Health & Hospital

1. Ke kula

   I am sick / I feel ill

   Usage

   The most basic way to say you are ill

   Grammar Note

   Kula means to be ill

2. Ke hloka ngaka

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Used to ask for a doctor

   Grammar Note

   Ngaka is doctor. The word is also used for traditional healers. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

3. Ke opelwa ke hlooho

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Used to report a headache

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

4. Ke hloka moriana

   I need medicine

   Usage

   Used when you need medicine

   Grammar Note

   Moriana (plural meriana) is medicine.

5. Nthuse, ka kopo

   Please help me

   Usage

   Ask for help in an emergency or serious illness

   Grammar Note

   "Ka kopo" makes it polite. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

6. Na sepetlele se haufi?

   Is the hospital nearby?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether a hospital is nearby

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

7. Ke sa tswa kliniking

   I just came back from the clinic

   Usage

   Used to say you have just come from the clinic

   Grammar Note

   Kliniki plus -ng gives "at the clinic". Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

8. Phomola hantle

   Rest well

   Usage

   Wish someone good rest and recovery

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

9. Bophelo bo botle ho wena

   Good health to you / Be well

   Usage

   A wish for someone's good health

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

10. Ke imme

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Say it first at a clinic or pharmacy; it decides which medicine or X-ray is safe

    Grammar Note

    Imme means pregnant.

11. Lefu la tswekere

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Declaring a chronic condition: diabetes

    Grammar Note

    Literally "disease of sugar".

12. Kgatello ya madi e phahameng

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Declaring high blood pressure

    Grammar Note

    Phahameng means high. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

13. Lefu la pelo

    Heart condition

    Usage

    Declaring a heart condition

    Grammar Note

    Literally "disease of the heart".

14. Lesapo le robehile

    A broken bone

    Usage

    Says a bone is broken; point at the place

    Grammar Note

    Robeha means to break; robehile is its perfect. The plural of lesapo is masapo. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

15. Ke sitwa ho phefumoloha

    I cannot breathe

    Usage

    For breathing trouble, where showing a screen beats speaking

    Grammar Note

    "Ke sitwa ho ..." means I am unable to ... Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

16. Ke na le modikwadikwane

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    For light-headedness

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

17. Ke tswa madi

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Says blood is flowing; show it while pointing at the wound

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

18. Leqeba

    Wound / sore

    Usage

    Covers cuts, grazes and infected sores

    Grammar Note

    The plural is maqeba.

19. Mokgohlane

    Cough

    Usage

    The symptom word for a cough

    Grammar Note

    The related verb is kgohlela "to cough".

20. Bohloko

    Pain

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the spot; pair it with the body-part cards

    Grammar Note

    Bohloko covers physical pain and also grief.

21. Ke a hlohlona

    I am itching

    Usage

    For the itch of an insect bite or a rash

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

22. Inshorense

    Insurance

    Usage

    Show it with your policy document when medical costs come up

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English insurance.

23. Ho robatswa sepetlele

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Point to this to ask whether you must be admitted

    Grammar Note

    "Ho robatswa" means to be admitted; literally to be laid down.

24. Bitsa ngaka, ka kopo

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask someone nearby to call a doctor

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

25. Ke ile ka hlatsa makgetlo a mangata

    I vomited many times

    Usage

    Tell a doctor you have vomited repeatedly

    Grammar Note

    The past is "ke ile ka" plus verb. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

26. Na ke hloka ho phomola?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Ask the doctor whether you should rest

    Grammar Note

    Phomola means to rest; phomolo is rest or holiday. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

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