Local Dishes

1. Papa

   Papa (maize-meal porridge, the staple)

   Usage

   Staple made from maize meal, eaten with meat or vegetable relish.

   Grammar Note

   A noun; the word alone is enough on a menu or at a shop counter.

2. Moroho

   Moroho (cooked greens)

   Usage

   Cooked greens served with papa.

   Grammar Note

   Moroho (plural meroho) is greens or vegetables; as a dish it is the usual companion of papa.

3. Papa le moroho

   Papa and moroho (maize-meal porridge with cooked greens)

   Usage

   The classic pairing; useful when ordering or asking what a meal is.

   Grammar Note

   "Le" joins two nouns ("and"). Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

4. Motoho

   Motoho (soft porridge)

   Usage

   Soft porridge eaten for breakfast or as a snack, known as a Lesotho dish.

   Grammar Note

   A noun; the word alone is enough on a menu or at a shop counter.

5. Mabele

   Mabele (sorghum)

   Usage

   Grain used for porridge and for home-brewed beer.

   Grammar Note

   A noun of the ma- class.

6. Mokopu

   Mokopu (pumpkin)

   Usage

   Pumpkin cooked as a side dish.

   Grammar Note

   A noun; the word alone is enough on a menu or at a shop counter.

7. Setjhu

   Setjhu (stew)

   Usage

   Stew of meat or vegetables, served with papa or rice.

   Grammar Note

   "tjh" is a single sound.

8. Setjhu sa nama ya kgomo le reisi

   Beef stew with rice

   Usage

   A typical canteen lunch combination.

   Grammar Note

   Nama ya kgomo is "meat of the cow", i.e. beef. A typical lunch-menu combination.

9. Mala le mohodu

   Mala le mohodu (tripe and offal)

   Usage

   Offal dish seen on a canteen menu; handy to recognise if you want to avoid it.

   Grammar Note

   A noun; the word alone is enough on a menu or at a shop counter.

10. Boroso

    Boroso (sausage, boerewors)

    Usage

    Sausage eaten at a braai (barbecue).

    Grammar Note

    A loan from Afrikaans wors. The plural is diboroso.

11. Ditapole

    Ditapole (potatoes)

    Usage

    Potatoes as a side dish.

    Grammar Note

    The singular is tapole, a loan from Afrikaans aartappel.

12. Kgereisi

    Kgereisi (crushed mealies)

    Usage

    Coarsely crushed maize.

    Grammar Note

    A noun; the word alone is enough on a menu or at a shop counter.

13. Ke batla papa le setjhu.

    I would like papa and stew.

    Usage

    To ask for the staple and the stew at a canteen or in a home.

    Grammar Note

    "Ke batla" + noun means "I want ...". Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

14. Ke rata papa le moroho.

    I like papa and greens.

    Usage

    To say you enjoy the local food.

    Grammar Note

    "Rata" means to like or love. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

15. Na o na le dinawa?

    Do you have beans?

    Usage

    To ask whether beans are available as a side dish.

    Grammar Note

    "Na o na le ...?" means "Do you have ...?". Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

16. Na o na le dijo tsa setso?

    Do you have traditional food?

    Usage

    To look for traditional local dishes.

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

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