Northern Sotho phrasebook

North Sotho also known as Sesotho sa Leboa is a language spoken by the people from the NorthEastern part of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

  • Vowels

A[a] Spelt as "i" in "Kite"

E[e] Spelt as "ee" in "feet"

Ê[ê] Spelt as "a" in "care"

I[i] Spelt as "i" in "pick"

O[o] Spelt as "o" in "tool"

Ô[ô] Spelt as "oo" in "door"

U[u] Spelt as "u" in "put"

Phrase list

Basics

Welcome
Re a go amogela (sg)
Hello
Dumêlang
How are you?
O kae?
Long time no see
Ke kgale re sa bonane
What's your name?
Ke wena mang?
My name is ...
Ke nna ...
Where are you from?
O tswa kae?
I'm from ...
Ke tšwa ...
Pleased to meet you
Ke thabela go go bona
Good luck!
Mahlatse!
Cheers! Good Health!
Bophelo bjo bobotse!
Have a nice day
Eba le letšatši le lebotse
Do you speak Northern Sotho?
Na o bolela Sesotho sa Leboa?
Yes, a little
Ee
Speak to me in Northern Sotho
Bolela le nna ka Sesotho sa Leboa
How do you say ... in Northern Sotho?
O e bitša bjang ka Sesotho sa Leboa
Excuse me
Ntshwarele

Problem/Emergency

Go away!
Tloga!
Leave me alone!
Ntlogele!
Help!
Thuša!
Fire!
Mollo!
Stop!
Ema!
Call the police!
Bitša maphodisa!

Numbers

Numbers Dinomoro

1
tee
2
pedi
3
tharo
4
nne
5
hlano
6
tshela
7
šupa
8
seswai
9
senyane
10
lesome
11
lesometee
12
lesomepedi
13
lesometharo
14
lesomenne
15
lesomehlano
20
masomepedi
50
masomehlano
100
lekgolo
1000
sekete

Greetings

Good morning
Dumêlang Mmorong
Good afternoon
Dumêlang
Good evening
Dumêlang Fonaneng
Good night
Robalang gabotse

Days of the week (Matšatši a beke)

Sunday
Lamorena
Monday
Mošupologo
Tuesday
Labobedi
Wednesday
Laboraro
Thursday
Labone
Friday
Labohlano
Saturday
Mokibelo

Months of the year (Dikgwedi tša ngwaga)

January
Pherekgong
February
Dibokwane
March
Tlhakola
April
Moranang
May
Mopitlo
June
Phupu
July
Mosegemanye
August
Phato
September
Lewedi
October
Diphalane
November
Dibatsela
December
Manthole

Colors (Mebala)

Red
Hubedu
Brown
Tsotho
Green
Talamorogo
Blue
Talalerata
Black
Ntsho
White
šweu
Yellow
Serolwana
Gold
Gauta
Grey
Pududu
Pale
Sehla
Silver
Silifere

Transportation

Car
kolo
Taxi
thekisi
bus
pase
Airport
boemafofane
Airplane
sefofane
Passenger
monamedi
Driver
mootledi
Bus stop
boemapase

Part of the body

Head
hlogo
Hair
moriri
Face
sefahlogo
Forehead
phatla
Eye
leihlo
Nose
Nko
lip
pounama
Mouth
molomo
Tongue
leleme
Cheek
lerama
Finger
Monwana
Waist
Lethek
Leg
Leoto

Family

Grandfather
Ntate mogolo
Grandmother
Koko
Father
Tate
Mother
Mma
Sister
Sesi
Brother
Buti
Uncle (paternal)
Rangwane
Uncle (maternal)
Malome
Aunt (paternal)
Rakgadi
Aunt (maternal)
Mmangwane
Cousin
Motswala
Parents
Batswadi
Children
Bana

Food (Dijo)

Rice
reisi
Beans
linawa 
Meat
nama 
Fish
tlhapi
Milk
lebese 
Cheese
tjhese
Butter
sereledi
Egg
lehe
Vegetables
meroho 
Salad
selae
Potato
tapole 

Learning more


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