Ke kopa menyu
Please let me see the menu
Usage
Standard phrase used after being seated at a restaurant
Grammar Note
"Ke kopa + noun" means "may I have …". Composed sentence built with regular grammar. Also "lenane la dijo" (list of foods)
Ke batla ho ja nama e besitsweng
I want to eat grilled meat (braai)
Usage
Used to order braai (barbecue), a South African staple at weekend gatherings
Grammar Note
"nama e besitsweng" is "roasted meat". The word braai itself is not used, so the meaning is spelled out. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ke batla papa le nama
I want papa (maize porridge) and meat
Usage
Ordering a traditional meal combination. Papa is the staple of the region
Grammar Note
"le" joins nouns as "and". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ha ke je nama, ke ja meroho le dinawa
I don't eat meat. I eat vegetables and beans
Usage
Important phrase for communicating dietary restrictions. Useful for vegetarian travelers
Grammar Note
The present negative is "ha + subject + stem". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ke a leboha, dijo di ne di monate haholo
Thank you, the food was very delicious
Usage
Used after a meal to compliment the food and thank the cook or host
Grammar Note
A past state is "subject concord + ne + subject concord + predicate". Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ke kopa metsi
Please give me water
Usage
Basic phrase for ordering water at a restaurant or during a meal
Grammar Note
"metsi" is the plural-class noun for water. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ke na le dialeji tsa dijo
I have food allergies
Usage
Important phrase for telling restaurant staff about food allergies; point at what you cannot eat
Grammar Note
Having is "ke na le + noun". "dialeji" is a loan from English "allergy" (plural). Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Ke batla bohobe le mahleu
I want bread and mahleu (fermented maize drink)
Usage
Used to order traditional food and drink from a market or home cook
Grammar Note
Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
A re keteke ka ho ja dijo hammoho
Shall we celebrate by eating together?
Usage
A warm invitation to share a meal with friends or acquaintances
Grammar Note
"a re + subjunctive" means "let us". keteka "celebrate" becomes keteke in the subjunctive. Composed sentence built with regular grammar.
Nama
Meat
Usage
The general word; the animal is named by what follows it
Grammar Note
The plural is dinama
Nama ya kolobe
Pork
Usage
For checking whether a dish contains pork; also relevant for a religious restriction
Grammar Note
Literally "meat of the pig". Do not use "kolobe" of a person; it is an insult
Nama ya kgomo
Beef
Usage
Point at it to check what is in a dish
Grammar Note
Literally "meat of the cow"
Nama ya kgoho
Chicken
Usage
For ordering or checking a dish
Grammar Note
Literally "meat of the chicken"; the bird is kgoho (plural dikgoho)
Nama ya nku
Mutton
Usage
A common meat on menus
Grammar Note
Literally "meat of the sheep"
Tlhapi
Fish
Usage
For fish allergies and ordering; the plural is ditlhapi
Grammar Note
Spell it tlhapi exactly; a similar-looking form is vulgar. "hlapi" is a variant
Lehe
Egg
Usage
For egg allergies; the plural is mahe
Grammar Note
A noun of the le-/ma- class pair
Lebese
Milk
Usage
For dairy allergy or lactose intolerance; distinct from "mafi", the soured milk
Grammar Note
A noun of the le-/ma- class pair (plural mabese)
Matokomane
Peanuts
Usage
Essential for a peanut allergy; it hides in snacks and sauces
Grammar Note
The singular is letokomane.
Koro
Wheat
Usage
Point at it when you need to avoid gluten
Grammar Note
In Sesotho koro refers to wheat
Bohobe
Bread
Usage
At breakfast or a shop; also useful when checking for wheat
Grammar Note
The plural is mahobe; there is also the word borotho
Reisi
Rice
Usage
Covers both cooked rice and raw grain
Grammar Note
A loan from Afrikaans rys. Spelling varies: reisi and reise.
Poone
Maize / corn
Usage
The staple grain of the region, ground into the meal that becomes papa
Grammar Note
A common everyday word.
Tapole
Potato
Usage
For checking side dishes; the plural is ditapole
Grammar Note
A loan from Afrikaans aartappel.
Dinawa
Beans
Usage
The basis of many stews
Grammar Note
The singular is nawa; the plural is the usual form
Meroho
Vegetables
Usage
The word to use when you are looking for a meat-free option
Grammar Note
The singular is moroho, which often means cooked greens
Ditholwana
Fruit
Usage
At markets and at breakfast; the singular is tholwana
Grammar Note
Plural of tholwana
Letswai
Salt
Usage
For asking for more or less salt; point at it if you are on a low-salt diet
Grammar Note
A noun of the le-/ma- class pair (plural matswai)
Tswekere
Sugar
Usage
For checking whether sugar goes into a drink; essential if you are diabetic
Grammar Note
A loan word from Afrikaans suiker
Oli
Cooking oil
Usage
Point at it when you want less oil
Grammar Note
A loan from Afrikaans olie
Pepere
Chilli / pepper
Usage
Covers both chilli heat and pepper
Grammar Note
A loan from English pepper. Green pepper is "pepere e tala"
Anyanese
Onion
Usage
Point at it to have onion left out
Grammar Note
A common everyday word.
Konofole
Garlic
Usage
For markets and for checking ingredients
Grammar Note
A common everyday word.
Mahe a dinotshi
Honey
Usage
At markets and at breakfast, or as an alternative sweetener
Grammar Note
Literally "eggs of bees"
Kase
Cheese
Usage
For checking when you avoid dairy
Grammar Note
A loan from English cheese
Botoro
Butter
Usage
For checking when you avoid dairy; usually served with bread
Grammar Note
A loan from Afrikaans botter
Sopo
Soup
Usage
Useful for asking whether meat stock is in it
Grammar Note
A loan from Afrikaans sop
More Sesotho phrases
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