Metsi
Water
Usage
To ask for drinking water: Ke kopa metsi
Grammar Note
Class 6 (ma-) noun; the dictionary also lists a poetic sense "blood".
Dijo
Food
Usage
To ask for or talk about food
Grammar Note
dijo is the plural of sejo and is used collectively for "food".
Madi
Money
Usage
For payments and money-changing
Grammar Note
madi means both "money" and "blood" (same form; context decides).
Ntlwana ya boithomelo
Toilet
Usage
To look for a toilet
Grammar Note
A compound noun listed in the dictionary; ntlwana is the diminutive of ntlo "house". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Molemo
Medicine
Usage
To ask for medicine
Grammar Note
molemo means both "medicine" and "goodness". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Dithoto
Luggage
Usage
To talk about your luggage
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists it as the plural of thoto, "goods, property"; it also covers a traveller's baggage. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Selotlele
Key
Usage
For a room key
Grammar Note
A headword in the dictionary (Matumo) glossed "key". Class 7 noun (plural dilotlele). Native review recommended.
Setlankana
Ticket
Usage
To ask for a transport or entry ticket
Grammar Note
Listed in the dictionary and 171 occurrences on tn.wikipedia. The loan tekete also occurs.
Pasa
Passport
Usage
When showing your passport
Grammar Note
Listed in the dictionary as pasa [loan]. The initial is plain p, not ph.
Mogala wa letheka
Mobile phone
Usage
Talking about a mobile phone
Grammar Note
Used for "mobile phone" on several tn.wikipedia pages; mogala originally means "cord, wire". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Sepatela
Hospital
Usage
To find a hospital
Grammar Note
A loan listed in the dictionary; the dictionary also gives a longer descriptive form.
Mapodise
Police
Usage
When calling the police
Grammar Note
mapodise is a plural form used collectively for "police".
Lebenkele
Shop
Usage
To find a shop
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists benkele [loan]; lebenkele has 113 occurrences on tn.wikipedia.
Kamore
Room
Usage
For a hotel room
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists kamore (loan) and phapose.
Tsela
Road
Usage
When asking the way
Grammar Note
177 occurrences in the Bible text. A town street is mmila.
Lelapa
Family
Usage
Talking about family
Grammar Note
865 occurrences on tn.wikipedia; the dictionary also glosses it as a home enclosure.
Leina
Name
Usage
Giving your name: Leina la me ke ...
Grammar Note
Class 5 (le-) noun; the plural is maina.
Tlhogo
Head
Usage
To describe a headache etc.
Grammar Note
32 occurrences in the Bible text, 635 on tn.wikipedia.
Matlho
Eyes
Usage
To describe eye problems
Grammar Note
The plural of leitlho "eye".
Tsebe
Ear
Usage
To describe an earache
Grammar Note
The dictionary gives ditsebe as the plural.
Nko
Nose
Usage
To describe nose problems
Grammar Note
107 occurrences on tn.wikipedia. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Molomo
Mouth
Usage
To describe a sore mouth
Grammar Note
The plural is melomo.
Leino
Tooth
Usage
To describe a toothache
Grammar Note
The plural is meno; the dictionary lists leino (plural meno).
Mometso
Throat
Usage
To describe a sore throat
Grammar Note
The dictionary's English index gives throat = mometso.
Molala
Neck
Usage
To describe a stiff neck
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists molala (cervical vertebra); its English index gives neck = molala. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Legetla
Shoulder
Usage
To describe a sore shoulder
Grammar Note
The dictionary spells it legetla or lehetla.
Seatla
Hand
Usage
To describe a hand injury
Grammar Note
31 occurrences in the Bible text; the plural is diatla.
Letsogo
Arm
Usage
To describe a sore arm
Grammar Note
22 occurrences in the Bible text; the plural is matsogo.
Monwana
Finger
Usage
To describe a finger injury
Grammar Note
The plural is menwana.
Sehuba
Chest
Usage
To describe chest pain
Grammar Note
The English index gives chest = sehuba; the dictionary also lists a sense "sputum". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Mpa
Stomach / belly
Usage
To describe stomach pain
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists mpa "belly, stomach"; the plural is dimpa.
Mokwatla
Back
Usage
To describe back pain
Grammar Note
The English index gives back = mokwatla. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Lengole
Knee
Usage
To describe a sore knee
Grammar Note
The English index gives knee = lengole; 23 occurrences on tn.wikipedia. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Leoto
Leg / foot
Usage
To describe a leg or foot injury
Grammar Note
The dictionary treats leoto as the same as lekoto "leg"; the plural is maoto.
Letlalo
Skin
Usage
To describe a skin problem
Grammar Note
282 occurrences on tn.wikipedia; the dictionary's English index gives skin = letlalo. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Mmele
Body
Usage
To describe whole-body symptoms
Grammar Note
101 occurrences in the Bible text; the plural is mebele.
Lesapo
Bone
Usage
To describe a broken bone etc.
Grammar Note
The English index gives bone = lesapo. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.
Madi
Blood
Usage
To report bleeding; same form as "money"
Grammar Note
The dictionary gives blood = madi. It is identical to madi "money"; context decides.
Hotele
Hotel
Usage
To find a hotel
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists hotele [loan]; 611 occurrences on tn.wikipedia.
More Setswana phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
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