setswana language
GREETINGS AND COURTESIES Hello (general greeting) – Dumela How are you ( singular) – o tsogile jang? How are you ( plural) – le tsogile jang? Pleased to meet you – ke itumelela go goitse Good morning (female) – dumela mma Good morning ( male) – dumela rra Good evening – muitsibowa a a monate Cheers – pholo entle Good bye – tsamaya sentle | Brief history of Setswana language. The Tswana migrated into central southern Africa in the 14 th century. Tswana is also the language spoken by the Batswana people. This is a group of tribes of Bantu eeorigin, making up a significant part of the population of the country of Botswana. Tswana s a bantu language of niger-congo origin and alternately called chuana,coana,cuana,Setswana, sechuwana,beetjuans. It is one of the national languages of Botswana whre it is sp9oken by over 1,000 000. It is also spoken in the country of South Africa and by lesser numbers in Namibia and Zimbabwe. The tswana today comprise several groupings, the most important of which numerically speaking are the hurutshe,kgatla,kwena,rolong etc. they numbered about four million at the turn of the 21 st century. | ASKING FOR HELP Where's the bathroom – ntlwana ya boitiketso e kae? Please – tswee- tswee Excuse me – intshwarele Please say that again – ke kopa o boeletse gape I don't understand – ga ke tlhaloganye Please write it down – ke kopa o e kwale fa fase |
SEASONS Summer-selemo Winter-mariga Autumn-letlhafula Spring-dikgakoloko | ||
MONTHS January-ferikgong February-tlhakole March-mopitlwe April-moranang May-motsheganong June -seetebosigo July-phukwi August-phatwe September-lwetse October-phalane November -ngwanatsele December-sedimothole | ||
NUMBERS One-nngwe Two-pedi Three-tharo Four-nne Five-tlhano Six-thataro Seven-supa Eight-robedi Nine -robongwe Ten -lesome | ||
DAYS OF TH WEEK Monday - mosupulogo Tuesday - labobedi Wednesday - laboraro Thursday - labone Friday - labothano Saturday - matlhatso Sunday-tshipi | ||
EMERGENCY Go away – tsamaya kwa! Fire – molelo! Stop – ema! Help – nthuse! Call the police – bitsa maphodisi | ||
