Adjectives

17 phrases · Setswana with romanization, English and audio

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Metsi a a tsididi

    Cold water

    Usage

    To ask for something cold

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists tsididi "cold"; 122 occurrences on tn.wikipedia.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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".

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. Go siame

    Good

    Usage

    To say something is good or right

    Grammar Note

    66 occurrences in the Bible text.

  17. 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

Browse all TravelPhrases languages