Markets & Souvenirs

1. Tlhwatlhwa ya seno ke bokae?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price at a market stall

   Grammar Note

   bokae "how much/many" goes at the end. tlhwatlhwa is "price". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

2. A o ka fokotsa tlhwatlhwa?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Asking a seller to lower the price

   Grammar Note

   fokotsa "reduce" is very common on tn.wikipedia. Starting with A makes a yes/no question. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

3. A seno se dirilwe ka diatla?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Asking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   dirilwe is the passive of dira "make". diatla is the plural of seatla "hand" (in the dictionary). The "locally made" half of the idea is left out because no verified word was found. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

4. Mmaraka o bulwa ka nako mang?

   What time does the market open?

   Usage

   Asking when the market opens

   Grammar Note

   mmaraka is a loanword from "market" (in the dictionary). bulwa is the passive of bula "open". ka nako mang "at what time" occurs on tn.wikipedia. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

5. Ke leba fela, ke a leboga

   I am just looking, thank you

   Usage

   Politely declining a seller's offer while browsing

   Grammar Note

   fela means "only". leba is "look at, face". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

6. A o na le bogolo jo bongwe?

   Do you have a different size?

   Usage

   Asking for another size

   Grammar Note

   bogolo means "size" (tn.wikipedia has bogolo jwa mmaraka "the size of the market"). jo is the agreement for the bo- class. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

7. Mmaraka

   Market

   Usage

   The word for a market

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from "market", listed in the dictionary.

8. Kgetsi

   Bag

   Usage

   Asking for or naming a bag

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists kgetsi "sack, bag". The plural is dikgetsi.

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