Southern Sotho phrasebook

Southern Sotho (sɪ̀sʊ́tʰʊ̀) is one of the official languages spoken by people in South Africa. It is also a dialect spoken in other countries such as Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

Phrase list

Basics

Welcome!
Kena ka kgotso!
Hello
Lumela
How are you?
O kae?
I'm here, where are you?
Ke phela hantle, wena o phela jwang?
What's your name?
Lebitso la hao ke mang?
My name is ...
Lebitso laka ke ...
Where are you from?
O tswa kae?
I'm from ...
Ke tswa ...
Excuse me
Ntshwarele
How much is this?
Ke bokae?
Sorry
Ntshwarele
Thank you
Ke a leboha
Where's the toilet
Ntloana e kae?

Problem/Emergency (Maemo a Tshohanyetso)

Leave me alone!
Ntohelle kele notsi!
Help!
Ke kopa thuso!
Stop!
Ema!
I need your help
Ke hloka thuso ya hao.
Police!
Sepolesa!
Watch out!
Hlokomela!
Go away!
Tsamaya!
Let me go!
Ntumelle ke tsamaye!
Call the police /a doctor/ an ambulance!
Letsetsa mapolesa / ngaka / ambulanse!
Stop! Thief!
Ema! Leshodu!

Numbers

1
ngwe
2
pedi
3
tharo
4
nne
5
hlano
6
tshelela
7
supa
8
robedi
9
robong
10
leshome
20
mashome a mabedi
30
mashome a mararo
40
mashome a mane
50
mashome a mahlano
60
mashome a tsheletseng
70
mashome a supileng
80
mashome a robedi
90
mashome a robong
100
lekgolo
1,000
sekete
10,000
likete tse leshome
100,000
makgolo a sekete
1,000,000
milione

Greetings

Good morning
Mmoro
Good evening
Fonane
Goodbye
Sala hantle
Good luck!
Ke u lakaletsa lehlohonolo!

Days

Sunday
Sontaha
Monday
Mantaha
Tuesday
Labobeli
Wednesday
Laboraro
Thursday
Labone
Friday
Labohlano
Saturday
Moqebelo

Months(likhoeli)

January
Pherekhong
February
Hlakola
March
Hlakubele
April
Mesa
May
Mots'eanong
June
Phuptjane
July
Phupu
August
Phato
September
Loetse
October
Mphalane
November
Pulungoana
December
Ts'itoe

Colors (Mebala)

Black
ntsho
White
tshweu
Gray
thokwa
Red
kgubedu
Blue
putswa
Yellow
tshehla
Geen
tala
Orange
lamunu
Purple
perese
Brown
sootho

Part of the body

Head
hlooho
Eyes
mahlo
Ears
ditsebe
Nose
nko
Mouth
molomo
Arm
letsoho
Leg
leoto
Hand
letsoho
Feet
maoto
Chest
sefuba
Skin
letlalo
Muscle
mosifa
Blood
madi

Family

Father
Ntate
Mother
Mme
Daughter
Mora
Son
Moradi wa ka
Uncle
Bomalome
Aunt
Bommangwane

Learning more


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