Tswana phrasebook

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Basics

; Hello. : Dumela.

; Hello. (informal) : . (dumela )
; 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 lame 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) : . ( )
; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . ( )
; I'm sorry. : . (ke kopa maitshwarelo )
; Goodbye Sala sentle - stay well Tsamaya sentle - go well ; Goodbye (informal) : Go siame ; I can't speak name of language . : . (ga ke kgone go bua teme )
; Do you speak English? : ? (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 )
; 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 !)
; I need your help. :. (ke kopa thuso ya gago .)
; It's an emergency. : . (ke ga 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 ?)

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 )
; 1,000,000,000 : ( )
; 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
; 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 : (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 )

Duration

; 10_____ minute(s) : (metsotso' )
; ___5__ hour(s) : (di oura )
; _____ 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 : (tshipi )
; Monday : (mosupologo )
; Tuesday : (labobedi )
; Wednesday : (laboraro )
; Thursday : (labone )
; Friday : ( labotlhano)
; Saturday : (matlhatso )

Months

; January : (Ferikgong )
; February : (tlhakole )
; March : (mopitlwe)
; April : (moranang )
; May : (motsheganong )
; June : (seetebosigo )
; July : (phukwi )
; August : (phatwe )
; September : (lwesti )
; October : (Diphalane )
; November : (ngwanatsele )
; December : (sedimonthole )

Writing time and date

Colors

; black : (bontsho )
; white : (bosweu )
; gray : (borokwa )
; red : (boshibidu )
; blue : (botala jwa loapi )
; yellow : (lephutshe )
; green : (botala jwa tlhaga )
; orange : ( )
; purple : ( )
; brown : (bosetlha )

Transportation

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to _____? : (thekete ke bokae? )
; One ticket to _____, please. : (thekete e le nngwe ke________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______?)

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? )
; ...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. :(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 :(botlkaba )
; south :(bopkirima )
; east :(bohone )
; west :(botwa )
; uphill :(jodimo ja thaba )
; downhill :(ho tlase ja thaba )

Taxi

; 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_______? )
; ...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. : ( )

Money

; 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)? : ( )

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 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 koko )
; 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 : ( )
; (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. : ( )

Bars

; 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. : ( )
; 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! : ( )

Shopping

; 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. : ( )

Driving

; 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 : ( )

Authority

; 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?)

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