Dating & Romance

1. O phela jwang kajeno?

   How are you today?

   Usage

   A natural opener to ask how someone is doing today

   Grammar Note

   "O phela jwang?" is the standard "how are you"; use "Le phela jwang?" to several people or an elder. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

2. Na o ka mpolella lebitso la hao?

   Can you tell me your name?

   Usage

   Used to politely ask for someone's name

   Grammar Note

   "Mpolella" is "tell me" (applied verb with the object concord n-). The shorter form is "Lebitso la hao ke mang?". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

3. Ke batla ho o tseba hantle.

   I want to get to know you better.

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you would like to get to know them better

   Grammar Note

   "Tseba" means know. The form "tsebana" (know each other, which can be a sexual euphemism) is deliberately avoided. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

4. O mosa haholo.

   You are very kind.

   Usage

   Used to compliment someone on being kind

   Grammar Note

   "Mosa" means kind. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

5. Na re ka ya paka hammoho?

   Can we go to the park together?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone to go to the park together

   Grammar Note

   "Paka" is the loan from English park. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

6. O shebahala o motle kajeno.

   You look beautiful today.

   Usage

   Used to compliment how someone looks today

   Grammar Note

   "O shebahala" is used in the sense "you look (like)". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

7. Re ka kopana hape neng?

   When can we meet again?

   Usage

   Used to ask when you can meet again

   Grammar Note

   The question word "neng" goes at the end. "Kopana" means meet or come together. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

8. Ke a o rata.

   I love you.

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you like or love them

   Grammar Note

   "Rata" covers both "like" and "love"; use it with someone you are close to. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

9. O motho ya motle haholo.

   You are a very beautiful person.

   Usage

   Used to praise someone as a very beautiful person

   Grammar Note

   "Motho ya motle" is "a beautiful person"; "motle" is the form for a person (things take "e ntle", "tse ntle"). Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

10. Ke batla ho ba motswalle wa hao feela.

    I only want friendship.

    Usage

    Used to say clearly that you only want to be friends

    Grammar Note

    "Motswalle" means friend (very common); "feela" means only. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.

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