Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
Useful foreign phrases |
Individual languages |
Colours |
Numbers |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs
A collection of useful phrases in Sesotho / Southern Sotho. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | seSotho (Sesotho) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Kena ka kgotso! (sg) Kenang ka kgotso! (pl) |
| Hello | Lumela / Dumela (sg) Dumelang (pl) Helele |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you? |
O kae? (Where are you?) O phela joang? (How are you living?) |
| Ke teng, wena o kae ? (I'm here, where are you?) Ke phela hantle, wena o phela jwang? (I'm living fine, how are you living?) |
|
| Long time no see | |
| What's your name? My name is ... |
Lebitso la hao ke mang? |
| Lebitso laka ke ... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... |
O tswa kae? |
| Ke tswa ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | |
| Good morning | Mmoro (sg) Mmorong (pl) |
| Good afternoon | |
| Good evening/Good night | Fonane (sg) Fonaneng (pl) |
| Goodbye | Sala hantle (to person staying) Tsamaya hantle (to person leaving) |
| Good luck | Ke u lakaletsa lehlohonolo |
| Cheers/Good health! | |
| Have a nice day | |
| Bon appetit | |
| Bon voyage | O tsamaye hantle / Tsela tsweu (white road) |
| I don't understand | Ha ke utlwisise |
| Please speak more slowly | |
| Please say that again | |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak Sesotho? Yes |
O a bua Sesotho? Na o a bua Sesotho? |
| Ee | |
| Do you speak English? | O a bua Senyesemane? Na o a bua Senyesemane? |
| How do you say ... in Sesotho? | |
| Excuse me | Ntshwarele / Ntsoarele |
| How much is this? | Ke bokae? |
| Sorry | Ntshwarele |
| Thank you Response |
Ke a leboha / Ke a leboha haholo |
| O amohetswe | |
| Where's the toilet? | Ntloana e kae? Batekamore e kae? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything |
|
| Would you like to dance with me? |
|
| I love you | Ke a o rata |
| Get well soon | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! Fire! Stop! |
Thusa! |
| Call the police! | |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year |
Keresemese e monate le mahlohonolo a selemo se setjha |
| Happy Easter | |
| Happy Birthday | Letsatsi le monate la tswalo |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.
Information about the Sesotho language
Other collections of Sesotho phrases
http://www.sesotho.web.za/
http://www.cyberserv.co.za/users/~jako/lang/seswrd.htm
http://www.fs.gov.za/Departments/SAC/Library/depart/learning_basic_sesotho.htm