Peace Corps/ Botswana
An Introduction to the Setswana Language
Setswana is one of the Bantu language groups, mostly spoken in
Botswana, South Africa and Namibia (Southern Africa). The following
lessons have been designed to suit any new learner in Setswana who
has had little or no exposure to Setswana language. Remember,
Setswana will be a useful tool in your work, and aid you in integrating
well in your community making accessible to you a substantial
segment of the population with little or no English skills.
0 amogetswe mo puong ya Setswana!! Pula!
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
1
Table of Contents
Lesson
Topic Audio Guide
Page
1
A Guide to Pronunciation Bw_Setswana_Lesson_1.mp3
3
2
Greetings (Formal & Informal)-
dialogue
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_2.mp3
4
3
Introducing Self / Someone Bw_Setswana_Lesson_3.mp3
4
4
Leave- Taking Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_4.mp3
5
5
Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Bw_Setswana_Lesson_5.mp3
5,6,7
6
Some Useful Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_6.mp3
7,8
7
Vocabulary 2 (Nouns) Bw_Setswana_Lesson_7.mp3
8,9
8
Pronouns Bw_Setswana_Lesson_8.mp3
9
9
Connecting words
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_9.mp3
9
10
Negation Bw_Setswana_Lesson_10.mp3
9,10
11
Verbs “to be” and “to have” Bw_Setswana_Lesson_11.mp3
10
12
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_12.mp3
10,11
13
Expressing Needs Bw_Setswana_Lesson_13.mp3
11
14
Food Items Bw_Setswana_Lesson_14.mp3
12
15
Family Bw_Setswana_Lesson_15.mp3
12
16
Adverbs of Time Bw_Setswana_Lesson_16.mp3
13
17
Days Activities Bw_Setswana_Lesson_17.mp3
13
18
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_18.mp3
13,14
19
Some of words with similar
spelling but differing in meaning
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_19.mp3
14
20
Asking for Prices Bw_Setswana_Lesson_20.mp3
14
21
Weather Bw_Setswana_Lesson_21.mp3
15
22
Health Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_22.mp3
15
23
Safety Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_23.mp3
15
Question Words and Commands
Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places)
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
2
Lesson 1: A Guide to Pronunciation
Alphabet Like Example
a a in father batho, people
b b in baby baba, enemies
ch
ch in church chenchi, change
d
Debt
ditau, lions
ey in “they” or “a” in came pele, first e
(represents
two sounds)
e in begin bina, dance
ê “e” in there êma, stand
f
far
fêla, only
g
The sound made when you hawk
a lougie
gana, refuse
h
house
huma, be rich
i ee in deep bina, dance
j j in jug jwala, sow
k k in kind kima, thick
l l in line lela, cry/ weep
m m in me mena, fold
n n in name nama, meat
o in boat Motse, village o
(represents
two sounds)
A sound somewhat like u in put Pelo, heart
ô ou in ought bôna, see
p p in pain pitse, horse
ph
p
(with aspiration) as in peach
phutha, fold
q
non existent
r
You just roll the “r”
rêra, preach
s s in sit simolola, start
t t in steak setoto, carcass
th
t
(with aspiration) as in take
thusa, help
tl as in cluck tla, come
tlh
(with aspiration) as in sclerosis
tlhapa, wash/ bathe
tsh (with aspiration) like ts in mats
tshaba, run away
u u in rude pula, rain
v
nonexistent
w w in water wêna, you
x
an palatal click that is laterally released
as in
nxe, expressing sympathy
Nxau-xau, name of place in
Botswana
y y in yet tsamaya, go
z
nonexistent
Adapted from: Setswana- English- Setswana Dictionary( Z.I. Matumo, 1993)
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Lesson 2: Greetings
(Formal)- Dialogue
dumêla rra Good morning/ day/ evening sir
dumêla mma Good morning/ day/ evening madam
o tsogile jang?
How are you?
ke tsogile sentle, wêna o tsogile
jang? (tsogile- Lit. means how
have you risen?)
I am fine and how are you?
Ke tsogile sentle
I am well
Greeting a group
Dumêlang borra le bomma Good day ladies and gentlemen
Dumela mma
Good day madam
Le tsogile jang?
How are you (pl)?
Re tsogile sentle, wêna o tsogile
jang?
We are well and how are you?
Ke tsogile sentle
I am well
Re a leboga
Thank you
(Informal)- Dialogue
Dumêla rra
Good day sir
Dumêla mma Good day madam
Le kae?
How are you?
re teng a lona le teng?
I am fine and how are you?
Re teng
I am fine
“Dumêla” is not specific to any time of the day. Men are expected to take off their
hats/ caps when greeting elders.
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Lesson 3: Introducing Self/ Someone
leina lame ke Itumeleng
My name is Itumeleng
sefane same ke Moeng
My Last name is Moeng
leina la gago ke mang?
What is your name?
ke tswa kwa Botswana
I am from Botswana
o tswa kae?
Where are you from?
leina la gagwe ke Thabo
His name is Thabo
sefane sa gagwe ke Thuto
His last name is Thuto
a o tswa kwa Amerika?
Are you from America?
ke moithaopi
I am a volunteer
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Lesson 4: Leave- Taking Expression
go siame
Good-bye
ke tla go bona
See you
tlhôla sentle Have a good day
robala sentle / borôkô
Good night
ke tla go bôna kamoso See you tomorrow
ke tla go bôna kgantele See you later
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Lesson 5: Vocabulary 1 (Verbs)
Go-
(word after slash represents the verb in its past tense
form)
To-
kgôna / kgônnê Able, be
gakolola / gakolotsê
Advise;remind
tshaba / tshabile
Afraid of, be
araba / arabile
Answer
gôrôga / gôrôgile
Arrive
botsa / boditse
Ask
kopa / kopile
Ask for (polite way)
tsamaya / tsamaile
Away, go ; travel
nna, ntse
Be, become
simolola / simolotse
Begin
dumêla / dumetse
Believe, agree
bedisa / bedisitse
Boil
adima / adimile
Borrow
tlisa / tlisitse)
Bring
tshuba / tshubile
Burn
fitlha / fitlhile
Bury
rêka / rêkile
Buy
bitsa / biditse
Call another person
kuka / kukile (lit. lift, when in its past form it means to help
sb. carry)
Carry
palama / palame
Climb
tswala / tswetse
Close
tla / tlile,
Come
tsêna/ tsenye
Come in
tswa / dule,
Come out (emerge)
apaya / apeile
Cook
lela / ledile
Cry
bina / binnê Dance
diêga / diêgile
Delay
senya / sentse
Destroy
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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dira / dirile
Do
nwa /nolê Drink
phakêla / phaketse
Early, to be
ja / jele
Eat
tsêna / tsene
Enter
tlhalosa / tlhalositse
Explain
utlwa / utlwile
Feel; Hear; Taste
fetsa / feditse
Finish
fitlhêla / fitlhetse
Find
baakanya / baakantsê Fix, prepare
itshwarêla / itshwarêtse
Forgive
bôna / bonye
To see
tsoga / tsogile
Get up/ wake up
fa / file
Give
ya / ile
Go
itumêla / itumêtse
Happy, be
thusa / thusitse
Help
tshwara / tshwere
Hold
bolaya / bolaile
Injure
boloka / bolokile
Keep
siama / siame
Kind, be
itse / itsile
Know
tshêga / tshegile
Laugh
ithuta / ithutile
Learn ; study
reetsa / reeditse
Listen
rata / ratile
Like/ love
nna /ntse
Live
tlhôka / tlhôkile
Need
bula / butsê
Open
feta / fetile
Pass
duêla/ duetse
Pay
sêla / setse
Pick up
baya / beile
Place; put
gana / gannê Refuse
boa / boile
Return
raya / reile
Say
rekisa / rekisitse
Sell
lwala / lwetse
Sick, to be
nna-fatshe / ntse-fatshe
Sit down
robala / robetse
Sleep
gôga / gogile
Smoke ; pull
bua / buile
Speak
lala / letse
Spend the night
sala / setse
Stay behind
tsaya / tsere
Take
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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ruta / rutile
Teach
bolêla / boletse
Tell
lapa / lapile
Tired, become
leka / lekile
Try
tlhaloganya / tlhalogantse
Understand
dirisa / dirisitse
Use
êta / êtela Visit
batla / batlile
Want
Tlhatswa ; tlhatswitse
Wash (clothes)
Tlhapa ; tlhapile
bathe
leba / lebile
Watch
bêrêka / berekile
Work
kwala / kwadile
Write
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Lesson 6: Some Useful Expressions
ke lapile
I am tired
ke a otsêla I am sleepy
ke tshwerwe ke tlala
I am hungry
ga ke a tshwarwa ke tlala
I am not hungry
o ya kae?
Where are you going?
ke ya lapeng
I am going home
o tla leng?
When are you coming?
o nna kae?
Where is your home?
Andrew o kae?
Where is Andrew?
Edward o ya posong
Edward is going to the post office
ga ke ye shopong
I don’t go to the shop
ke ithuta Setswana
I am learning Setswana ; I study
ga ke rate kofi
I don’t take coffee
ke batla go ikhutsa
I need some rest
ke a ja
I eat ; I am eating
ga a je
He doesn’t eat
ga a ithute
She doesn’t study
ke tlhapa phakela
I bathe in the morning
ke tsoga makuku
I wake up very early
go nna bosigo
It’s becoming late (night fall)
nako e tsamaile; …e tshaile (inf.)
It’s time up
Ke tshwere ke lenyora
I am thirsty
ga ke tlhaloganye
I don’t understand
Bua ka bonya
Speak slowly
gape
Again
intshwarele
Excuse me
Bua ka bonako
Speak quickly
A o na le mathata?
Do you have a problem (s)?
Ee ke na le mathata
Yes, I have a problem
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
7
Nnyaa, ga ke na mathata
No, I don’t have a problem
A o na le dipotso?
Do you have any questions?
reetsa
Listen
botsa
Ask
dumêdisa Greet
Tswêê-tswêê Please
Ke itumetse
Thank you
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Lesson 7: Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)
Kitchen
tafole
Table
setilô Chair
sejana
Plate
kopi
Cup
leswana
Spoon
thipa
Knife
lefeêlô Broom
Bedroom
bolao
Bed
kobô Blanket
diaparô Clothes
borokgwe
Pants
ditlhako
Shoes
General items
pensele
Pencil
buka
Book
bêkê Bag
pênê Pen
fensetere
Window
lebati
Door
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Lesson 8: Pronouns
nna
I
wêna You
ênê She/ he
rona
We/ us
lona
You (pl)
bônê Them
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Lesson 9: Connecting words
le and
mme But
Kgotsa/kana Or
ke Is
jaaka As/like
Ka jalo therefore
Ka gore because
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Lesson 10: Negation
I You
(sing)
She/ he We You (pl) They
Present Ke a
batla
O a batla O a batla Re a
batla
Le a
batla
Ba a
batla
I want You want She/he
wants
We want You want They
want
Negative
present
Ga ke
batle
Ga o
batle
Ga a
batle
Ga re
batle
Ga le
batle
Ga ba
batle
I do not
want
You do
not want
She/he
not want
We do
not want
You do
not want
They do
not want
Past Ke ne ke
batla
O ne o
batla
O ne a
batla
Re ne re
batla
Le ne le
batla
Ba ne ba
batla
I did want You did
want
She/he
did want
We did
want
You did
want
They did
want
Negative
past
Ke ne ke
sa
batle
O ne o
sa battle
O ne a
sa battle
Re ne re
sa batle
Le ne le
sa batle
Ba ne ba
sa batle
I did not
want
You did
not want
She/he
did not
want
We did
not want
You did
not want
They did
not want
Negative
future
Ga ke
kake ka
batla
Ga o
kake wa
batla
Ga a
kake a
batla
Ga re
kake ra
batla
Ga le
kake la
batla
Ga ba
kake ba
batla
I will not
want
You will
not want
She/he
will not
We will
not want
You will
not want
They will
not want
Future
Ke tlaa
batla
O tlaa
batla
O tlaa
batla
Re tlaa
batla
Le tlaa
batla
Ba tlaa
batla
I will want You will
want
She/he
will want
We will
want
You will
want
They will
want
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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When you add the negative ga in the present statement the last letter in the
verb changes to e (applicable in negative present tense).
When you change the subject marker present “ke” to subject marker past
the negative ga changes to sa i.e. negative past tense.
In the negative future, the stem ga + pronoun+ kake is used to signify the
negation.
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Lesson 11: Verb “to be” and “to have”
Verb to be (-nna)
ke a bala
I am a reading
o a bala
You are (sing) reading
Lo a bala
You are (pl) reading
o a bala
She/ he is reading
Ba a bala
They are reading
Re a bala
We are reading
the ‘a’ is applicable in all pronouns to mean am,is are e.t.c.
Verb to have (-na le)
ke na le buka
I have a book
O na le buka
You have (sing) a book
Lo na le buka
You have (pl) a book
O na le buka
She/ he has a book
Ba na le buka
They have a book
Re na le buka
We have a book
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Lesson 12: Questions and Commands
Eng? Ke eng?
What is it?
Leng? O tsile leng?
When did you come?
Kae? O tswa kae?
Where are you from?
Jang? O tsogile jang?
How are you?
Mang? O mang?
Who are you?
Efe? O batla efe?
Which one?
dife ? O batla dife?
Which ones?
reng ? go reng/ ka go reng?
Why?
Commanding expressions
bula lebati
Open the door
tswala lebati
Close the door
êma o buê Stand and talk
êma ka dinao Stand
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
10
tsêna mo teng Get inside
tlaa kwano
Come here
didimala/reetsa
Keep quiet/Listen
boela kwa morago
Go back
tlaa kwa pele
Come to the front
nna fatshe
Sit down
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Lesson 13: Expressing Needs
o batla eng?
What do you want?
ke batla kêrêsê I want a candle
o tlhôka eng? What do you need?
ke tlhoka madi
I need money
o batla go ya kae?
Where do you want to go?
ke batla go ya kwa lapeng
I want to go home
o batla go dira eng jaanong?
What do you want to do now?
ga ke itse
I do not know
o ikutlwa jang?
How do you feel?
tlhogo yame e santse e opa
My head still aches
ke eng a tlhoka madi a mantsi?
Why does she need a lot of money?
o tlhôka go reka dijo le diaparo She needs to buy food and
clothes
o rata kofi?
Do you like coffee?
nnyaa, ga ke rate kofi
No. I don’t like coffee
o ya kae kamoso; kamoso o ya kae?
Where are you going tomorrow?
ke batla go ya shopong phakela
I want to go to the shops in the
morning
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Lesson 14: Food Items
dijô
Food
mabêlê
Sorghum
phaletshê
Mealie-meal
sukiri
Sugar
letswai
Salt
metsi
Water
mashi
Milk
ditamati
Tomatoes
ditapole
Potatoes
mae
Eggs
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
11
borotho
Bread
kofi
Coffee
tee
Tea
motôgô Soft porridge (made from sorghum / mealie-meal)
anyense; kwii
Onions
namunê Orange
apole
Apple
manôkô Peanuts
dinawa
Beans
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Lesson 15: Family
ntate mogolo
Grand father
nkuku
Grand mother
ntate
Father
mmê; mma
Mother
kgaitsadi (said only to pers. of opposite gender)
Sister ; Brother
nkgonne (to either elder sister/ brother)
Older sibling
nnake (to either younger sister/ brother)
Younger sibling
rangwane
Uncle (paternal)
malome
Uncle (maternal)
rakgadi
Aunt (paternal)
mmane; mmangwane
Aunt (maternal)
ntsalake
cousin
batsadi
Parents
ngwana; bana (pl)
Child/Children
Lelwapa ; lelapa
Family
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Lesson 16: Adverbs of Time
gompieno
Today
maabane
Yesterday
kamoso
Tomorrow
maloba a maabane
The day before yesterday
maloba
Few days ago
beke e
This week
beke e e fitileng (lit. the week that passed)
Last week
beke e e tlang (lit. the week that is still to come)
Next week
ngwaga e
This year
ngogola ; ngwaga e e fitileng
Last year
ngwaga e e tlang
Next year
kgwedi e
This month
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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gone jaanong
At the moment
kgantele
Later on; earlier on
(depending on
context)
bosigo
At night
phakêla In the morning
motshegare
At noon
(till sunset)
maitseboa
Around sunset
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Lesson 17: Days Activities
Ke tsoga ka 6 phakela
I wake up at 6am
Ke a tlhapa
I bathe
Ke bo ke ja
And then I eat.
Ke ya sekolong
Then I go to school
Ke tlhôtse kwa sekolong
I spent the day at school
Re ne re dira dilo tse dintsi
we were doing a lot of things today
Gone go na le baeng ba mapodisi
there were visitors from the Police
Ke ne ke itumetse gompieno
I was excited today
Fa ke tswa sekolong, ke a itapolosa
When I come back from school I rest.
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Lesson 18: Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places)
Places English
Ntlo House
Tlelase
Classroom
Thoelêtê
Toilet
Kitsi
kitchen
sekolo; sekole
School
Sepatela
Hospital
kokelwana
Clinic
shopo; lebênkêle Shop
Poso
Post office
noka; molapô River
Tshimo
Field
Kêrêkê Church
Banka
Bank
Kgotla
Customary court
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Lesson 19: Some Words with similar spelling but different in meaning
High tone Low tone
mabêlê
mabêlê
Sorghum
Human breasts
lapa
lapa
To be tired
Home
gôga
gôga
To pull
To smoke
utlwa
utlwa
utlwa
To feel
To hear
To taste
nna
nna
Me
To sit
go fitlha
go fitlha
To bury
To hide something
di kae?
di kae?
How many are there?
Where are they?
Setswana unlike English, it is what is called a tonal language. In other words, every
syllable has a high or low tone associated with it. It is this that gives Setswana its
melodic sound.
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Lesson 20: Asking for Prices
kgetse ya dinamunê ke bokae? How much is a bag of oranges?
ke bokae?
How much is it?
ke P4.50
It’s P4.50
namunê e le nngwe ke bokae? How much is each orange?
e le nngwe ke 75 thebe
They are 75 thebe each
ke bokae gotlhe?; madi otlhe ke bokae?
What’s the total price?
madi otlhe ke P17.50
The total price is P17. 50
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Lesson 21: Weather
Gompieno go serame; tsididi
Today it is cold
Gompieno go mogôte; molelô Today it is hot
Go bothithô It is warm
Go letsatsi
It is sunny
Go diphefô; phefô It is windy
Gompieno go botoka
Today it is better
Selemô Summer
mariga
Winter
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Lesson 22: Health Expressions
ke a lwala; ga ke a tsoga
I am not well
ke opiwa ke tlhogo
I have a head ache
mala ame a botlhoko
My tummy hurts
matlho a gagwe a botlhoko
His eyes are sore
Franco o ya tliliniking
Franco is going to the clinic
o ile ngakeng
She/ he went to see the doctor
o rurugile leoto
Her leg is swollen
Seema o jêle sengwe se se sa siamang Seema ate something bad
ba batla go ya tliliniking
They want to go to the clinic
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Lesson 23: Safety Expressions
nthuse
Help me
ke kopa thuso
I need help
ke tlhasetswe
I have been attacked, I am being attacked.
go thubilwe kwa lwapeng;ntlung
My house has been broken into.
Ke utswetswe
There has been theft in my house.
ke thukuthilwe
I have been robbed
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana
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