A collection of useful phrases in Tswana, a Bantu language spoken in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Useful phrases in Tswana.
| Thank you | Ke a leboga, rra (frm>m) Ke a leboga, mma (frm>f) Ke itumetse, rra (frm>m) Ke itumetse, mma (frm>f) |
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Notes: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person), >m = said to males, >f = said to females. The words rra (sir) and mma (madam) are used in formal phrases.
| English | Setswana (Tswana) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | O amogetswe (sg) Le amogetswe (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Dumela |
| How are you? | O tsogile jang (sg) Le kae? (sg) Le tsogile jang? (pl) |
| Reply to ‘How are you?’ | Ke tsogile sentle (sg) Re teng (sg) Re tsogile sentle (pl) |
| Long time no see | Ke kgale re sa bonane |
| What’s your name? | Leina le gago ke mang? (frm) O mang? (inf) |
| My name is | Leina la me ke … |
| Where are you from?< | Ko gae ke kae? |
| I’m from … | Ke tswa ko … |
| Pleased to meet you | Ke itumelela go goitsi |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) | Dumêla rra (frm>m) Dumêla mma (frm>f) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) | Thupama e e monate |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) | Muitsibowa a a monate |
| Good night | Borôkô! Robala sentle (sleep well) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) | Tsamaya sentle (go well – said when leaving) Sala sentle (stay well – said when staying) Go siame (see you) Ke tla go bona (see you) Ke tla go bôna kamoso (see you tomorrow) Ke tla go bôna kgantele (see you later) |
| Good luck! | Masego ke ao O nne le masego |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) | Pholo e ntle! |
| Have a nice day | Tlhôla sentle |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | Itumelele dijo |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Tselatshweu Tsmaya sentle (go peacefully) |
| I understand | Ke a tlhaloganya |
| I don’t understand | Ga ke tlhaloganye |
| I don’t know | Ga ke itse sepe |
| Please speak more slowly | Bua ka bonya |
| Please say that again | Ke kopa o boeletse gape |
| Please write it down | Ke kopa o e kwale fa fatshe |
| Do you speak Tswana? | A o bua Setswana? |
| Yes, a little (reply to ‘Do you speak …?’) | Ee, fela ga nnyane |
| How do you say … in Tswana? | Wa bo o reng … ka Setswana? |
| Excuse me | Intshwarele |
| How much is this? | E ke bokae? |
| Sorry | Ke kopa tshwarelo |
| Please | Tswêê-tswêê |
| Thank you | Ke a leboga, rra (frm>m) Ke a leboga, mma (frm>f) Ke itumetse, rra (frm>m) Ke itumetse, mma (frm>f) |
| Reply to thank you | Ke itumetse, rra (frm>m) Ke itumetse, mma (frm>f) |
| Where’s the toilet / bathroom? | Ntlwana ya boitiketso e kae? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Lekau le le tsile go duela tsotlhe |
| This lady will pay for everything | Lekgarebe le le tsile go duela tsotlhe |
| Would you like to dance with me? | A ga o batle go bina? |
| I miss you | Ke go gopotse |
| I love you | Ke a go rata |
| Get well soon | O fole ka potlako |
| Go away! | Tsamaya kwa! |
| Leave me alone! | Ntlogele! |
| Help! | Nthuse! |
| Fire! | Molelo! |
| Stop! | Ema! |
| Call the police! | Bitsa mapodisi! |
| Christmas greetings | Keresemose e e monate le ngwaga o o itumedisang |
| Easter greetings | Malatsi a paseka aa itumedisang |
| Birthday greetings | Letsatsi la tswalo lele monate |
| One language is never enough | Laleme le le lengwe ga le a lekanela |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Mokoro wa me o tletse ditlhapi |
Tswana phrases and corrections provided by Peter Ndukulu, with additional phrases and corrections by Kgamanyane Ntsie and Hendrick Matlhomola Mantsho
What is thank you in Botswana?
Thank you. Kea leboga. I do not know. Ga ke itse (“g” is pronounced as “r” in French)
How do you say thank you in Tswana?
Courtesies Thank you. Ke a leboga. Thank you very much. Ke leboga go menagane.
How do you say good morning in Botswana?
- Dumela meaning Good day/Morning/Afternoon/Evening. You can say this to anyone at anytime of the day.
- Dumelang you say this to greet a group of people together.
- Gaborone pronounce.
- Go Siame means goodbye.
- Sharp also means goodbye (but used by young people)
- Madi means money.
- Dijo (di-dinner, means food.