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Welcome To Learn Setswana. Audio Recorded by Tshepo Nephew Moanakwena at Bang!Gae, Voice Overs by Lucia Otsetswe, Logo designed by Mogolodi Nagafela, App designed and developed by Keneilwe Mohutsiwa, Published by Intellegere Media.

Expressions

Leave Taking
Go siame - Good-bye
Ke tla go bona kamoso - See you tomorrow
Boroko - Good night
Tlhola sentle - Have a good day
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
Commanding
Bula lebati - Open the door
Tswala lebati - Close the door
Ema o bue - Stand and talk
Ema ka dinao - Stand
Tsena mo teng - Get inside
Tlaa kwano - Come here
Didimala - Keep quiet
Boela kwa morago - Go back
Tlaa kwa pele - Come to the front
Nna fatshe - Sit down
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
Safety Expressions
Nthuse - Help me
Ke kopa thuso - I need help
Ke tlhasetswe - I have been attacked
Go thubilwe kwa lwapeng - My house has been broken into
Ke utswetswe - There has been theft in my house
Ke thukuthilwe - I have been robbed