# Tswana phrasebook

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

## Pronunciation guide
### Vowels
#### a

    like hard (IPA: a)

#### e

    like in red (IPA: ε)

#### i

    like in seen (IPA: i)

#### o

    like in all (IPA: ɔ)

#### u

    like in moon (IPA: u)

### Consonants
#### ts

    A hissing sound made by placing your tongue just above your teeth and ejecting air. Similar to 'ts' in Tsunami.

   #### i
   #### as in Ink

       same in English

   #### n

       same in English

   #### ng

       as in sing

### Common diphthongs
## Phrase list
### 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

#### 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: . ( )

#### I'm sorry.

    . (Ke kopa maitshwarelo )

#### 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 tlhoka ngaka .)

### Can I use your phone?

    ? (ke ka dirisa mogala wa gago wa letheka ?)

## 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 )

### 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

    (ura ya bongwe maphakela )

##### two o'clock AM

    (ura ya bobedi maphakela )

##### noon

    (motshegare )

##### one o'clock PM

    (ura ya bongwe maitsebowa )

##### two o'clock PM

    (ura ya bobedi maistebowa )

##### midnight

    (bosigo-gare )

#### Duration
##### 10_____ minute(s)

    (metsotso' )

##### ___5__ hour(s)

    (di ura )

##### _____ 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

    (latshipi )

##### Monday

    (mosupologo )

##### Tuesday

    (labobedi )

##### Wednesday

    (laboraro )

##### Thursday

    (labone )

##### Friday

    ( labotlhano)

##### Saturday

    (lamatlhatso )

#### Months
##### January

    (firikgong )

##### February

    (tlhakole )

##### March

    (mopitlwe)

##### April

    (moranang )

##### May

    (motsheganong )

##### June

    (seetebosigo )

##### July

    (phukwi )

##### August

    (phatwe )

##### September

    (lwetsi )

##### October

    (diphalane )

##### November

    (ngwanatsele )

##### December

    (sedimonthole )

#### Writing time and date
## Colors
### black

    (bontsho )

### white

    (bosweu )

### gray

    (borokwa )

### red

    (boshibidu )

### blue

    (botala jwa loapi )

### yellow

    (seroloana )

### green

    (botala jwa tlhaga )

### orange

    (mmala wa namune/wa lephutshe )

### purple

    (phepole )

### brown

    (bosetlha )

## Transportation
#### 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 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? )

##### Where are there a lot of...

    (ke ko kae ko go nang le_______se sentsi? )

##### ...bars?

    (dibara? )

##### 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
##### 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_______? )

### ...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? )

### ...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______)

### 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______? )

### nails

    (manala )

### hair

    (Morris/Morriri )

### Hot

    (Bolelo/Bollo )

### Cold

    (Tsididi/Maroro )

### Money :(Madi)
#### 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 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 )

### 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 )

### cheese

    (botoro )

### eggs

    (mae )

### (fresh) vegetables

    (merogo e e phepa )

### (fresh) fruit

    (maungo a a phepa )

### bread

    (borotho/senkgwe )

### 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 )

### beer

    (biri )

### red/white wine

    (mofine o mohibidu/o mosweu )

### May I have some _____?

    (ke kopa_____? )

### salt

    (letswai )

### butter

    (botoro )

### 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? )

### A beer/two beers, please.

    (beri /diberi bobedi )

### A glass of red/white wine, please.

    (galasi ya mofine e shibidu/swewu, ka tsweetswee )

### whiskey

    (ugologo )

### water

    (metsi )

### One more, please.

    (e nngwe, ka tsweetswee )

### When is closing time?

    (go tswalwa nako mang? )

### Cheers!
## Shopping
### 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 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? )

### I need...

    (ke tlhoka_______ )

### ...a toothbrush.

    (borache jwa meno)

### ...soap.

    (molora oo tlhapang )

### ...cold medicine.

    (molemo wa mogotlhwane.)

### ...stomach medicine.

    ... (molemo wa mala )

### ...a razor.

    (legare )

### ...an umbrella.

    (sekhukhu )

### ...sunblock lotion.

    (setlolo sa go ithireletsa letsatsi )

### ...postage stamps.

    (stempe sa poso )

### ...writing paper.

    (pampiri ya go kwalela )

### ...a pen.

    (pene. )

### ...English-language books.

    (buka ya sekgoa/se esemane )

### ...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 )

### stop (on a street sign)

    (ema )

### one way

    (tsela ele nngwe )

### speed limit

    (selekanyetso sa lobelo )

### diesel
## Authority
### I haven't done anything wrong.

    (ga ke ise ke diri 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 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