Expressing Needs
O batla eng?
- What do you want?
Ke batla kerese
- I want a candle
O tlhoka eng?
- What do you need?
Ke tlhoka madi
- I need money
O batla go ya kae?
- Where do you want to go?
Ke batla go ya kwa lapeng
- I want to go home
O batla go dira eng jaanong?
- What do you want to do now?
Ga ke itse
- I do not know
O ikutlwa jang?
- How do you feel?
Tlhogo yame e santse e opa
- My head still aches
Ke eng a tlhoka madi a mantsi?
- Why does she need a lot of money?
O tlhoka go reka dijo le diaparo
- She needs to buy food and clothes
O rata kofi?
- Do you like coffee?
Nnyaa, ga ke rate kofi
- No. I don’t like coffee
O ya kae kamoso
- Where are you going tomorrow?
Ke batla go ya shopong phakela
- I want to go to the shops in the morning
Useful Expressions
A o na le dipotso?
- Do you have any questions?
A o na le mathata?
- Do you have a problem (s)?
Botsa
- Ask
Bua ka bonako
- Speak quickly
Bua ka bonya
- Speak slowly
Dumedisa
- Greet
Edwin o ya posong
- Edwin is going to the post office
Ee ke na le mathata
- Yes, I have a problem
France o kae?
- Where is France?
Gape
- Again
Ga a je
- He doesn’t eat
Ga a ithute
- She doesn’t study
Ga ke a tshwarwa ke tlala
- I am not hungry
Ga ke rate kofi
- I don’t take coffee
Ga ke tlhaloganye
- I don’t understand
Ga ke ye shopong
- I don’t go to the shop
Go nna bosigo
- It’s becoming late (night fall)
Intshwarele
- Excuse me
Ke a ja
- I am eating
Ke a otsela
- I am sleepy
Ke batla go ikhutsa
- I need some rest
Ke ithuta Setswana
- I am learning Setswana
Ke itumetse
- Thank you
Ke lapile
- I am tired
Ke tlhapa phakela
- I bathe in the morning
Ke tshwere ke lenyora
- I am thirsty
Ke tshwerwe ke tlala
- I am hungry
Ke tsoga makuku
- I wake up very early
Ke ya lapeng
- I am going home
Nako e tsamaile
- It’s time up
Ga ke na mathata
- I don’t have a problem
O nna kae?
- Where is your home?
O tla leng?
- When are you coming?
O ya kae?
- Where are you going?
Reetsa
- Listen
Tswee-tswee
- Please