Money & Exchange

1. Madi a me a fedile

   I have run out of money

   Usage

   When you have run out of money

   Grammar Note

   madi is a class 6 noun meaning "money" (and also "blood"). fedile is the perfect of fela "come to an end" (dictionary). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

2. Ga ke na madi a a lekaneng

   I do not have enough money

   Usage

   When you cannot afford it

   Grammar Note

   The negative of na le "have" is ga ... na. lekana "be enough" is the same word as in Go lekane. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

3. Ke kopa madi a a setseng

   May I have my change?

   Usage

   Asking for your change

   Grammar Note

   No verified word for "change", so madi a a setseng "the money that remains" is used. setseng is the relative form of setse. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

4. Ke batla go fetola madi

   I want to change money

   Usage

   Asking to exchange money

   Grammar Note

   fetola means "change, turn into" (238 times in the New Testament). No verified word for "currency exchange", so it is built as "change money". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

5. ATM e kae?

   Where is the ATM?

   Usage

   Looking for a cash machine

   Grammar Note

   ATM is an English-derived word that occurs 29 times on tn.wikipedia; it is treated as class 9 (e kae). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

6. Banka e kae?

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   Looking for a bank

   Grammar Note

   banka is a loan (371 times on tn.wikipedia), a class 9 noun. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

7. Ke batla go ntsha madi kwa banka

   I want to withdraw money at the bank

   Usage

   Saying you want to withdraw money

   Grammar Note

   ntsha means "take out", so go ntsha madi is "take out money" = withdraw. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

8. Ke tla duela gotlhe

   I will pay for everything

   Usage

   Offering to pay everything

   Grammar Note

   duela means "pay" (dictionary); gotlhe means "all". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

9. Pula

   Pula (the currency of Botswana)

   Usage

   Naming the currency of Botswana

   Grammar Note

   pula means "rain", the Botswana currency and "blessing". 100 thebe make 1 pula; the national cheer is also "Pula!".

10. Thebe

    Thebe (one hundredth of a pula)

    Usage

    Naming the small unit of money

    Grammar Note

    thebe means "shield" and names the subunit: 100 thebe = 1 pula.

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