Animals

1. Ntša

   Dog

   Usage

   Dogs are common as guards; also the word you need after a bite.

   Grammar Note

   Dog. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dintša). The š is deliberate: it separates this word from ntsha "new / take out"; about 60 hits on tn.wikipedia.

2. Katse

   Cat

   Usage

   A domestic cat.

   Grammar Note

   Cat. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikatse), marked as a loanword.

3. Nonyane

   Bird

   Usage

   For pointing out birds on a safari or a birdwatching trip.

   Grammar Note

   Bird. Matumo gives the plural dinonyane. Note: in unmarked spelling it is written like a different word that Matumo lists as a euphemism, so use it in clearly bird contexts.

4. Tlhapi

   Fish

   Usage

   Used for the live fish and for fish as food.

   Grammar Note

   Fish. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditlhapi).

5. Pitse

   Horse

   Usage

   For asking about a horse-riding trip.

   Grammar Note

   Horse. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dipitse).

6. Kgomo

   Cow / cattle

   Usage

   Used for one cow or for cattle; cattle are central to rural life in Botswana.

   Grammar Note

   Cow or cattle. A class 9 noun with about 250 hits on tn.wikipedia; the plural is dikgomo.

7. Kolobe

   Pig

   Usage

   Show this word to check for pork if you avoid it for religious reasons.

   Grammar Note

   Pig. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikolobe); kolobe ya naga is a wild kind.

8. Koko

   Chicken

   Usage

   The live bird and the meat; chicken meat is nama ya koko.

   Grammar Note

   Chicken. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikoko) glossed "domestic fowl"; Matumo marks kgogo as archaic.

9. Podi

   Goat

   Usage

   Common rural livestock.

   Grammar Note

   Goat. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dipodi).

10. Nku

    Sheep

    Usage

    Farm sheep; it may also point to mutton on a menu.

    Grammar Note

    Sheep. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dinku).

11. Tlou

    Elephant

    Usage

    To tell a guide what you hope to see on a safari in the Okavango or Chobe.

    Grammar Note

    Elephant. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditlou); 670 hits on tn.wikipedia.

12. Thutlwa

    Giraffe

    Usage

    To say what you want to see on safari.

    Grammar Note

    Giraffe. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dithutlwa); it is also the name of a star near the Southern Cross.

13. Pitse ya naga

    Zebra

    Usage

    Literally "horse of the wild"; for asking about zebras on safari.

    Grammar Note

    Zebra. Matumo glosses pitse ya naga as zebra; tn.wikipedia uses it when describing the Botswana coat of arms.

14. Tau

    Lion

    Usage

    The classic safari animal.

    Grammar Note

    Lion. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditau).

15. Nkwe

    Leopard

    Usage

    A cat people look for on night game drives.

    Grammar Note

    Leopard. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dinkwe), glossed "a tiger; a leopard".

16. Kubu

    Hippopotamus

    Usage

    For river cruises and for warnings near the water.

    Grammar Note

    Hippopotamus. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikubu).

17. Tshukudu

    Rhinoceros

    Usage

    A safari animal; in practice you see rhinos only in some reserves.

    Grammar Note

    Rhinoceros. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditshukudu); the white rhino is tshukudu e tshweu.

18. Nare

    Buffalo

    Usage

    Herds are often met on safari.

    Grammar Note

    Buffalo. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dinare).

19. Kgabo

    Monkey

    Usage

    For monkeys seen at a camp or by the road.

    Grammar Note

    Monkey. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikgabo).

20. Tshwene

    Baboon

    Usage

    Baboons may snatch food, so take care.

    Grammar Note

    Baboon. The English side of Matumo gives it for "baboon"; 31 hits on tn.wikipedia.

21. Noga

    Snake

    Usage

    For warning others when you see a snake.

    Grammar Note

    Snake. The English side of Matumo gives it for "snake"; the same spelling is also a different verb, "withhold". It occurs in idioms on tn.wikipedia.

22. Kwena

    Crocodile

    Usage

    For warnings near the river.

    Grammar Note

    Crocodile. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikwena); it is also a clan name.

23. Khudu

    Tortoise

    Usage

    Matumo glosses it as tortoise only.

    Grammar Note

    Tortoise. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dikhudu), also found in proverbs.

24. Segwagwa

    Frog

    Usage

    The source of the calls heard by ponds and on rainy nights.

    Grammar Note

    Frog. A Matumo headword (class 7, plural digwagwa).

25. Montsana

    Mosquito

    Usage

    For mosquito bites and when asking about repellent.

    Grammar Note

    Mosquito. A Matumo headword (class 3, plural mentsana).

26. Tsusu

    Cockroach

    Usage

    For a cockroach found in a room.

    Grammar Note

    Cockroach. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditsusu); no tn.wikipedia examples were found.

27. Tshoswane

    Ant

    Usage

    The general word for ants.

    Grammar Note

    Ant. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural ditshoswane) glossed as the generic term for ants.

28. Ntsi

    Fly

    Usage

    For flies.

    Grammar Note

    Fly. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural dintsi).

29. Serurubele

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Covers both butterflies and moths.

    Grammar Note

    Butterfly. A Matumo headword (class 7, plural dirurubele) glossed "a butterfly; a moth of any species".

30. Segokgo

    Spider

    Usage

    For spiders.

    Grammar Note

    Spider. A Matumo headword (class 7, plural digokgo).

31. Phepheng

    Scorpion

    Usage

    For warning about a scorpion.

    Grammar Note

    Scorpion. A Matumo headword (class 9, plural diphepheng) glossed "a big yellow or black scorpion".

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