Setswana/Tswana is a bantu language spoken in Botswana, South Africa and parts of Namibia.
It is the national langage of Botswana and one of South Africa’s official languages.
Vowels
Setswana has five vowels:
a - can
e - get
i - feet
o - so
u - cook
Personal pronouns
I/me ~ Nna
You ~ Wena
He/she/it- Him/her/it ~ Ena/ena/yona
we/us ~ Rona
They/them ~ Bona
Consonants
Setswana has three click consonants:
Dental click (c) - /ǀ/
Lateral click (x) - /ǁ/
Palatal click (q) - /ǃ/
Greetings in Setswana
| English | Setswana |
| Good evening. | Dumelang/Dumela |
| Good morning. | Dumelang/Dumela |
| Good afternoon. | Dumelang/Dumela |
| How are you? | O tsogile jang? |
| How are you today? | O tsogile jang tsatsi leno? |
| I am fine. | Ke siame/ke tsogile sentle |
| Have a good day. | Nna le letsatsi le lentle |
| I am doing great. | Ke tsogile sentle |
| Hi/Hello. | Dumelang/Dumela/Eitah/Ola |
| Nice to meet you. | Ke itumelela go go bona |
| See you soon. | Ke tla go bona mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo |
| See you later. | Ke tla go bona kgantele |
Setswana Love Words and Phrases
| English | Setswana |
| I love you. | Ke a go rata |
| I miss you. | Ke go tlhwafaletse |
| Love you so much | Ke go rata thata |
| I want to see you. | Ke batla go go bona |
| I love you with all my heart. | Ke go rata ka pelo yame yotlhe |
| I love you too. | Ke a go rata lenna |
| I want to see you. | Ke batla go go bona |
| I like you. | Ke a go rata |
| You are beautiful. | O montle |
| My love. | Moratiwa |
| You look beautiful. | O ntse monte |
| My beautiful wife. | Mosadi wa ka o motle |
| I miss you so much, darling. | Ke go tlhwafaletse thata |
| I need you. | Ke a go tlhoka |
| You will miss me. | A o tlaa ntlhwafalela |
| Goodbye, my love. | Go siame moratiwa |
| See you tomorrow. | Ke tla go bona kamoso |
| I will marry you. | Ke tla go nyala |
| I want some space. | Ke batla go hema phefo |
| I need your love. | Ke tlhoka lerato la gago |
| You are mine. | O wa me |
Directions in Setswana
| English | Setswana |
| Where are you? | O ko kae? |
| Where did you go? | O ile kae? |
| Where do you live? | O nna kae? |
| Where are you going? | O ya kae? |
| Where were you? | O ne o le kae? |
Common Questions in Conversations in Setswana
| English | Setswana |
| How much? | Ke bokae? |
| How are you feeling? | O ikutlwa jang? |
| How have you been? | O tlhotse jang? |
| What is your name? | Leina la gago ke mang? |
| What are you doing? | O dirang? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | o apeileng? |
| Are you okay, dear? | A o siame? |
| When are you coming? | O tlaa leng? |
| How was your night/day? | O robetse sentle? |
| How are you doing? | A o tsogile? |
| How is your family? | Ba tsoga jang kwa lapeng? |
| How was your day? | Letsatsi la gago le ne le ntse jang? |
| What is wrong? | Molato ke eng? |
| What do you mean? | O raya yang? |
| How's the weather over there? | Seemo sa bosa se ntse jang koo? |
| Have you gone to church? | A o ile kerekeng? |
| What is this? | Ke eng mo? |
| What's going on? | Go diragala eng? |
| Are you listening? | O reeditse? |
| Have you heard? | A o utlwile? |
| Can I go home? | A nka ya lapeng? |
| Can I ask something? | A nka go botsa sengwe? |
| How is everything? | A sengwe sengwe se siame? |
| What’s your phone number? | Nomoro ya mogala wa letheka wa gago ke mang? |
Everyday Conversations in Setswana
| English | Setswana |
| Happy birthday | Nna le letsatsi la matsalo le lentle |
| Thank you | Ke a leboga |
| I am sorry | Ke kopa maitswarelo? |
| You are welcome. | O amogelesegile |
| Me too! | Le nna! |
| God bless you. | Modimo a go segofatse. |
| May god protect you. | A Modimo a go babalele. |
| She is happy. | O itumetse. |
| Please help me. | Ke kopa thuso ya gago. |
| I don't know. | Ga ke itse. |
| I will come tomorrow. | Ke etla kamoso. |
| Come here! | Tla kwano! |
| Feel at home. | Amogelesega . |
| Be blessed. | Segofala. |
| I am coming soon. | Ke etla go se kgale. |
| Excuse me. | Bona foo |
| Leave me alone. | Ntlogele. |
| It is okay. | Go siame. |
| I am going home. | Ke ya ko lapeng. |
| I don't want. | Ga ke batle. |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | Lorato ke selo se sentle. |
| Let me try. | Tla ke leke . |
| Welcome home. | O amogelesegile mo gae |
| I reached home safely. | Ke gorogile sentle mo gae |
| God is good. | Modimo o siame . |
| I don't understand. | Ga ke tlhaloganye. |
| We are happy to see you. | Re itumelela go go bona. |
| I have it. | Ke nale yone. |
| Rest in peace. | Robala ka kagiso. |
| I don't have money. | Ga ke na madi. |
| I am done. | Ke feditse. |
| I am going to the shop. | Ke ya ko mabentleleng. |
| Happy new year. | Ngwaga yo mosha. |
| Bad manners. | Maitsholo a a sa lolamang. |
| Stop using your phone. | Emisa go dirisa mogala wa gago wa letheka. |
| I need a favour, please. | Ke tlhokana le thuso ya gago. |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. | Go lebaka ke sa go bone. |
| Great to see you again. | Ke itumelela go go bona gape. |
| I really appreciate it. | Ke amogetse fela thata . |
| You made my day. | O ntiretse letsatsi. |
| No problem. | Ga gona molato. |
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