Tswana (Setswana) is spoken in Botswana and South Africa.
Common signs
; OPEN : bula ; CLOSED : tswala ; ENTRANCE : kgoro/mojako/lebati ; EXIT : tswa/tswaya fa ; PUSH :kgorometsa ; PULL : goga ; HERE : kafa/ fa ; THERE :kafoo/foo ; TOILET :ntlwana ya boithuselo ; MEN : banna/borre ; WOMEN : basadi/bomme ; LADY: nchadinyana/msadinyana
; 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
; 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) Tshwarelo rre: . () ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . () ; I'm sorry. : . (Ke kopa maitshwarelo) ; Goodbye __S__ala 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?)
; 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 ?)
; 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)
; now : (jaanong) ; later : (kgantele) ; before : (lantlha) ; morning : (moso) ; afternoon : (motshegare) ; evening : (maitsebowa) ; night : (bosigo)
; 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)
; 10_____ minute(s) : (metsotso') ; _5 hour(s) : (di oura) ; _____ day(s) : (matsatsi) ; _____ week(s) : (dibeke) ; _____ month(s) : (dikgwedi) ; _____ year(s) : (dingwaga)
; 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)
; January : (Hi_rikgong_) ; February : (tlhakole) ; March : (mopitlo) ; April : (moranang) ; May : (motsheganong) ; June : (seetebosigo) ; July : (phukwi) ; August : (phatwe) ; September : (lwetsi) ; October : (Diphalane) ; November : (ngwanatsele) ; December : (sedimonthole)
; 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)
; 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?_)
; 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. :(k_apogela ho molema) ; Turn right. :(k_apogela ho moja_) ; left : (molema) ; right : (moja) ; straight ahead :(st_amaela ho sele_) ; towards the _____ : (go lebagana le______) ; past the _____ :(fetaa fa....) ; before the _____ :(s_ele ga_________) ; Watch for the . : (o lebelele__) ; intersection :(mahosano) ; north :(bokone) ; south :(borwa) ; east :(bothaba) ; west :(bophirima) ; uphill :(j_odimo ja thaba_) ; downhill :(h_o tlase ja thaba_)
; 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)
; 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 )
; 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)? : ()
; 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. : (__)
; 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! : (__)
; 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. : (__)
; 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 : ()
; 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?)
Setswana Info wiki - A Tswana reference for residents of Botswana