Question Words

1. Eng?

   What?

   Usage

   "What?", for asking what something is or for a quick follow-up

   Grammar Note

   The question word sits where the answer would be; "ke eng?" means "what is it?"

2. Kae?

   Where?

   Usage

   The question word for place. "… e kae?" means "where is …?"

   Grammar Note

   Put the noun's agreement marker (e, o, le …) before it

3. Neng?

   When?

   Usage

   The question word for time

   Grammar Note

   It goes at the end: "O tla neng?" (when will you come?)

4. Mang?

   Who?

   Usage

   The question word for a person. "Ke mang?" means "who is it?"

   Grammar Note

   mang can also mean "whose"

5. Hobaneng?

   Why?

   Usage

   The question word for a reason

   Grammar Note

   The answer starts with "hobane …" (because …)

6. Jwang?

   How?

   Usage

   The question word for manner or state; also used in the greeting "O phela jwang?"

   Grammar Note

   South African spelling. Lesotho writes "joang"

7. Ke tse kae?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks how many of a countable thing; the form agrees with the noun

   Grammar Note

   tse agrees with plural class 10 nouns; for people "Ke batho ba bakae?" (composed).

8. Ke bokae?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The standard way to ask a price

   Grammar Note

   bokae asks for an amount or price

9. Ke sefe?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Asks "which one?" when choosing among things

   Grammar Note

   sefe agrees with the se- class; with other nouns it becomes efe, ofe … (composed).

10. Sena ke eng?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Asks what a thing in front of you is

    Grammar Note

    Word order is "this – is – what" (composed).

11. Ntlwana e kae?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Asks where the toilet is. ntlwana "toilet" is also used for public toilets

    Grammar Note

    "noun + e kae?" is a common pattern (e.g. nako e kae?) (composed).

12. Ke nako mang?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time. Answer like "Ke hora ya botshelela" (it is six o'clock)

    Grammar Note

    The answer pattern "Ke hora ya …" is the reliable part. Composed sentence built with regular Sesotho grammar (composed).

13. Na o na le sena?

    Do you have this?

    Usage

    Asks a shop whether they have this item

    Grammar Note

    "na le" expresses having; the negative is "ha o na …" (composed).

14. Na o ka kgona?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Asks whether someone is able to do something

    Grammar Note

    "o ka kgona ho …" means "you can …" (composed).

15. Na ho na le tefo?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Asks whether there is a charge

    Grammar Note

    "ho na le …" is the existential "there is …" (composed).

16. Na ke mahala?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Asks whether it is free. The answer is "Ke mahala"

    Grammar Note

    "ke mahala" is common in public-service notices

17. Na ho lokile?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is all right

    Grammar Note

    The answer is "Ho lokile" (it is fine)

18. Na ha ho dumellwe?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is forbidden

    Grammar Note

    dumellwe is the passive of dumella "allow" (composed).

19. Na o hantle?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Asks someone who looks unwell: "are you all right?"

    Grammar Note

    The answer is "Ke hantle" (composed).

20. Na ke nnete?

    Really?

    Usage

    A reaction to surprising news: "is it true?"

    Grammar Note

    "ke nnete" means "it is true"; nnete is "truth, fact"

21. O tswa kae?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    The usual way to ask where someone comes from

    Grammar Note

    Answer like "Ke tswa Japane" (I come from Japan)

22. Lebitso la hao ke mang?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    Asks someone's name. Answer: "Lebitso la ka ke …"

    Grammar Note

    Literally "your name is who?". la is the class 5 "of"

23. O dilemo tse kae?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks someone's age; better avoided with strangers

    Grammar Note

    Answer like "Ke dilemo tse 30" (I am 30 years old)

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