Basic Words

1. Ee

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative answer. Add "ntate" or "mme" when answering an elder

   Grammar Note

   "ee" is also the demonstrative "that", but as a one-word answer it means "yes". The negative is "Tjhe"

2. Tjhe

   No

   Usage

   Negative answer. Also handy for turning down offers or sellers

   Grammar Note

   South African spelling. Lesotho writes "Che"

3. Ka kopo

   Please

   Usage

   A polite word added before or after a request. Spoken requests also often start with "Ke kopa …"

   Grammar Note

   Literally "by request". The softening particle "hle" can be added

4. Ke a leboha

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common way to say thanks. Add "ntate" or "mme" for an elder

   Grammar Note

   Sesotho writes the parts as separate words. "Thank you very much" is "Ke a leboha haholo". Note the h: Sepedi/Setswana use "leboga"

5. Ntshwarele

   Excuse me

   Usage

   Used to get attention or to pass through. Politer: "Ntshwarele hle"

   Grammar Note

   An imperative with the object prefix n- "me", related to tshwarelo "forgiveness". For several people: "Ntshwareleng"

6. Ke maswabi

   Sorry

   Usage

   An apology, and also a way to say you feel sorry about someone's bad news

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I am sorry/sad". maswabi is related to the verb swaba "feel sorry"

7. Ha ho bothata

   It’s OK / I’m fine

   Usage

   Used to answer "no problem" or "it is all right"

   Grammar Note

   Literally "there is no problem". ho is the impersonal subject concord

8. Ke hantle

   I'm fine

   Usage

   A reply to a greeting such as "O phela jwang?"

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I am well". hantle is an adverb meaning "well"

9. Ha ke utlwisise

   I don’t understand

   Usage

   Use it when you cannot follow what was said. The affirmative is "Ke utlwisisa"

   Grammar Note

   Present negative = "ha + subject + stem with final -a changed to -e": utlwisisa becomes ha ke utlwisise

10. Ke utlwisisa

    I understand

    Usage

    Use it when you have understood what was said

    Grammar Note

    The present affirmative is subject + verb; "Ke a utlwisisa" with the marker "a" also occurs

11. Ke qetile

    I’m finished / Done

    Usage

    Use it when you have finished a task or a meal

    Grammar Note

    The perfect adds -ile to the stem (qeta becomes qetile)

12. Ka kopo, ema

    Please wait

    Usage

    A polite way to ask someone to wait. For an elder or several people: "Ka kopo, emang"

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of ema is the bare stem; add -ng for several people or respect (composed).

13. Ema hanyane

    Just a moment

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to wait a little

    Grammar Note

    For an elder or several people: "Emang hanyane"

14. Motho e moholo a le mong, ka kopo

    One adult, please

    Usage

    Used at a ticket window or entrance to ask for one adult ticket

    Grammar Note

    "motho a le mong" means "one person"; change the number with agreement, e.g. "batho ba babedi" (two people) (composed).

15. Ke kopa thuso

    Please help me

    Usage

    A polite way to ask for help. "Ke kopa o nthuse" is also possible

    Grammar Note

    thuso is the noun form of the verb thusa "to help"

16. Pheta hape, ka kopo

    Once more, please

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to say it once more

    Grammar Note

    For an elder or several people: "Phetang hape" (composed).

17. Bua butle, ka kopo

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to speak more slowly

    Grammar Note

    For an elder or several people: "Buang butle" (composed).

18. Ke bua hanyane

    I speak a little

    Usage

    Tells people you can speak only a little

    Grammar Note

    A language name can be added: "Ke bua Senyesemane hanyane" (I speak a little English) (composed).

19. Na o bua Senyesemane?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Asks whether someone speaks English. na is the question particle

    Grammar Note

    Placing na first makes a question. Language names are capitalised (Sesotho, Senyesemane) (composed).

20. Sena

    This one

    Usage

    Points at something near you: "this one"

    Grammar Note

    sena / seo / sane are demonstratives of the se- class (near me / near you / far)

21. Seo

    That one (near you)

    Usage

    Points at something near the listener: "that one"

    Grammar Note

    Refers to something farther than sena, near the listener

22. Sane

    That one over there

    Usage

    Points at something far away: "that one over there"

    Grammar Note

    The farthest of the three demonstratives

23. Mona

    Here

    Usage

    "Here", for pointing out a place

    Grammar Note

    A locative demonstrative

24. Moo

    There (near you)

    Usage

    "There", for a place near the listener or already mentioned

    Grammar Note

    One of the three locatives mona / moo / mane.

25. Mane

    Over there

    Usage

    "Over there", for a place far from both of you

    Grammar Note

    The farthest of the locatives mona / moo / mane

26. Nna

    Me / I

    Usage

    The independent pronoun for stressing "me". Normal sentences use the subject concord ke

    Grammar Note

    Often used together with ke: "Nna ke …"

27. Wena

    You

    Usage

    The independent pronoun for stressing "you". Normal sentences use the subject concord o

    Grammar Note

    For several people the form is lona

28. Hammoho

    Together

    Usage

    "Together", for inviting or joining someone

    Grammar Note

    "hammoho le …" means "together with …"

29. Ke kopa tse ding hape

    More

    Usage

    Used to ask for a few more of something countable

    Grammar Note

    tse ding agrees with plural class 10 nouns (composed).

30. Hanyane feela

    Just a little

    Usage

    Used to ask for only a small amount

    Grammar Note

    feela means "only"

31. Halofo

    Half

    Usage

    "Half", for sharing or ordering an amount

    Grammar Note

    Plural dihalofo; "halofo ya tefello" means half price

32. Tsohle

    All / everything

    Usage

    "All, everything", for pointing at things as a whole

    Grammar Note

    tsohle agrees with plural nouns; for people use bohle

33. Ho lekane

    That's enough

    Usage

    Used to stop someone from serving or pouring more

    Grammar Note

    lekane comes from lekana "be equal, fit" and means "is enough"

34. Motho a le mong

    One person

    Usage

    Gives a head count: "one person"

    Grammar Note

    Numerals agree with the noun (motho → a le mong, batho → ba babedi)

35. Batho ba babedi

    Two people

    Usage

    Gives a head count: "two people"

    Grammar Note

    batho is the plural of motho (class 2)

36. Batho ba bararo

    Three people

    Usage

    Gives a head count: "three people"

    Grammar Note

    Four people: batho ba bane; five: batho ba bahlano

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