Setswana: phrases, voice typing and voice notes

Dumela

Hello (to one person)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dumelang

Hello (to several people)

Also used to greet one elder respectfully.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dumela, rra

Hello, sir

Rra is the respectful way to address a man.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dumela, mma

Hello, madam

Mma is the respectful way to address a woman.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dumelang, borra

Hello, gentlemen

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dumelang, bomma

Hello, ladies

Source: common usage, needs native check

O kae?

How are you? (to one person)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Le kae?

How are you? (to several people, or respectfully)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke teng

I'm fine

Literally "I am here".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re teng

We're fine

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke teng, wena o kae?

I'm fine, and how are you?

Source: common usage, needs native check

O tsogile jang?

How did you wake up?

Morning greeting.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Le tsogile jang?

How did you wake up? (to several people)

Morning greeting, plural or respectful.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tsogile sentle

I woke up well

Reply to the morning greeting.

Source: common usage, needs native check

O tlhotse jang?

How has your day been?

Afternoon and evening greeting.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tlhotse sentle

My day has been good

Reply to O tlhotse jang?

Source: common usage, needs native check

O robetse jang?

How did you sleep?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke robetse sentle

I slept well

Source: common usage, needs native check

Robala sentle

Sleep well

Said at night, like "good night".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Sala sentle

Goodbye (stay well)

Said by the person who is leaving.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Salang sentle

Goodbye (stay well, to several people)

Said by the person who is leaving.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tsamaya sentle

Goodbye (go well)

Said by the person who stays.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tsamayang sentle

Goodbye (go well, to several people)

Said by the person who stays.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go siame

Okay / bye for now

Also means "it is fine".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re tla bonana

See you later

Literally "we will see each other".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re tla bonana kamoso

See you tomorrow

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tsena!

Come in!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a leboga

Thank you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a leboga thata

Thank you very much

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re a leboga

We thank you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tsweetswee

Please

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke kopa thuso

Please help me

Literally "I ask for help".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a leboga ka thuso ya gago

Thank you for your help

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a leboga ka dijo

Thank you for the food

Source: common usage, needs native check

Leina la me ke ...

My name is ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Leina la gago ke mang?

What is your name?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nna ...

I am ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

O tswa kae?

Where are you from?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tswa kwa ...

I come from ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

O nna kae?

Where do you live?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nna kwa ...

I live in ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke itumetse go go itse

I'm pleased to meet you

Literally "I am happy to know you".

Source: common usage, needs native check

A o bua Setswana?

Do you speak Setswana?

Source: common usage, needs native check

A o bua Sekgoa?

Do you speak English?

Sekgoa is the everyday word for English.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke ithuta Setswana

I'm learning Setswana

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke moithuti

I am a student

Source: common usage, needs native check

Yo ke tsala ya me

This is my friend

Source: common usage, needs native check

Yo ke mme

This is my mother

Source: common usage, needs native check

Yo ke rre

This is my father

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ee

Yes

Source: common usage, needs native check

Nnyaa

No

Source: common usage, needs native check

Gongwe

Maybe

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a tlhaloganya

I understand

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ga ke tlhaloganye

I don't understand

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a itse

I know

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ga ke itse

I don't know

Source: common usage, needs native check

Bua ka iketlo, tsweetswee

Please speak slowly

Source: common usage, needs native check

Boeletsa, tsweetswee

Please say it again

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke maswabi

I'm sorry

Source: common usage, needs native check

Intshwarele

Excuse me / forgive me

Source: common usage, needs native check

O batla eng?

What do you want?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke batla ...

I want ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Se ke eng?

What is this?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke mang?

Who is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Goreng?

Why?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Leng?

When?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kae?

Where?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Jang?

How?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ema go se kae

Wait a little

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tla kwano

Come here

Source: common usage, needs native check

Nna fa fatshe

Sit down

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ka nnete?

Really?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nnete

It's true

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke lapile

I'm tired

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke itumetse

I'm happy

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ga go na mathata

No problem

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a tla

I'm coming

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ntlwana ya boithomelo e kae?

Where is the toilet?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke ya kwa ...

I'm going to ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

O ya kae?

Where are you going?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke batla go ya toropong

I want to go to town

Source: common usage, needs native check

Bese e tsamaya leng?

When does the bus leave?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Bese e goroga leng?

When does the bus arrive?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ema fa, tsweetswee

Please stop here

Said to a taxi driver.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tsamaya ka dinao

I'm walking (on foot)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke gorogile

I've arrived

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re gorogile

We've arrived

Source: common usage, needs native check

Loeto lo lo monate!

Have a good trip!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Bookelo bo kae?

Where is the hospital?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Lebenkele le kae?

Where is the shop?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kereke e kae?

Where is the church?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Sekolo se kae?

Where is the school?

Source: common usage, needs native check

A go gaufi?

Is it near?

Source: common usage, needs native check

A go kgakala?

Is it far?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go gaufi

It's near

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go kgakala thata

It's very far

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kwa mojeng

To the right

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kwa molemeng

To the left

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kwa pele

Ahead / in front

Source: common usage, needs native check

Kwa morago

Behind

Source: common usage, needs native check

Mpontsha tsela, tsweetswee

Please show me the way

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke latlhegile

I'm lost

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke bokae?

How much is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke batla go reka ...

I want to buy ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go a tura

It's expensive

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go tura thata

It's too expensive

Source: common usage, needs native check

A lo na le borotho?

Do you have bread?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tla tsaya se

I'll take this one

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke duela ka madi

I'm paying cash

Source: common usage, needs native check

Lebenkele le bula leng?

When does the shop open?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tshwerwe ke tlala

I'm hungry

Literally "I am held by hunger".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tshwerwe ke lenyora

I'm thirsty

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke kgotshe

I'm full

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a leboga, ke kgotshe

Thank you, I'm full

Polite way to decline more food.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke kopa metsi

Water, please

Literally "I ask for water".

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke kopa tee

Tea, please

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke kopa letswai

Salt, please

Source: common usage, needs native check

Dijo di monate

The food is tasty

Source: common usage, needs native check

A re jeng

Let's eat

Source: common usage, needs native check

O batla go ja eng?

What do you want to eat?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke batla bogobe le nama

I want porridge and meat

Bogobe is stiff porridge (pap).

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ga ke je nama

I don't eat meat

Source: common usage, needs native check

nngwe

one

Source: common usage, needs native check

pedi

two

Source: common usage, needs native check

tharo

three

Source: common usage, needs native check

nne

four

Source: common usage, needs native check

tlhano

five

Source: common usage, needs native check

thataro

six

Source: common usage, needs native check

supa

seven

Source: common usage, needs native check

robedi

eight

Source: common usage, needs native check

robongwe

nine

Source: common usage, needs native check

lesome

ten

Source: common usage, needs native check

masome a mabedi

twenty

Source: common usage, needs native check

lekgolo

one hundred

Source: common usage, needs native check

sekete

one thousand

Source: common usage, needs native check

gompieno

today

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

kamoso

tomorrow

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

maabane

yesterday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

jaanong

now

Source: common usage, needs native check

moragonyana

later

Source: common usage, needs native check

mo mosong

in the morning

Source: common usage, needs native check

motshegare

at midday / in the afternoon

Source: common usage, needs native check

maitseboa

in the evening

Source: common usage, needs native check

bosigo

at night

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nako mang?

What time is it?

Source: common usage, needs native check

beke e e tlang

next week

Source: common usage, needs native check

ngwaga o o fetileng

last year

Source: common usage, needs native check

Tshipi

Sunday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Mosupologo

Monday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Labobedi

Tuesday

Literally "the second (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Laboraro

Wednesday

Literally "the third (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Labone

Thursday

Literally "the fourth (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Labotlhano

Friday

Literally "the fifth (day)".

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Matlhatso

Saturday

Source: Unicode CLDR locale data for Setswana

Ferikgong

January

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Tlhakole

February

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Mopitlwe

March

CLDR spells it Mopitlo.

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Moranang

April

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Motsheganong

May

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Seetebosigo

June

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Phukwe

July

CLDR spells it Phukwi.

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Phatwe

August

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Lwetse

September

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Diphalane

October

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Ngwanatsele

November

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

Sedimonthole

December

Source: North-West University School of Music, Setswana months of the year

lelapa la me

my family

Source: common usage, needs native check

rre

my father

Rrago means your father.

Source: common usage, needs native check

mme

my mother

Mmago means your mother.

Source: common usage, needs native check

ngwana wa me

my child

Source: common usage, needs native check

bana ba me

my children

Source: common usage, needs native check

nnake

my younger sibling

Source: common usage, needs native check

O na le bana?

Do you have children?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke na le bana ba babedi

I have two children

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nyetse

I am married (said by a man)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke nyetswe

I am married (said by a woman)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a go rata

I love you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke go rata thata

I love you very much

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke go tlhologeletswe

I miss you

Source: common usage, needs native check

O montle

You are beautiful

Source: common usage, needs native check

Pelo ya me

My heart

Term of endearment.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Moratiwa

My love / darling

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke akanya ka wena

I'm thinking of you

Source: common usage, needs native check

O dira kae?

Where do you work?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke dira kwa ...

I work at ...

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke batla tiro

I'm looking for work

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke ya kwa tirong

I'm going to work

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re na le kopano

We have a meeting

Source: common usage, needs native check

A nka go thusa?

Can I help you?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke a lwala

I'm sick

Source: common usage, needs native check

O ikutlwa jang?

How do you feel?

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke opiwa ke tlhogo

I have a headache

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke opiwa ke mpa

I have a stomach ache

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tlhoka ngaka

I need a doctor

Source: common usage, needs native check

Bitsa ngaka

Call a doctor

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke tlhoka molemo

I need medicine

Molemo here means medicine.

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke gobetse

I'm injured

Source: common usage, needs native check

Thusa!

Help!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Nthusa!

Help me!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Molelo!

Fire!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Go na le kotsi

There's been an accident

Source: common usage, needs native check

Legodu!

Thief!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Leletsa mapodisi!

Call the police!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Matshidiso

Condolences

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re a lo gomotsa

We comfort you (our condolences)

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re maswabi thata

We are very sorry

Source: common usage, needs native check

Robala ka kagiso

Rest in peace

Source: common usage, needs native check

Modimo a lo nonotshe

May God strengthen you

Source: common usage, needs native check

Modimo a go segofatse

God bless you

Source: common usage, needs native check

A re rapeleng

Let us pray

Source: common usage, needs native check

Amen

Amen

Source: common usage, needs native check

Re ya kerekeng

We are going to church

Source: common usage, needs native check

Masego!

Blessings / best wishes!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Letsatsi la matsalo le le monate!

Happy birthday!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Keresemose e e monate!

Merry Christmas!

Source: common usage, needs native check

Ke go itumelela

I'm happy for you

Source: common usage, needs native check

A re keteke!

Let's celebrate!

Source: common usage, needs native check