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.

Pronunciation guide

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

Time

Clock time

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

Transportation

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

Food

Learning more

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