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