Maseru
Usage
Capital and largest city of Lesotho, right by the South African border.
Grammar Note
The name takes no locative ending: use it as in "ke ya Maseru" (I am going to Maseru).
Thaba Bosiu
Usage
Sandstone plateau that served as the stronghold of King Moshoeshoe I; one of Lesotho's most important historic sites.
Grammar Note
Literally "mountain of the night": thaba (mountain) and bosiu (night).
Morija
Usage
Historic village in Lesotho known for its museum and archives and its annual arts and culture festival.
Grammar Note
A proper name. The museum is signed in English as Morija Museum & Archives.
Semonkong
Usage
Mountain village near Maletsunyane Falls; a base for pony trekking.
Grammar Note
A proper name; no ending is added.
Maletsunyane Falls
Usage
Waterfall of about 192 m near Semonkong, among the highest single-drop falls in southern Africa.
Grammar Note
Signs use the English name, so say it as written.
Malealea
Usage
Mountain village and lodge popular for pony trekking and scenic passes.
Grammar Note
A proper name, written as on the signs.
Sani Pass
Usage
Mountain road linking KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa with Lesotho; for 4x4 vehicles and dependent on the weather.
Grammar Note
The English sign name. It is wise to check road conditions before setting out.
Katse Dam
Usage
Large arch dam of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Grammar Note
The Sesotho word for dam is letamo, so "Letamo la Katse" is also possible.
Mohale Dam
Usage
The second big dam of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Grammar Note
The English sign name; the Sesotho word for dam is letamo.
Sehlabathebe National Park
Usage
Remote national park in south-eastern Lesotho, part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Ts'ehlanyane National Park
Usage
National park in northern Lesotho known for its indigenous forest and hiking.
Grammar Note
Written with the ASCII apostrophe (') as on the signs.
Bokong Nature Reserve
Usage
Highland nature reserve with waterfalls and alpine scenery.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Afriski
Usage
Ski resort high in the Lesotho mountains; the season is the southern winter (about June to August).
Grammar Note
A brand name; no ending is added.
Thabana Ntlenyana
Usage
At about 3,482 m, the highest mountain in southern Africa.
Grammar Note
Thabana is the diminutive of thaba (mountain), "little mountain".
Mokhotlong
Usage
Highland town in north-eastern Lesotho.
Grammar Note
Keeps the Lesotho spelling (kh) because that is how it is signed.
Thaba-Tseka
Usage
Mountain town in central Lesotho.
Grammar Note
Signed with a hyphen.
Butha-Buthe
Usage
Town in northern Lesotho, close to the Free State of South Africa.
Grammar Note
Signed with a hyphen.
Hlotse
Usage
Town in northern Lesotho, also called Leribe.
Grammar Note
"hl" is a single sound; do not split it.
Teyateyaneng
Usage
Town in north-western Lesotho, locally shortened to "TY" and known for handwoven crafts.
Grammar Note
The name is long, so "TY" is often used in speech.
Mafeteng
Usage
Town in western Lesotho, near the South African border.
Grammar Note
A proper name; no ending is added.
Mohale's Hoek
Usage
Town in south-western Lesotho.
Grammar Note
Written with the ASCII apostrophe (') as on the signs.
Quthing
Usage
Town in southern Lesotho, locally also called Moyeni.
Grammar Note
A proper name; no ending is added.
Qacha's Nek
Usage
Town in south-eastern Lesotho with a border post to the Eastern Cape.
Grammar Note
Written with the ASCII apostrophe (') as on the signs.
Roma
Usage
Town south-east of Maseru, home of the National University of Lesotho.
Grammar Note
Not the Italian city. The verb roma means "send".
Matsieng
Usage
Village with royal associations in Lesotho.
Grammar Note
A proper name; no ending is added.
Ha Baroana
Usage
Site of prehistoric rock paintings near Maseru.
Grammar Note
A common Lesotho pattern "Ha + name", meaning the homestead or village of that name.
Mohokare
Caledon River
Usage
River forming the border between Lesotho and the Free State; Caledon River in English.
Grammar Note
Mohokare is the Sesotho name of the Caledon River.
Senqu
Orange River
Usage
Name of the Orange River where it flows through Lesotho.
Grammar Note
Senqu is the Sesotho name of the Orange River. The q is a click sound.
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
Usage
Mountain park straddling Lesotho and South Africa; a World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
Maloti is the Lesotho name of the range; it is also the plural of the currency loti.
Moshoeshoe I International Airport
Usage
Lesotho's international airport, south of Maseru.
Grammar Note
Signed in English. The Sesotho word for airport is boemafofane.
Lesotho
Usage
Mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa; the people are Basotho and the language is Sesotho.
Grammar Note
A person is a Mosotho (singular) and the people are Basotho; the language is Sesotho.
Mangaung
Usage
Sesotho name of Bloemfontein and of the metro area that includes it.
Grammar Note
A proper name used without an ending: "ke ya Mangaung".
Bloemfontein
Usage
Capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin, used as signed.
Foreisetata
Free State
Free State
Usage
Province in central South Africa where many Sesotho speakers live.
Grammar Note
The English name Free State written in Sesotho sounds.
Clarens
Usage
Small town in the eastern Free State with many art galleries and mountains all around.
Grammar Note
A proper name, used as signed.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Usage
National park in the eastern Free State with sandstone cliffs that glow golden at sunset.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Phuthaditjhaba
Usage
Main town of the former QwaQwa area; many Sesotho speakers live here.
Grammar Note
Also known by the older name Qwaqwa. "tjh" is a single sound.
Fouriesburg
Usage
Town in the eastern Free State near the Lesotho border.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin.
Ficksburg
Usage
Town known for cherries, with a bridge border crossing into Lesotho.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin.
Ladybrand
Usage
Free State town close to the Maseru Bridge border post.
Grammar Note
A name of English and Afrikaans origin.
Zastron
Usage
Town in the south-eastern Free State known for rock art and mountains.
Grammar Note
The Sesotho name of Zastron is Matlakeng.
Wepener
Usage
Free State town near the Lesotho border.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin.
Harrismith
Usage
Free State town near the Drakensberg, on the way towards Durban.
Grammar Note
The Sesotho name of Harrismith is Thaba Ntsho.
Bethlehem
Usage
Town in the eastern Free State, a gateway to the eastern highlands.
Grammar Note
Not the Bethlehem in Israel; written as signed.
Kroonstad
Usage
Town in the northern Free State.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin.
Parys
Usage
Town on the Vaal River, close to the Vredefort Dome.
Grammar Note
Not Paris in France; written as signed.
Welkom
Usage
Town in the Free State gold-mining region.
Grammar Note
A name of Afrikaans origin, not the English word welcome.
Botshabelo
Usage
Large town east of Bloemfontein.
Grammar Note
As an ordinary noun, botshabelo means refuge.
Thaba 'Nchu
Usage
Town east of Bloemfontein.
Grammar Note
The apostrophe is the ASCII one (').
Vredefort Dome
Usage
The remains of a huge meteorite impact; a World Heritage Site.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Gariep Dam
Usage
One of South Africa's largest dams, on the Orange River.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Free State National Botanical Garden
Usage
Botanical garden in Bloemfontein with natural grassland and walking paths.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
Bram Fischer International Airport
Usage
The airport of Bloemfontein.
Grammar Note
The English sign name.
More Sesotho phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences