Ntlo e kgolo
A big house
Usage
Swap ntlo for another noun to describe its size
Grammar Note
An adjective takes a concord matching the noun class: class 9 ntlo takes e. kgolo has 209 occurrences in the Bible text.
Ntlo e nnye
A small house
Usage
To describe small size
Grammar Note
The dictionary glosses nnye as "small, few". For plural things use tse di nnye.
Tlhwatlhwa e e kwa godimo
The price is high (expensive)
Usage
To say it is expensive and invite a lower price
Grammar Note
"The price is up high". No dedicated adjective for "expensive" could be verified, so this is a composed expression. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Tlhwatlhwa e e kwa tlase
The price is low (cheap)
Usage
To say it is cheap
Grammar Note
"The price is down low". No dedicated adjective for "cheap" could be verified, so this is a composed expression. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Metsi a a bothitho
Hot water
Usage
To ask for or warn about something hot
Grammar Note
23 occurrences of metsi a a bothitho on tn.wikipedia. metsi is class 6, so the concord is a.
Metsi a a tsididi
Cold water
Usage
To ask for something cold
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists tsididi "cold"; 122 occurrences on tn.wikipedia.
Ntlo e ntsha
A new house
Usage
To describe something new
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists ntsha as an adjective; e ntsha is common on tn.wikipedia.
Monna yo mogolo
An old man
Usage
Talking about an elderly person
Grammar Note
mogolo means "elder, big". For a woman: Mosadi yo mogolo. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Metsi a a phepa
Clean water
Usage
To check that water is safe to drink
Grammar Note
199 occurrences of a a phepa on tn.wikipedia.
Dijo tse di monate
Delicious food
Usage
To praise a meal
Grammar Note
dijo is class 10, so the concord is tse di. monate means "tasty, pleasant".
Dijo tse di maswe
Bad food
Usage
Judging a meal; this is blunt, use with care
Grammar Note
maswe means "bad"; e e maswe occurs 90 times in the Bible text. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Go gaufi
It is near
Usage
To describe or ask about distance
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists gaufi "near"; over 2,000 occurrences on tn.wikipedia.
Go kgakala
It is far
Usage
To describe or ask about distance
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists kgakala "far". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Batho ba bantsi
Many people
Usage
To say there are many people
Grammar Note
bantsi has 140 occurrences in the Bible text; it is the class 2 form of ntsi.
Batho ba bannye
Few people
Usage
To say there are few people
Grammar Note
The class 2 form of nnye; it means both "small" and "few". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Go siame
Good
Usage
To say something is good or right
Grammar Note
66 occurrences in the Bible text.
Ntlo e ntle
A beautiful house
Usage
To say something is beautiful or nice
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists ntle as an adjective: "beautiful, nice".
More Setswana phrases
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