Peace Corps/ Botswana

An Introduction to the Setswana Language

Setswana is one of the Bantu language groups, mostly spoken in

Botswana, South Africa and Namibia (Southern Africa). The following
lessons have been designed to suit any new learner in Setswana who
has had little or no exposure to Setswana language. Remember,
Setswana will be a useful tool in your work, and aid you in integrating
well in your community making accessible to you a substantial
segment of the population with little or no English skills.
0 amogetswe mo puong ya Setswana!! Pula!

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Table of Contents
Lesson
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Topic
A Guide to Pronunciation
Greetings (Formal & Informal)dialogue
Introducing Self / Someone
Leave- Taking Expressions
Vocabulary 1 (Verbs)

Audio Guide
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_1.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_2.mp3

Page
3
4

Bw_Setswana_Lesson_3.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_4.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_5.mp3

Some Useful Expressions

Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)
Pronouns

Bw_Setswana_Lesson_6.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_7.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_8.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_9.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_10.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_11.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_12.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_13.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_14.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_15.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_16.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_17.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_18.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_19.mp3

4
5
5,6,7
7,8
8,9
9
9
9,10
10
10,11
11
12
12
13
13
13,14
14

Bw_Setswana_Lesson_20.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_21.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_22.mp3
Bw_Setswana_Lesson_23.mp3

14
15
15
15

Connecting words
Negation
Verbs to be and to have
Question Words and Commands
Expressing Needs
Food Items
Family
Adverbs of Time
Days Activities
Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places)
Some of words with similar
spelling but differing in meaning
Asking for Prices
Weather
Health Expressions
Safety Expressions

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Lesson 1: A Guide to Pronunciation

Alphabet Like
a
a in father
b
b in baby
ch
ch in church
d
Debt
e
ey in they or a in came
(represents e in begin
two sounds)

f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
(represents
two sounds)

p
ph
q
r
s
t
th
tl
tlh
tsh
u
v
w
x
y
z

Example
batho, people
baba, enemies
chenchi, change
ditau, lions
pele, first
bina, dance

e in there
far
The sound made when you hawk
a lougie
house
ee in deep
j in jug
k in kind
l in line
m in me
n in name
o in boat
A sound somewhat like u in put

ma, stand
fla, only
gana, refuse

ou in ought
p in pain
p (with aspiration) as in peach

bna, see
pitse, horse
phutha, fold

huma, be rich
bina, dance
jwala, sow
kima, thick
lela, cry/ weep
mena, fold
nama, meat
Motse, village
Pelo, heart

non existent

You just roll the r

s in sit
t in steak
t (with aspiration) as in take
as in cluck
(with aspiration) as in sclerosis
(with aspiration) like ts in mats
u in rude

rra, preach
simolola, start
setoto, carcass
thusa, help
tla, come
tlhapa, wash/ bathe
tshaba, run away

pula, rain

nonexistent

w in water
an palatal click that is laterally released
as in nxe, expressing sympathy

y in yet

wna, you
Nxau-xau, name of place in
Botswana
tsamaya, go

nonexistent
Adapted from: Setswana- English- Setswana Dictionary( Z.I. Matumo, 1993)
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Lesson 2: Greetings
(Formal)- Dialogue
Good morning/ day/ evening sir
Good morning/ day/ evening madam
How are you?
o tsogile jang?
ke tsogile sentle, wna o tsogile
I am fine and how are you?
jang? (tsogile- Lit. means how
have you risen?)
I am well
Ke tsogile sentle
Greeting a group
Dumlang borra le bomma
Good day ladies and gentlemen
Good day madam
Dumela mma
How are you (pl)?
Le tsogile jang?
Re tsogile sentle, wna o tsogile
We are well and how are you?
jang?
I am well
Ke tsogile sentle
Thank you
Re a leboga
(Informal)- Dialogue
Good day sir
Dumla rra
Dumla mma
Good day madam
How are you?
Le kae?
I am fine and how are you?
re teng a lona le teng?
I am fine
Re teng
Dumla is not specific to any time of the day. Men are expected to take off their
hats/ caps when greeting elders.
dumla rra
dumla mma

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Lesson 3: Introducing Self/ Someone

leina lame ke Itumeleng
sefane same ke Moeng
leina la gago ke mang?
ke tswa kwa Botswana
o tswa kae?
leina la gagwe ke Thabo
sefane sa gagwe ke Thuto
a o tswa kwa Amerika?
ke moithaopi

My name is Itumeleng
My Last name is Moeng
What is your name?
I am from Botswana
Where are you from?
His name is Thabo
His last name is Thuto
Are you from America?
I am a volunteer
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Lesson 4: Leave- Taking Expression

go siame
ke tla go bona
tlhla sentle
robala sentle / bork
ke tla go bna kamoso
ke tla go bna kgantele

Good-bye
See you
Have a good day
Good night
See you tomorrow
See you later
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Lesson 5: Vocabulary 1 (Verbs)

Go-

To-

(word after slash represents the verb in its past tense

form)

kgna / kgnn
gakolola / gakolots
tshaba / tshabile
araba / arabile
grga / grgile
botsa / boditse
kopa / kopile
tsamaya / tsamaile
nna, ntse
simolola / simolotse
dumla / dumetse
bedisa / bedisitse
adima / adimile
tlisa / tlisitse)
tshuba / tshubile
fitlha / fitlhile
rka / rkile
bitsa / biditse
kuka / kukile (lit. lift, when in its past form it means to help

Able, be
Advise;remind
Afraid of, be
Answer
Arrive
Ask
Ask for (polite way)
Away, go ; travel
Be, become
Begin
Believe, agree
Boil
Borrow
Bring
Burn
Bury
Buy
Call another person
Carry

sb. carry)

palama / palame
tswala / tswetse
tla / tlile,
tsna/ tsenye
tswa / dule,
apaya / apeile
lela / ledile
bina / binn

Climb
Close
Come
Come in
Come out (emerge)
Cook
Cry
Dance

diga / digile
senya / sentse

Delay
Destroy

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

dira / dirile
nwa /nol
phakla / phaketse
ja / jele
tsna / tsene
tlhalosa / tlhalositse
utlwa / utlwile
fetsa / feditse
fitlhla / fitlhetse
baakanya / baakants
itshwarla / itshwartse
bna / bonye
tsoga / tsogile
fa / file
ya / ile
itumla / itumtse
thusa / thusitse
tshwara / tshwere
bolaya / bolaile
boloka / bolokile
siama / siame
itse / itsile
tshga / tshegile
ithuta / ithutile
reetsa / reeditse
rata / ratile
nna /ntse
tlhka / tlhkile
bula / buts
feta / fetile
dula/ duetse
sla / setse
baya / beile
gana / gann
boa / boile
raya / reile
rekisa / rekisitse
lwala / lwetse
nna-fatshe / ntse-fatshe
robala / robetse
gga / gogile
bua / buile
lala / letse
sala / setse
tsaya / tsere
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Do
Drink
Early, to be
Eat
Enter
Explain
Feel; Hear; Taste
Finish
Find
Fix, prepare
Forgive
To see
Get up/ wake up
Give
Go
Happy, be
Help
Hold
Injure
Keep
Kind, be
Know
Laugh
Learn ; study
Listen
Like/ love
Live
Need
Open
Pass
Pay
Pick up
Place; put
Refuse
Return
Say
Sell
Sick, to be
Sit down
Sleep
Smoke ; pull
Speak
Spend the night
Stay behind
Take

Teach
Tell
Tired, become
Try
Understand
Use
Visit
Want
Wash (clothes)
bathe
Watch
Work
Write

ruta / rutile
bolla / boletse
lapa / lapile
leka / lekile
tlhaloganya / tlhalogantse
dirisa / dirisitse
ta / tela
batla / batlile
Tlhatswa ; tlhatswitse
Tlhapa ; tlhapile
leba / lebile
brka / berekile
kwala / kwadile

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Lesson 6: Some Useful Expressions

ke lapile
ke a otsla
ke tshwerwe ke tlala
ga ke a tshwarwa ke tlala
o ya kae?
ke ya lapeng
o tla leng?
o nna kae?
Andrew o kae?
Edward o ya posong
ga ke ye shopong
ke ithuta Setswana
ga ke rate kofi
ke batla go ikhutsa
ke a ja
ga a je
ga a ithute
ke tlhapa phakela
ke tsoga makuku
go nna bosigo
nako e tsamaile; e tshaile (inf.)
Ke tshwere ke lenyora
ga ke tlhaloganye
Bua ka bonya
gape
intshwarele
Bua ka bonako
A o na le mathata?
Ee ke na le mathata

I am tired
I am sleepy
I am hungry
I am not hungry
Where are you going?
I am going home
When are you coming?
Where is your home?
Where is Andrew?
Edward is going to the post office
I dont go to the shop
I am learning Setswana ; I study
I dont take coffee
I need some rest
I eat ; I am eating
He doesnt eat
She doesnt study
I bathe in the morning
I wake up very early
Its becoming late (night fall)
Its time up
I am thirsty
I dont understand
Speak slowly
Again
Excuse me
Speak quickly
Do you have a problem (s)?
Yes, I have a problem

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

No, I dont have a problem

Do you have any questions?
Listen
Ask
Greet
Please
Thank you

Nnyaa, ga ke na mathata
A o na le dipotso?
reetsa
botsa
dumdisa
Tsw-tsw
Ke itumetse

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Lesson 7: Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)

tafole
setil
sejana
kopi
leswana
thipa
lefel
bolao
kob
diapar
borokgwe
ditlhako
pensele
buka
bk
pn
fensetere
lebati

Kitchen
Table
Chair
Plate
Cup
Spoon
Knife
Broom
Bedroom
Bed
Blanket
Clothes
Pants
Shoes
General items
Pencil
Book
Bag
Pen
Window
Door
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Lesson 8: Pronouns
nna
wna
n
rona
lona
bn

I
You
She/ he
We/ us
You (pl)
Them
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Lesson 9: Connecting words

le
mme
Kgotsa/kana
ke
jaaka
Ka jalo
Ka gore

and
But
Or
Is
As/like
therefore
because
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Lesson 10: Negation

I

She/ he

We

You (pl)

They

Ke a
batla
I want

You
(sing)
O a batla

O a batla

You want

Le a
batla
You want

Negative
present

Ga ke
batle
I do not
want

Ga o
batle
You do
not want

She/he
wants
Ga a
batle
She/he
not want

Re a
batla
We want
Ga re
batle
We do
not want

Ga le
batle
You do
not want

Ba a
batla
They
want
Ga ba
batle
They do
not want

Past

Ke ne ke O ne o
batla
batla
I did want You did
want
Ke ne ke O ne o
sa batle
sa battle
I did not
You did
want
not want

Re ne re
batla
We did
want
Re ne re
sa batle
We did
not want

Le ne le
batla
You did
want
Le ne le
sa batle
You did
not want

Ba ne ba
batla
They did
want
Ba ne ba
sa batle
They did
not want

Ga re
kake ra
batla
We will
not want
Re tlaa
batla
We will
want

Ga le
kake la
batla
You will
not want
Le tlaa
batla
You will
want

Ga ba
kake ba
batla
They will
not want
Ba tlaa
batla
They will
want

Present

Negative
past

Negative
future

Future

Ga ke
kake ka
batla
I will not
want
Ke tlaa
batla
I will want

Ga o
kake wa
batla
You will
not want
O tlaa
batla
You will
want

O ne a
batla
She/he
did want
O ne a
sa battle
She/he
did not
want
Ga a
kake a
batla
She/he
will not
O tlaa
batla
She/he
will want

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

When you add the negative ga in the present statement the last letter in the
verb changes to e (applicable in negative present tense).
When you change the subject marker present ke to subject marker past
the negative ga changes to sa i.e. negative past tense.
In the negative future, the stem ga + pronoun+ kake is used to signify the
negation.
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Lesson 11: Verb to be and to have

Verb to be (-nna)
I am a reading
ke a bala
You are (sing) reading
o a bala
You are (pl) reading
Lo a bala
She/ he is reading
o a bala
They are reading
Ba a bala
We are reading
Re a bala
the a is applicable in all pronouns to mean am,is are e.t.c.
Verb to have (-na le)
I have a book
ke na le buka
You have (sing) a book
O na le buka
You
have (pl) a book
Lo na le buka
She/ he has a book
O na le buka
They have a book
Ba na le buka
We have a book
Re na le buka
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Lesson 12: Questions and Commands

Eng?
Ke eng?
Leng?
O tsile leng?
Kae?
O tswa kae?
Jang?
O tsogile jang?
Mang?
O mang?
Efe?
O batla efe?
dife ?
O batla dife?
reng ?
go reng/ ka go reng?

What is it?
When did you come?
Where are you from?
How are you?
Who are you?
Which one?
Which ones?
Why?

Commanding expressions
bula lebati

Open the door

tswala lebati

Close the door

ma o bu
ma ka dinao

Stand and talk

Stand

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

10

tsna mo teng

Get inside

tlaa kwano

Come here

didimala/reetsa

Keep quiet/Listen

boela kwa morago

Go back

tlaa kwa pele

Come to the front

nna fatshe

Sit down
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Lesson 13: Expressing Needs

o batla eng?
ke batla krs
o tlhka eng?
ke tlhoka madi
o batla go ya kae?
ke batla go ya kwa lapeng
o batla go dira eng jaanong?
ga ke itse
o ikutlwa jang?
tlhogo yame e santse e opa
ke eng a tlhoka madi a mantsi?
o tlhka go reka dijo le diaparo
o rata kofi?
nnyaa, ga ke rate kofi
o ya kae kamoso; kamoso o ya kae?
ke batla go ya shopong phakela

What do you want?

I want a candle
What do you need?
I need money
Where do you want to go?
I want to go home
What do you want to do now?
I do not know
How do you feel?
My head still aches
Why does she need a lot of money?
She needs to buy food and
clothes
Do you like coffee?
No. I dont like coffee
Where are you going tomorrow?
I want to go to the shops in the
morning
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Lesson 14: Food Items

dij
mabl
phaletsh
sukiri
letswai
metsi
mashi
ditamati
ditapole
mae

Food
Sorghum
Mealie-meal
Sugar
Salt
Water
Milk
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Eggs

Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

11

borotho
kofi
tee
motg
anyense; kwii
namun
apole
mank
dinawa

Bread
Coffee
Tea
Soft porridge (made from sorghum / mealie-meal)
Onions
Orange
Apple
Peanuts
Beans
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Lesson 15: Family

ntate mogolo
nkuku
ntate
mm; mma
kgaitsadi (said only to pers. of opposite gender)
nkgonne (to either elder sister/ brother)
nnake (to either younger sister/ brother)
rangwane
malome
rakgadi
mmane; mmangwane
ntsalake
batsadi
ngwana; bana (pl)
Lelwapa ; lelapa

Grand father
Grand mother
Father
Mother
Sister ; Brother
Older sibling
Younger sibling
Uncle (paternal)
Uncle (maternal)
Aunt (paternal)
Aunt (maternal)
cousin
Parents
Child/Children
Family
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Lesson 16: Adverbs of Time

gompieno
maabane
kamoso
maloba a maabane
maloba
beke e
beke e e fitileng (lit. the week that passed)
beke e e tlang (lit. the week that is still to come)
ngwaga e
ngogola ; ngwaga e e fitileng
ngwaga e e tlang
kgwedi e
Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

Today
Yesterday
Tomorrow
The day before yesterday
Few days ago
This week
Last week
Next week
This year
Last year
Next year
This month
12

gone jaanong
kgantele

At the moment
Later on; earlier on (depending on

bosigo
phakla
motshegare
maitseboa

At night
In the morning
At noon (till sunset)
Around sunset

context)

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Lesson 17: Days Activities

Ke tsoga ka 6 phakela
Ke a tlhapa
Ke bo ke ja
Ke ya sekolong
Ke tlhtse kwa sekolong
Re ne re dira dilo tse dintsi
Gone go na le baeng ba mapodisi
Ke ne ke itumetse gompieno
Fa ke tswa sekolong, ke a itapolosa

I wake up at 6am
I bathe
And then I eat.
Then I go to school
I spent the day at school
we were doing a lot of things today
there were visitors from the Police
I was excited today
When I come back from school I rest.
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Lesson 18: Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places)

Places
English
Ntlo
House
Classroom
Tlelase
Toilet
Thoelt
kitchen
Kitsi
School
sekolo; sekole
Hospital
Sepatela
Clinic
kokelwana
shopo; lebnkle
Shop
Post office
Poso
noka; molap
River
Field
Tshimo
Krk
Church
Bank
Banka
Customary court
Kgotla
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

13

Lesson 19: Some Words with similar spelling but different in meaning
High tone
Low tone
Sorghum
mabl
Human breasts
mabl
To be tired
lapa
Home
lapa
To pull
gga
To smoke
gga
To feel
utlwa
To hear
utlwa
To taste
utlwa
Me
nna
To sit
nna
To bury
go fitlha
To hide something
go fitlha
How many are there?
di kae?
Where are they?
di kae?
Setswana unlike English, it is what is called a tonal language. In other words, every
syllable has a high or low tone associated with it. It is this that gives Setswana its
melodic sound.
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Lesson 20: Asking for Prices

kgetse ya dinamun ke bokae?
ke bokae?
ke P4.50
namun e le nngwe ke bokae?
e le nngwe ke 75 thebe
ke bokae gotlhe?; madi otlhe ke bokae?
madi otlhe ke P17.50

How much is a bag of oranges?

How much is it?
Its P4.50
How much is each orange?
They are 75 thebe each
Whats the total price?
The total price is P17. 50
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Lesson 21: Weather

Gompieno go serame; tsididi
Gompieno go mogte; molel
Go bothith
Go letsatsi
Go diphef; phef
Gompieno go botoka
Selem
mariga

Today it is cold
Today it is hot
It is warm
It is sunny
It is windy
Today it is better
Summer
Winter
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

14

Lesson 22: Health Expressions

ke a lwala; ga ke a tsoga
ke opiwa ke tlhogo
mala ame a botlhoko
matlho a gagwe a botlhoko
Franco o ya tliliniking
o ile ngakeng
o rurugile leoto
Seema o jle sengwe se se sa siamang
ba batla go ya tliliniking

I am not well
I have a head ache
My tummy hurts
His eyes are sore
Franco is going to the clinic
She/ he went to see the doctor
Her leg is swollen
Seema ate something bad
They want to go to the clinic
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Lesson 23: Safety Expressions

nthuse
ke kopa thuso
ke tlhasetswe
go thubilwe kwa lwapeng;ntlung
Ke utswetswe
ke thukuthilwe

Help me
I need help
I have been attacked, I am being attacked.
My house has been broken into.
There has been theft in my house.
I have been robbed
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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

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Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana

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