Weather & Climate

1. Go bothitho gompieno

   It is hot today

   Usage

   A small-talk remark on a hot day

   Grammar Note

   tn.wikipedia has mo letsatsing go bothitho "it is hot in the sun". Weather statements use the impersonal subject go. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

2. Go tsididi gompieno

   It is cold today

   Usage

   A small-talk remark on a cold day

   Grammar Note

   tn.wikipedia has Go tsididi fela thata "it is very cold". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

3. Pula e a na

   It is raining

   Usage

   When it is raining

   Grammar Note

   na means "to rain" (dictionary); tn.wikipedia has pula e na ka ... . pula is class 9 and also means the currency and "blessing". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

4. Pula e tla na

   It is going to rain

   Usage

   When the sky looks like rain

   Grammar Note

   tla is the future marker. No dedicated "looks like" construction was verified, so this is a plain future. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

5. Sefefo se atamela

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning of bad weather

   Grammar Note

   tn.wikipedia has sefefo se se nang le maatla a diphefo ("a storm with strong winds"). atamela means "approach" (25 times in the New Testament). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

6. Go na le maru

   It is cloudy

   Usage

   Describing a cloudy sky

   Grammar Note

   go na le + noun means "there is ...". maru is the plural of the dictionary headword jeru "cloud". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

7. Go na le diphefo

   It is windy

   Usage

   When it is windy

   Grammar Note

   tn.wikipedia has go na le diphefo. It uses diphefo, the plural of phefo "wind". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

8. Nako ya dipula e simologa leng?

   When does the rainy season start?

   Usage

   When planning a trip

   Grammar Note

   No dedicated word for "rainy season" was verified, so nako ya dipula "time of rains" is used. dipula is the plural of pula (tn.wikipedia has dipula tse di tlwaelesegileng). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

9. Phefo

   Wind

   Usage

   Naming the wind

   Grammar Note

   A dictionary headword (29 times in the New Testament). The plural is diphefo.

10. Letsatsi

    Sun / day

    Usage

    Naming the sun or a day

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary headword (313 times in the New Testament). Class 5; the plural malatsi means "days".

11. Maru

    Clouds

    Usage

    Naming clouds

    Grammar Note

    maru is the plural of jeru "cloud", in the dictionary and the New Testament (18 times).

12. Mariga

    Winter / the cold season

    Usage

    Naming the cold season

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary headword ("winter, cold weather"); tn.wikipedia has ka mariga "in winter". In Botswana winter is the dry season with cold mornings and nights.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages