Sepedi · also called Sesotho sa Leboa, Northern Sotho
Sepedi: speak it, read it.
Voice typing and voice notes in Sepedi, spoken in Limpopo and Gauteng. Sepedi and English in one message is normal. Bhala keeps up without a language switch.
Free on Android 8.0+. No ads.
Try it with your own Sepedi voice note
Up to a minute, 3 tries a day. Decoded in your browser; only the audio is sent, read in memory, and not kept.
Or hear it work
Press play, and read what Bhala wrote. Unedited.
Bhala wrote
Bhala wrote
Bhala wrote
Example recordings: FLEURS (Google, 2022), CC BY 4.0, read aloud by volunteers. Transcribed by Bhala's live service, October 2026.
Writing Sepedi
Written in separate words
Ke a leboga (thank you) is three words where isiZulu writes one (Ngiyabonga). The small pieces in front of the verb stand apart.
š is a letter of its own
It's the “sh” sound: go šoma (to work), šala gabotse (stay well). tš is a different sound: letšatši (sun, day).
Borrowed words take Sepedi spelling
Economy becomes ekonomi (third sample above); television becomes thelebišene, also written telebišene, as in the second sample.
One language, more than one name
Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) is the name for the whole language; Sepedi is its best-known variety, and the name in the English text of the Constitution. Many people use the names interchangeably.
On your phone
Voice typing
- 01Switch to the Bhala keyboard.
- 02Tap the mic and speak Sepedi, English mixed in is fine.
- 03Edit if you like, then send.
Voice notes
- 01Press and hold the voice note in WhatsApp.
- 02Tap Share, then Bhala.
- 03Read it. Tap a word to replay that part.
On the phone it all runs on the device, even offline. Nothing is uploaded.
Questions
Does Bhala understand Sepedi mixed with English?
Yes. Speak Sepedi, switch to English mid-sentence, and Bhala writes both. No keyboard switching.
How much does Bhala cost?
Nothing. Bhala Keyboard is free, with no ads.
Which phones does it work on?
Android phones with Android 8.0 or newer, from Google Play.
Does it work without data?
Yes. Typing, suggestions, voice typing and voice notes all work offline once Bhala is set up.