Directions

1. Ke kopa o mpontshe tsela

   Please show me the way

   Usage

   Asking for directions

   Grammar Note

   The subjunctive of bontsha "show" is bontshe; with the object n- "me" it becomes mpontshe. tsela "road, way" is class 9. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

2. Tswelela pele

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Telling someone to continue straight

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary has tswelela pele "go forward" (90 times in the New Testament). To several people: Tswelelang pele.

3. Sokologela kwa letsogong la molema

   Turn left

   Usage

   Telling someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives molema as "left" (seatla sa molema "left hand") and tn.wikipedia has letsogo la molema. No fixed phrase for "turn left" was found, so letsogo "hand" is used to build it. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

4. Sokologela kwa letsogong la moja

   Turn right

   Usage

   Telling someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   tn.wikipedia uses letsogo la moja "right arm" as the pair of letsogo la molema. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

5. A go kgakala?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Asking if it is far

   Grammar Note

   A opens a yes/no question. go kgakala is "it is far"; to ask the distance use Go kgakala go le kae? Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

6. Ke kopa mmapa

   Please give me a map

   Usage

   Asking for a map

   Grammar Note

   mmapa is a dictionary headword ("map"). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

7. Ema!

   Stop!

   Usage

   Telling someone to stop

   Grammar Note

   ema means "stand, stop" (84 times in the New Testament). To several people: Emang.

8. Boela morago

   Go back

   Usage

   Telling someone to go back

   Grammar Note

   boela means "return" (148 times in the New Testament) and morago "behind, back".

9. Bokone

   North

   Usage

   Naming a compass direction

   Grammar Note

   A dictionary headword. tn.wikipedia uses it often, e.g. bokone-botlhaba jwa ... "north-east of ...".

10. Borwa

    South

    Usage

    Naming a compass direction

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary headword; the same word as in Aforika Borwa "South Africa".

11. Botlhaba

    East

    Usage

    Naming a compass direction

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists botlhabatsatsi (sunrise side); tn.wikipedia uses plain botlhaba 2,564 times.

12. Bophirima

    West

    Usage

    Naming a compass direction

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists bophirima-tsatsi (sunset side); tn.wikipedia uses plain bophirima 3,215 times.

13. Kwa godimo

    Up / above

    Usage

    Saying up or above

    Grammar Note

    godimo is a class 17 locative noun "above"; the opposite is kwa tlase.

14. Kwa tlase

    Down / below

    Usage

    Saying down or below

    Grammar Note

    tlase is a dictionary headword ("below, underneath"); the opposite is kwa godimo.

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