Setswana
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- setehako
- shoe
- utswa
- steal
- sala
- stay
- lokolola
- dislocate
- legodu
- thief
- tlapi
- fish
- moithuti
- student/learner
- masole
- soldier
- Dumela mma, o tsogile jang?
- Hello Madam, how are you? Literally: How did you wake up / Formal Greeting
- laela
- bid farewell
- leleka
- chase
- atlarela
- to accept
- khuetsa
- in through the mouth
- nokama
- be above
- Le nna, ke tswa ko Jeremane
- I also come from Germany
- Ke tsogile sentle, wena o tsogile jang?
- I am Fine, how are you? Formal Greeting
- gatsela
- get small
- Flora o ko Francistown
- Flora is in Francistown
- tshokologo
- afternoon
- araba
- to answer
- tshwara
- catch
- tsamaya, tsamaile
- leave
- emisa
- stop something passing
- setilo
- chair
- letla
- allow
- Ke teng
- I am fine Less Formal Greeting
- fagola
- o castrate
- nyela
- defecate
- Batswana
- Botswana Nationals
- fuduga
- to et out of
- Mo Btswana o dira eng?
- What do you do in Botswana?
- nwaa, nole
- drink
- laisa
- load
- kgaba
- dress well
- O tswa kae?
- Where are you from?
- bula
- to open
- boba
- break
- anela
- to tell
- O nna ko/kwa Broadhurst mo Gaborone
- He stays at Broadhurst in Gaborone
- tsoga
- wake up
- fata
- to dig for
- borotho
- bread
- loga
- plait
- leka
- try
- ithwelw
- become pregnant
- bora
- to drill a hole
- keketa
- cut uneven
- tapole
- potato
- koboga
- scratch
- kolota
- owe
- kgwagetsa
- hang
- kgetholola
- segregatin
- katela
- to fill up
- dumela
- to agree
- fema
- curb
- baa
- to put away or down
- kwala
- write
- gaisa
- to out-class someone
- akofa
- to be quick
- komoso
- tomorrow
- gasa
- to shower
- laya
- give instructions
- sukiri
- sugar
- gobaka
- to bring together
- na le
- have
- mota
- smear
- akanya
- to think
- kgabagana/kgabakanya
- across
- kuba
- clear grass
- kgetha
- subscribe
- ngwaga
- year
- kua
- shot
- bosigo
- night
- botoka
- better
- Dumela mma, o kae?
- Hello Madam, how are you? Literally: where are you? Less Formal Greeting
- sia
- run away
- gaka
- not say it
- haraka
- to rake
- hira
- to hire
- umaka
- mention
- gana
- to refuse
- nyatsa
- look down upon
- ke robetse ka 11 maabane bosigo
- I slept at 11 o'clock last night
- enya
- to grow
- budula
- to blow
- lona
- yourselves
- kana
- swear
- lolama
- be straight as a path
- bapola
- to stretch
- phakela/mo mosong
- morning
- lela
- cry
- bula
- open
- watche
- watch, clock
- motshegare
- daytime
- teng
- around, available
- enta
- to vaccinate
- sala
- stay
- fifala
- to get dark
- eletsa
- graving
- konya
- halt
- kae?
- Where?
- beke e fetileng
- week which is past
- feny
- out-class
- leba
- look
- dia
- to delay
- betsa
- fight/beat
- bua
- to skin or talk
- Ke ithuta Setswana
- I am learning Setswana
- ruta
- teach
- bina
- to dance
- fusa
- cows beeing without milk
- onala
- become old
- kaya
- to show
- gosomana
- fall down
- diaparo
- clothes
- bina
- dance
- lekana
- FIT WELL
- katisa
- hasten
- fokotsa
- alter/make small
- kappa
- catch
- O tsile ka eng?
- How did you come? Literally: You came by what?
- kgama
- hold by the neck
- Tsena
- Come in
- bolela
- to tell
- beisa
- to run
- aroganya
- to split
- dikela
- to turn at the corner
- reka, rekile
- buy
- goga
- to pull
- kitlana
- bring close together
- ja, jele
- eat
- kotama
- squat
- nyala
- marry
- komakoma
- sprinkling
- bobora
- to speak in a deep voice
- morogo
- vegetable
- fapa
- bandage
- fetlha
- stir
- sekepe
- ship
- lata
- to go for
- beke e e tlang
- week which is coming
- nna
- to sit
- maloba
- a few day/weeks/months ago
- Go siame
- It's OK, it is fine
- topa
- mend
- kgesa
- scold
- Ke nna ko Block 6
- I stay in Block 6
- gaba
- to curve
- bopa
- to mould
- loma
- bite
- maloba a maabane
- day before yesterday
- koko
- chicken
- momona
- suck
- kgatlha
- please/delight
- kokobala
- float
- leboga
- thank
- taga
- intoxicate
- Leina la gagwe ke Molly
- Her name is Molly
- Robala sentle rra
- Sleep well Sir Informal Good bye
- kwala
- write
- haka
- to hook
- leba
- look
- lema
- plough
- apaya
- to cook
- paka e lethlatula
- harvest time
- kgwedi
- month
- Wa reng?
- What's up Literally: what do you say? Informal Greeting
- Ke bidiwa Esther
- I am called Esther Informal
- rata
- like, love
- ke
- me 1st sg
- maitseboa
- evening
- atlhola
- to judge, pass a sentence
- fatlha
- to get foreign body into the eye
- mara
- smear
- loka
- put on sugar or salt
- bapala
- to look for thongs
- bepa
- to cool down
- ngala
- throw
- kopola
- take a little
- tshwara
- hold
- batalala
- to hide
- kuka
- lift
- ela
- to go for
- O tsile leng mo Botswana?
- When did you come to Botswana?
- mo
- in/on, inside
- Ga ke re sepe
- OK Literally: I don't say anything Informal Greeting
- Go jwang?
- How is it? Informal Greeting
- kgantele
- a few moments/hours ago
- gagola
- tear
- Ke tsile ka November 2007
- I came in November 2007
- bega
- to report
- lonao
- foot
- maabane
- yesterday
- nobola
- peel
- didimala
- to keep quiet
- jala
- plough
- aena
- to iron clothes
- gotla
- cry
- ithuta
- learn
- lousela
- to die
- bela
- boil/brew
- thusa
- help
- kopa
- ask
- phosomela
- fall into something (especially a hole)
- gadika
- to fry
- adima
- borrow
- kukunya
- come out
- koma
- nod/lick
- Dumela rra, o tlhotse jang?
- Hello Sir, how are you Formal Greeting in the afternoon
- Tsamaya sentle
- Good bye Literally: leave well
- batla, batile
- want/need
- ngwega
- sneak
- upa
- sprinkle charms in the garden to destroy beasts or birds
- lpa
- get tired
- fetola
- turn meat or reply
- Leina la me ke Esther. Wena leina la gago ke mang?
- My name is Esther, what is your name?
- besa
- to roast
- paka e mariga
- winter
- tamati
- tomato
- ala
- to make bed
- lomeleta
- put another person at a disadvantage
- offisi
- office
- mosetsana
- girl
- puthlama
- get destroyed
- lomagana/lomaganya
- bring together
- bothso
- question
- bala, badile
- read
- gopola
- to make fire
- koda
- sent away
- mmidi
- maize
- ngala
- get angry
- Sefane sa gago ke mang?
- What is your surname?
- kgona
- to be able to
- kgobokana
- come together
- gwetlha
- to poke
- tsa
- not allow
- mosadi
- woman
- Ke itumelela gogo itse
- I am happy to know you
- Ke tswa ko jeremane, wena o tswa kae?
- I come from Germany, where are you from?
- lere
- bring
- LELA
- CRY
- jang?
- How?
- Dumela rra/mma
- Hello Sir/Madam Formal Greeting
- atlhama
- open ones mouth
- Sarah o yo
- Sarah is here
- wena
- yourself 2nd sg
- kopi
- cup
- kgotla
- to poke
- ene
- himself/herself
- ila
- to hate
- kgaola
- cut
- tsoga, tsogile
- wake, woke up
- Ke teng, wena o kae?
- I am fine, how are you? Less Formal Greeting
- naya
- give
- bofa
- to tighten
- atlalatsa
- spread
- kaba
- fill
- bereka
- work
- boloka
- to save or bury
- fologa
- to come down
- kala
- measure
- motswana
- Botswana national
- pala
- refuse
- le
- you /ihr 2nd pl
- huhmela
- to get underneath
- Le kae /lo kae?
- How are you? Plural Less Formal Greeting
- huma
- get rich
- nna
- myself
- kgatsha
- sprinkle
- fola
- recover after illness
- kgopa
- to remove
- alafa
- to cure
- ntlo
- house
- bopama
- to get thin
- beke e
- this week
- Ke nna ko Partial, wena o nna kae?
- I stay in Partial, where do you stay?
- kgalema
- speak angrily
- latswa
- lick
- faa
- give
- ruta
- teach
- lere
- bring
- noba
- bend
- disa
- herding
- thuso
- help
- loa
- bewitch
- noketsa
- to increase
- mona
- lick
- khenekha
- repair
- gakala
- to be angry
- Sarah ga a yo
- Sarah is not here
- bitsa
- to call
- laola
- command
- kalola
- keep awake
- baesekele
- bicycle
- ke bereka mo offising
- I am working in the office
- botha
- rested, especially done by livestock
- gata
- to step on
- butswa
- to get cooked
- kgaola
- cut off
- bua
- speak,talk
- kgakola
- put on a new attire
- tsamaya
- leave, go
- koropa
- scrub
- gagaba
- creep (stopped there)
- tsena
- enter
- itumela
- be happy
- kgapa
- spread
- gobatsa
- hurt
- Boroko mma
- Good night madam Informal Good bye
- gara
- to coil
- fefera
- to remove unwanted weeds from corn or maize
- foufala
- to get blind
- foroma
- mould
- kgweetsa
- drive
- kokota
- knock
- gompieno
- today
- Re teng
- We are fine Plural Less Formal Greeting
- iketla
- relax
- metsa
- swallow
- rekisa
- sell
- gagautla
- to shout at
- akabala
- to be perplexed
- beta
- to choke
- dutla
- to leak
- mina
- blow one's nose
- Ke tsile ka sefofane
- I came by plane
- ikanya
- to believe in
- diega
- to take long
- bolfa
- to be scared of
- fisa
- to burn
- tlhapa, thlapile
- wash yourself
- mashi
- milk
- tsoga
- wake (up)
- O bidiwa mang?
- Who are you called? Informal
- Go siame rra
- OK Sir
- nama yo koko
- chicken meat
- leta
- wait
- kgala
- scold/chide
- dira
- to do
- epa
- to dig
- mela
- to grow
- hupa
- to put in ones mouth
- ungwa
- grow
- ema
- stop
- latlha
- throw
- seterata
- street
- bola
- to get rotten
- lebala
- forget
- rusa
- get rusty
- nama
- meat
- leswana
- spoon
- Re tlaa bonana
- We will see each other Informal Good bye
- ara
- to operate a patient
- gabola
- to sip
- Ba kwa tirong
- they are at work
- hema
- breath
- khutla
- come to an end
- tomola
- TAKE OUT
- robala, robetse
- sleep, slept
- Ke tsogile sentle
- I am fine Formal Greeting
- Go sharpu
- OK Informal Greeting
- ata
- become many
- kopa
- beg
- bela
- to boil
- go lwa
- fight
- Leina la gago ke mang?
- What is your name? Formal
- apara
- to wear (clothes)
- thusa
- help
- bereka
- to work
- kgomaretsa
- paste
- fatsa
- to split firewood
- gama
- to milk
- amoga
- to take from
- golola
- to let go
- gakgamala
- shocked
- bipa
- to cover
- mena
- make a hem
- opela
- sing
- shopo
- shop
- lesa
- leave something
- etsa
- to imitate
- ba
- them 3rd pl
- lesa
- leave
- loma
- bite
- sefofane
- airplane
- idibala
- faint
- bojalwa
- beer/alcoholic beverage
- aga
- to build
- utswa
- steal
- botsa
- to ask (a question)
- huduga
- leave a place
- lopa
- request
- o
- he/she 3rd sg
- utkwa
- listen
- hupela
- to suffocate
- bonana
- see each other
- se
- know
- Mosetsana yole, o bidiwa mang?
- The girl over there, what is she called?
- betsa, beditse
- beat
- Jaanong onna kae?
- Now where do you stay?
- re
- we 1st pl
- anega
- to spread
- Sefane sa me ke Fink
- My surname is Fink
- Ko/kwa
- to, from, at
- boba
- to get to sleep
- sega
- cut
- keta
- play
- akga
- to carry
- gadima
- to turn back
- madi
- money/blood
- dima
- to cause noise
- ineela
- give in
- kgoma
- touch
- ina
- dip in
- kopany
- bring together
- fitlha
- to bury or hide
- kganya
- shine
- letsa
- ring or call
- gapa
- to take from
- fofa
- to fly
- aramela
- to come closer
- kotula
- cut corn
- fotlha
- take out leaves
- Sala sentle
- Good bye Literally: stay well
- metsi
- water
- inama
- bent
- rona
- ourselves
- ja
- eat
- kokomoga
- rise
- kera
- cut
- basetsana
- girls
- basadi
- women
- gobatsa
- to harm
- fotlha
- take out leaves
- tla kwano
- come here
- busa
- to take back
- kgwakgwaetsa
- drag
- baki
- jacket
- robala
- sleep
- kagabakaba
- simmer
- kgwa
- vomit
- futsa
- curse
- gata
- tread on
- galefa
- get angry
- mabele
- sorghum
- apaya, apeile
- cook
- tla
- come
- golaganya
- to join
- dika
- to surround/best
- kgomo
- beef
- fosa
- miss
- raroga
- run
- baithuti
- students/learners
- kubetsa
- to fumigate with smoke/knock body with something blunt
- hempe
- shirt
- tlhola, tlhotse
- spend, spent the day
- ga
- draw from
- akanya, akantse
- think
- ngotla
- make smaller
- fetsa
- finish
- bogola
- to bark
- dusa
- get pregnant animals
- bone
- themselves
- Ko Ko!
- Knock Knock! Entering a house
- tlatswa
- wash something
- lootsa
- sharpen
- borogkwe
- trousers
- tshela
- pours
- bona
- to see
- Ke bidiwa Esther, wena o mang?
- I am called Esther, who are you?
- ream
- chop
- tlhaba
- stab
- ngana
- argue
- foka
- to blow
- aba
- give out
- noka
- to take care of
- kokola
- take out
- o
- you / du 2nd sg