke bokae? )
 * One ticket to _____, please. : (thekete e le  nngwe ko_______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 :(bokone )
 * south :(borwa )
 * east :(bothaba )
 * west :(bophirima )
 * 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. : ( )
 * nails : (manala  )
 * hair : (Morris/Morriri  )
 * Hot : (Bolelo/Bollo  )
 * Cold : (Tsididi/Maroro )

Money :(Madi)

 * 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 kgogo )
 * 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 : (matute a maungo )
 * (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. : (galasi ya mofine e shibidu/swewu, ka tsweetswee )
 * 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