# Tswana medical terms

This is a list of Tswana (Setswana) medical terms that correspond to the English words.
| English | Setswana |
| Abdominal pain | Botlhoko mo maleng |
| Abnormal breathing | Go hema mo go sa siamang/tlwaelesegang |
| Abortion | Go senya mpa |
| Abscess | Tlhagala,phologolo,sebola |
| Absent period | Go tlolwa ke dikgwedi |
| Abuse | Kgokgontsho |
| Alcohol | Bojalwa |
| Anemia | Go tlhofofala ga madi, go fela madi |
| Anesthesia | Molemo wa kidibatso/o o robatsang |
| Ankle | Legwejane(lenyenyana-side of malleoli) |
| Anorexia nervosa | Bolwetsi jwa go itima dijo le go bopama mo go feteletseng |
| Anus | Phatlha ya marago |
| Apgar test | Tlhatlhobe ya APGAR |
| Appendicitis | Tutuma ya lelana(tutuma-inflammation) |
| Appendix | Lelana:lelanyana |
| Arm | Lebogo:letsogo |
| Armpit | Legwafa |
| Arthritis | Bolwetsi jwa ditokololo (tutuma ya ditokololo) |
| Asphyxia, suffocation | Go hupela(go hupetsa mowa) |
| Asthma | Bolwetsi jwa khupelo |
| Aunt | Rakagadi |
| Baby | Losea, Ngwana |
| Back | Mokwatla |
| Back of knee | Kgorikgotshane |
| Back pains | Ditlhabi tsa mokwatla |
| Bag of waters | Kgetsi ya metsi |
| Birth defect | Bogole |
| Bladder | Setlha |
| Bladder | Setlha |
| Bleeding | Go tswa madi |
| Bleeding | Go tswa madi |
| Bleeding between periods | Go tswa madi ka fa bosading ka nako e e seng ya setswalo |
| Blindness | Bofofu |
| Blister | Lerophi |
| Blood clot | Lethole la madi/leswele la madi/go rema ga madi |
| Blood in sputum | Segotlhola se se nang le madi |
| Blood in the stool | Madi mo mantleng |
| Blood in the urine | Madi mo motlhapong |
| Blood pressure High (HBP) | Kgatelelo ya Mari e e kwa godimo |
| Blood pressure Low (LBP) | Kgatelelo ya madi e e kwa tlase |
| Blood pressure | Kgatelelo ya madi |
| Blurred vision | Pono e e sa tlhapang |
| Bone | Lerapo |
| Bone fracture | Go robega ga lerapo |
| Bottlefeed | Go anyisa ka lebotlele |
| Bowel movement | Go tsamaya ga mala |
| Boyfriend | Tsala ya mosimane |
| Brain | Boboko/Tlhaloganyo |
| Brain stroke | Go swa mohama |
| Breast | Lebele |
| Breast engorgement | Go ruruga ga lebele |
| Breast milk | Mashi a lebele |
| Breast pump | Pompo ya lebele |
| Breastfeed, nurse | Go anyisa ka lebele |
| Breech presentation | Go tla ka maoto ga ngwana |
| Bronchitis | Tutuma ya kgokgotso |
| Brother | Morwarre |
| Bruise | V-teteelo/topela/teketa n-dingalo |
| Bump | Thurugo/boruruso(go ruruga) |
| Burn | Go sha/fisa |
| Burning feeling | Go ikutlwa o sha(phisego) |
| Burp | Go kgobola |
| Buttocks | Marago |
| Calf | Ngwari:potongwane |
| Cancer | Kankere |
| Cardiac arrest | Go ema ga pelo |
| Cardiac arrhythmia | Go itaya ga pelo mo gom sa siamang |
| CD4 count | Palo ya masole a mmele |
| Cervix | Molomo wa popelo |
| Cesarean section, C-section | Go belega ka loaro |
| Cheek | Lerama |
| Chest | Sehuba:lefatlha |
| Childbearing | Pelegi |
| Childbirth | Go belega |
| Chills | Mofikela,serame |
| Chills | Mhikela, go roroma |
| Chin | Seledu |
| Choking | Beta,go hupelwa |
| Circumcision | Go kgaola letlalo la bonna |
| Clavicle | Kgetlana |
| Clotting of blood | Go rema ga madi |
| Coccyx | Lerapo la mogatla |
| Cold Human skin | Letlalo le le tsididi |
| Coldness in extremities | Botsididi mo dikarolong tse di kgakala |
| Colon | Lela le letona:telele |
| Colostrum | Kgatsele |
| Coma | Kidibalo e e tseneletseng |
| conceive | Ithwala(go ithwala) |
| Conception | Boithwalo(go ithwala) |
| Condom | Sekausu |
| Constipation | Komelelo ya mala |
| Contraception | Thibelo ya boimana |
| Contractions | Ditlhabi tsa pelegi |
| Convulsions | Phafamogo, tsibiketso |
| Cough | Kgotlholo(go gotlhola) |
| Cough | Kgotlholo |
| Coughing up blood | Go gotlhola madi |
| Cramp | Go gonega mesifa |
| Cravings | Dikeletso(go eletsa) |
| scab | Legogo |
| Cut | Sega |
| Deafness | Bosusu |
| Dehydration | Go tlhoka metsi mo mmeleng |
| wikt:Delivery room | Ntlwana ya pelegi |
| Depressed | Go nyema moko |
| Diaper rash | Bogwata jo bo dirwang ke motseto(bogwata jwa motseto) |
| Diaper-urine test | Tlhatlhobo ya motlhapo mo motsetong |
| Diarrhea | Letshololo/go tshabisega |
| Dilatation of the cervix | Go bulega ga molomo wa popelo |
| Dilated pupil | Go golofala(namalala ga thaka ya leitlho |
| Dislocation | Go lokologa /phethego |
| Dizziness | Sedidi |
| Doctor | Ngaka |
| Double vision | Go nna pono pedi |
| Drowsiness | n. Go otsela, go ya dikgofeng |
| Dry cough | Phaphalalo ya sehuba |
| Dry skin | adj. Komelelo ga letlalo |
| Due date | Tsatsi la tshiamelo/tshwanelo |
| Ear (internal) | Tsebe |
| Ear drum | Moropa wa tsebe |
| Ectopic pregnancy | Boimana jo bo kwa ntle ga popelo |
| Elbow | Sejabana,sekgono |
| Embryo | Ngwana yo o mo popelong |
| Endometritis | Tutuma ya popelo |
| Episiotomy | Go oketsa bosadi ka nako ya pelegi |
| Esophagus | Mometso |
| Eye | Leitlho |
| Eyelid | Phupu ya leitlho |
| Face | Sefatlhego |
| Fainting | v. Go idibala, go gonoga, go tsewa ke sedidi |
| False labor | Pelegi e e seng yone/e e seng ya boaammaruri |
| Family | Lelapa |
| Family planning | Go rulaganya ga go tshola mo lelapeng |
| Father | Ntate/ papa |
| Fatigue | Letsapa |
| Female cousin | Ntsalake |
| Fetal distress | Go tshwenyega ga losea |
| Fetal monitoring | Go tlhokomela losea |
| Fetus | Losea(namane) |
| Fever | Letshoroma, febara, sethitho, sethukhuthukhu |
| Finger | Monwana (toe=Monwana wa leoto) |
| Fingernail | Lonala |
| Folic acid | Kotla ya folic acid |
| Foot | Lenao |
| Forearm | Mosetlatshe, momo wa lebogo |
| Forehead | Phatla |
| Frequent urination | Go ntsha motlhapo kgapetse |
| Gall bladder | Santlhokwe |
| Gallstones | Matlapana a santlhokwe |
| Genitals | Mapele |
| Girlfriend | Tsala ya mosetsana |
| give birth | Go tshola, go belega |
| Grandfather | Ntatemogolo |
| Grandmother | Nkoko |
| Grandson | Ngwana wa ngwana |
| Gum | Lerinini |
| Gynecologist | Ngaka ya malwetsi a sesadi |
| HAART | Diritibatsi tsa mogare |
| Hair | Moriri |
| Hand | Seatla |
| Head | Tlhogo |
| Head presentation | Go tswa ga tlhogo |
| Headache | Go opiwa ke tlhogo |
| Hearing loss | Tatlhegelo ya kutlo |
| Heart | Pelo |
| Heartbeat Fast | Go itaya ga pelo ka bonako |
| Heartbeat Irregular | Go itaya ga pelo go go sa tlwaeletsegang |
| Heartbeat Slow | Go itaya ga pelo ka bonya |
| Heartbeat: | Go itaya ga pelo |
| Heartburn | Lesokolela |
| Heel | Serethe |
| Hemorrhage | Tshologo ya madi, go dutla madi |
| Hernia | Boruruga |
| Hip | Noka |
| HIV | Mogare wa HIV |
| Husband | Mokapelo wa rre yo o nyetseng |
| I don't know | Ga ke itse |
| I don't understand | Ga ke tlhaloganye |
| Identical twins | Mafatlha a tshwanang |
| Ill, sick | Go lwala, go gatelelwa ke bolwetse |
| Incontinence | n. Bosenaboithibo jwa motlhapo, go sa kgone go ikisa seemelong |
| Induction | Go tlhoma,go tsenya |
| Infection | Bolwetse ja go tselanwa |
| Inflammation | Tutuma, kgotelo |
| Insomnia | Go tlhorega boroko |
| Intestines | Mala a mannye |
| Intravenous, IV | Go tsenya molemo mo mading |
| Inverted nipple | Thoba e e tlhanogileng |
| Irregular periods | Seome/ go bona setswalo nako nngwe le nngwe |
| Itch | Pabego, adj., go baba |
| Jaw | Lotlhaa |
| Kidney | Philo |
| Kidney stones | Matlapana a philo |
| Knee | Lengole |
| Labia | Phese |
| Labor | Pelegi |
| Labor pains | Ditlhabi tsa pelegi |
| Labor positions | Boemo jwa pelegi |
| Lactation | Go sisa ga mabele |
| Laryngitis | Go swa lentswe, go swaetsega lentswe |
| Leg | Leoto |
| Lip | Pounama:molomo |
| Liver | Sebete |
| Liver function tests | Tlhatlhobo ya ka fa sebete se berekang ka teng |
| Locked jaw | Go kitlana meno |
| Loose teeth | Go khinoga, go latlhegelwa ke meno |
| Loss of Appetite | Tatlhego ya go eletso ya dijo |
| Loss of Libido | Tatlhego ya maikutlo a thobalano |
| Loss of Memory | Tatlhego ya go gopola |
| Loss of Voice | Tatlhegelo ya lentswe |
| Loss of: | Tatlhegelo ya |
| Lungs | Makgwafo |
| Malaria | Letshoroma/moteteselo |
| Male cousin | Ntsalake |
| Marijuana | Motokwane |
| Mastitis, breast infection | Tutma ya mabele |
| Maternity | Go bewa botsetsi |
| Meconium | Tilane/thola |
| Medical student | Moithuti wa bongaka |
| Menstrual flow | Setswalo |
| Menstrual pains | Ditlhabi tsa setswalo |
| Midwife | Mmelegisi |
| Milk | Mashi a lebele |
| Milk glands | Kgekgele/kgeleswa ya mashi |
| Miscarriage | Go senyegelwa |
| Moist skin | Letlalo le le metsi |
| Mother | Mme/mama |
| Mouth | Molomo |
| Natural childbirth | Pelegi ya tlholego |
| Nausea | Pherogo ya sebete |
| Nausea | Pherego ya sebete, khidikego, mosetlego |
| Neck | Molala |
| Nephew | Setlogolo sa mosimane |
| New mother | Mme yo mosha |
| Newborn | Losea |
| Niece | Setlogolo sa mosetsana |
| Nightsweats | Go huhula bosigo |
| Nipple | Thoba |
| No | Nnyaa (nnyaa, mma; female/ nnyaa, rra; male) |
| Nose | Nko |
| Nostril | Leroba la nko |
| Numbness | n. Bosisi, bogatsu |
| Nurse | Mooki |
| Obese | O ya go nna moimana |
| Obese | Go nona, go nna mokima |
| Obstetrician (OB) | Ngaka ya tsa pelegi |
| Obstetrics | Tsa pelegi |
| Ovaries | Lee: boe |
| Pancreas | Ngati:marakana mantsi |
| Paralysis | Go swa mhama, go swa karolo |
| Parasite | Senwamadi/setshedinyana se se nnang mo mmeleng wa motho |
| Partner | Mokapelo |
| Paternity | Lesika la borra/borra |
| Peeling of the skin | Go oboga letlalo |
| Pelvis | Selalo(lerapo la selalo) |
| Penis | Lepele, bonna |
| Perineum | Kwa tlase |
| Period | Motlha(wa setswalo) |
| Placenta | Kgolu, samorago (anaimal-mothana) |
| Placenta | Kgolu, samorago (anaimal-mothana) |
| Pneumonia | Tutuma ya makgwafo, thibamo |
| Postpartum | Morago ga pelegi |
| Postpartum depression | Go nyema moko morago ga pelegi/kutlo botlhoko e e feteletseng morago ga pelegi |
| Pregnancy | Boimana |
| Pregnancy and delivery | Boimana le pelegi |
| Pregnancy test | Tlhatlhobo ya boimana |
| Prelabor | Pele ga pelegi |
| Premature | Ngwana yo o tsileng pele ga nako |
| Prenatal | Pele ga pelegi |
| Prenatal care | Tlhokomelo pele ga pelegi |
| Prenatal vitamins | Dikotla tsa pele ga pelegi |
| Pressure | Kgatelelo |
| Preterm labor | Go belega pele ga nako |
| Protection | Gom iphemela/tshireletso |
| Puffiness | Boruruga |
| Push downwards | Kgarameletsa kwa tlase |
| Rape | Go thubetsa |
| Recovery | Go fola |
| Rectum | Mongopo:kutukwe |
| Rheumatic fever | Sekorotane |
| Rib | Legopo, kgopo |
| Rupture of membranes / bag of waters | Go tswa ga metsi kwa tlase / go duela lfatshe |
| Sanitary napkins | Motseto |
| Scar | Lobadi |
| Scratch | n. Ngwaya; kgwarinya; ngapa v, go ingwaya |
| Seizures | Go kanakanyega, go bolawa ke dikoto |
| Sexual intercourse | Tlhakanelo dikobo |
| Shin | Motwane |
| Shock | n. Letshogo |
| Shoulder | Legetla |
| Sister | Morwadia-rre |
| Skull | Legata |
| Sore nipples | Go tutela ga mabele |
| Spasm | Go thebetha, go gonega mosifa |
| Spine | Mokwatla |
| Spleen | Lebete |
| Sprain | Tsipoga |
| Stages of childbirth | Tshetsha tsa pelegi |
| Sterilize | Kemiso (emisa)-go phepahatsa ka botlalo |
| Stiff | Karalala, kwatlalala, gagamala |
| Stillbirth | Go senyegelwa |
| Stitches | Meroko(moroko) |
| Stomach | Mogodu |
| Stomach gas | Mowa mo mpeng |
| Stroke | Go swa mhama |
| suck | Go anywa |
| Swelling | n. Borurugo, pudula |
| Tampons | Mosangwana wa bomme |
| Tapeworm | Sebokwana sa mala/seboko sa mala |
| Tear | Keledi or go kgagola |
| Testicles | Botonanyana:thala |
| Thigh | Serope |
| Throat | Mometso |
| Thumb | Monwana wa kgonope |
| Tightness in chest | Go gagamala ga mafatlha |
| Tingling | Bogatsu |
| Toe | Monwana wa maoto |
| Tongue | Loleme |
| Tonsils | Dikodu |
| Tooth | Leino |
| Torn ligament | Go kgaoga mosifa |
| Transmission | Tshelano(go tshelana bolwetsi) |
| Tremor | n. Thoromo, adj, go roroma |
| Tuberculosis | Thibamo, kgotlholo e tona |
| Tumor | Boswa |
| Twins | Mafatlha /mawelana |
| Twitch | v. Thebetha |
| Ulcer | n. Seromo, ntho, seso |
| Umbilical cord | Khujwana |
| Uncle | Malome |
| Unconsciousness | n. Kidibalo |
| Unexplained weight loss | Tatlhegelo ya mmele |
| Urethra | Tsela ya motlhapo |
| Urinalysis | Tlhatlhobo ya motlhapo |
| Urine sample | Morafolo wa motlhapo |
| Uterus | Popelo |
| Uterus | Popelo |
| Vaccinate | Bo kentiwa |
| Vaccine | Mokento |
| Vagina | Bosadi |
| Vaginal bleeding | Go tswa madi ka fa bosading |
| Vaginal discharge | Go tswa metsi ka fa bosading (a masweu) |
| Vertebrae | Lerapo la mokwatla |
| Virus | Mogare |
| Vomit | n. Lotlhatso, v. tlhatsa/ kgwa |
| Waist | Letheka |
| Weight | Bokete |
| Weight at birth | Bokete ka nako ya pelegi |
| What is (your, the child’s) name | Leina la gago ke mang |
| Wife | Mokapelo wa mme yo o nyetsweng |
| Wound | Ntho |
| Wrist | Tokololo ya seatla |
| X-ray | Seipone |
| Yes | Ee (ee, mma; female/ ee, rra; male) |