Basic Tswana Language Course
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The document serves as an introduction to the Setswana language, primarily aimed at new learners with little to no prior exposure. It includes lessons on pronunciation, greetings, vocabulary, and useful expressions, structured with audio guides for better understanding. Emphasizing the importance of Setswana for integration in Botswana, the document outlines various language concepts through a comprehensive lesson plan.
Basic Tswana Language Course
- 1. Peace Corps/ Botswana An Introduction to the Setswana Language Setswana is one of the Bantu language groups, mostly spoken in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia (Southern Africa). The following lessons have been designed to suit any new learner in Setswana who has had little or no exposure to Setswana language. Remember, Setswana will be a useful tool in your work, and aid you in integrating well in your community making accessible to you a substantial segment of the population with little or no English skills. 0 amogetswe mo puong ya Setswana!! Pula! Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 1
- 2. Table of Contents Lesson Topic Audio Guide Page 1 A Guide to Pronunciation Bw_Setswana_Lesson_1.mp3 3 2 Greetings (Formal & Informal)- dialogue Bw_Setswana_Lesson_2.mp3 4 3 Introducing Self / Someone Bw_Setswana_Lesson_3.mp3 4 4 Leave- Taking Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_4.mp3 5 5 Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Bw_Setswana_Lesson_5.mp3 5,6,7 6 Some Useful Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_6.mp3 7,8 7 Vocabulary 2 (Nouns) Bw_Setswana_Lesson_7.mp3 8,9 8 Pronouns Bw_Setswana_Lesson_8.mp3 9 9 Connecting words Bw_Setswana_Lesson_9.mp3 9 10 Negation Bw_Setswana_Lesson_10.mp3 9,10 11 Verbs “to be” and “to have” Bw_Setswana_Lesson_11.mp3 10 12 Bw_Setswana_Lesson_12.mp3 10,11 13 Expressing Needs Bw_Setswana_Lesson_13.mp3 11 14 Food Items Bw_Setswana_Lesson_14.mp3 12 15 Family Bw_Setswana_Lesson_15.mp3 12 16 Adverbs of Time Bw_Setswana_Lesson_16.mp3 13 17 Days Activities Bw_Setswana_Lesson_17.mp3 13 18 Bw_Setswana_Lesson_18.mp3 13,14 19 Some of words with similar spelling but differing in meaning Bw_Setswana_Lesson_19.mp3 14 20 Asking for Prices Bw_Setswana_Lesson_20.mp3 14 21 Weather Bw_Setswana_Lesson_21.mp3 15 22 Health Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_22.mp3 15 23 Safety Expressions Bw_Setswana_Lesson_23.mp3 15 Question Words and Commands Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places) Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 2
- 3. Lesson 1: A Guide to Pronunciation Alphabet Like Example a a in father batho, people b b in baby baba, enemies ch ch in church chenchi, change d Debt ditau, lions ey in “they” or “a” in came pele, first e (represents two sounds) e in begin bina, dance ê “e” in there êma, stand f far fêla, only g The sound made when you hawk a lougie gana, refuse h house huma, be rich i ee in deep bina, dance j j in jug jwala, sow k k in kind kima, thick l l in line lela, cry/ weep m m in me mena, fold n n in name nama, meat o in boat Motse, village o (represents two sounds) A sound somewhat like u in put Pelo, heart ô ou in ought bôna, see p p in pain pitse, horse ph p (with aspiration) as in peach phutha, fold q non existent r You just roll the “r” rêra, preach s s in sit simolola, start t t in steak setoto, carcass th t (with aspiration) as in take thusa, help tl as in cluck tla, come tlh (with aspiration) as in sclerosis tlhapa, wash/ bathe tsh (with aspiration) like ts in mats tshaba, run away u u in rude pula, rain v nonexistent w w in water wêna, you x an palatal click that is laterally released as in nxe, expressing sympathy Nxau-xau, name of place in Botswana y y in yet tsamaya, go z nonexistent Adapted from: Setswana- English- Setswana Dictionary( Z.I. Matumo, 1993) Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 3
- 4. Lesson 2: Greetings (Formal)- Dialogue dumêla rra Good morning/ day/ evening sir dumêla mma Good morning/ day/ evening madam o tsogile jang? How are you? ke tsogile sentle, wêna o tsogile jang? (tsogile- Lit. means how have you risen?) I am fine and how are you? Ke tsogile sentle I am well Greeting a group Dumêlang borra le bomma Good day ladies and gentlemen Dumela mma Good day madam Le tsogile jang? How are you (pl)? Re tsogile sentle, wêna o tsogile jang? We are well and how are you? Ke tsogile sentle I am well Re a leboga Thank you (Informal)- Dialogue Dumêla rra Good day sir Dumêla mma Good day madam Le kae? How are you? re teng a lona le teng? I am fine and how are you? Re teng I am fine “Dumêla” is not specific to any time of the day. Men are expected to take off their hats/ caps when greeting elders. Back to Top Lesson 3: Introducing Self/ Someone leina lame ke Itumeleng My name is Itumeleng sefane same ke Moeng My Last name is Moeng leina la gago ke mang? What is your name? ke tswa kwa Botswana I am from Botswana o tswa kae? Where are you from? leina la gagwe ke Thabo His name is Thabo sefane sa gagwe ke Thuto His last name is Thuto a o tswa kwa Amerika? Are you from America? ke moithaopi I am a volunteer Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 4
- 5. Lesson 4: Leave- Taking Expression go siame Good-bye ke tla go bona See you tlhôla sentle Have a good day robala sentle / borôkô Good night ke tla go bôna kamoso See you tomorrow ke tla go bôna kgantele See you later Back to Top Lesson 5: Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Go- (word after slash represents the verb in its past tense form) To- kgôna / kgônnê Able, be gakolola / gakolotsê Advise;remind tshaba / tshabile Afraid of, be araba / arabile Answer gôrôga / gôrôgile Arrive botsa / boditse Ask kopa / kopile Ask for (polite way) tsamaya / tsamaile Away, go ; travel nna, ntse Be, become simolola / simolotse Begin dumêla / dumetse Believe, agree bedisa / bedisitse Boil adima / adimile Borrow tlisa / tlisitse) Bring tshuba / tshubile Burn fitlha / fitlhile Bury rêka / rêkile Buy bitsa / biditse Call another person kuka / kukile (lit. lift, when in its past form it means to help sb. carry) Carry palama / palame Climb tswala / tswetse Close tla / tlile, Come tsêna/ tsenye Come in tswa / dule, Come out (emerge) apaya / apeile Cook lela / ledile Cry bina / binnê Dance diêga / diêgile Delay senya / sentse Destroy Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 5
- 6. dira / dirile Do nwa /nolê Drink phakêla / phaketse Early, to be ja / jele Eat tsêna / tsene Enter tlhalosa / tlhalositse Explain utlwa / utlwile Feel; Hear; Taste fetsa / feditse Finish fitlhêla / fitlhetse Find baakanya / baakantsê Fix, prepare itshwarêla / itshwarêtse Forgive bôna / bonye To see tsoga / tsogile Get up/ wake up fa / file Give ya / ile Go itumêla / itumêtse Happy, be thusa / thusitse Help tshwara / tshwere Hold bolaya / bolaile Injure boloka / bolokile Keep siama / siame Kind, be itse / itsile Know tshêga / tshegile Laugh ithuta / ithutile Learn ; study reetsa / reeditse Listen rata / ratile Like/ love nna /ntse Live tlhôka / tlhôkile Need bula / butsê Open feta / fetile Pass duêla/ duetse Pay sêla / setse Pick up baya / beile Place; put gana / gannê Refuse boa / boile Return raya / reile Say rekisa / rekisitse Sell lwala / lwetse Sick, to be nna-fatshe / ntse-fatshe Sit down robala / robetse Sleep gôga / gogile Smoke ; pull bua / buile Speak lala / letse Spend the night sala / setse Stay behind tsaya / tsere Take Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 6
- 7. ruta / rutile Teach bolêla / boletse Tell lapa / lapile Tired, become leka / lekile Try tlhaloganya / tlhalogantse Understand dirisa / dirisitse Use êta / êtela Visit batla / batlile Want Tlhatswa ; tlhatswitse Wash (clothes) Tlhapa ; tlhapile bathe leba / lebile Watch bêrêka / berekile Work kwala / kwadile Write Back to Top Lesson 6: Some Useful Expressions ke lapile I am tired ke a otsêla I am sleepy ke tshwerwe ke tlala I am hungry ga ke a tshwarwa ke tlala I am not hungry o ya kae? Where are you going? ke ya lapeng I am going home o tla leng? When are you coming? o nna kae? Where is your home? Andrew o kae? Where is Andrew? Edward o ya posong Edward is going to the post office ga ke ye shopong I don’t go to the shop ke ithuta Setswana I am learning Setswana ; I study ga ke rate kofi I don’t take coffee ke batla go ikhutsa I need some rest ke a ja I eat ; I am eating ga a je He doesn’t eat ga a ithute She doesn’t study ke tlhapa phakela I bathe in the morning ke tsoga makuku I wake up very early go nna bosigo It’s becoming late (night fall) nako e tsamaile; …e tshaile (inf.) It’s time up Ke tshwere ke lenyora I am thirsty ga ke tlhaloganye I don’t understand Bua ka bonya Speak slowly gape Again intshwarele Excuse me Bua ka bonako Speak quickly A o na le mathata? Do you have a problem (s)? Ee ke na le mathata Yes, I have a problem Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 7
- 8. Nnyaa, ga ke na mathata No, I don’t have a problem A o na le dipotso? Do you have any questions? reetsa Listen botsa Ask dumêdisa Greet Tswêê-tswêê Please Ke itumetse Thank you Back to Top Lesson 7: Vocabulary 2 (Nouns) Kitchen tafole Table setilô Chair sejana Plate kopi Cup leswana Spoon thipa Knife lefeêlô Broom Bedroom bolao Bed kobô Blanket diaparô Clothes borokgwe Pants ditlhako Shoes General items pensele Pencil buka Book bêkê Bag pênê Pen fensetere Window lebati Door Back to Top Lesson 8: Pronouns nna I wêna You ênê She/ he rona We/ us lona You (pl) bônê Them Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 8
- 9. Lesson 9: Connecting words le and mme But Kgotsa/kana Or ke Is jaaka As/like Ka jalo therefore Ka gore because Back to Top Lesson 10: Negation I You (sing) She/ he We You (pl) They Present Ke a batla O a batla O a batla Re a batla Le a batla Ba a batla I want You want She/he wants We want You want They want Negative present Ga ke batle Ga o batle Ga a batle Ga re batle Ga le batle Ga ba batle I do not want You do not want She/he not want We do not want You do not want They do not want Past Ke ne ke batla O ne o batla O ne a batla Re ne re batla Le ne le batla Ba ne ba batla I did want You did want She/he did want We did want You did want They did want Negative past Ke ne ke sa batle O ne o sa battle O ne a sa battle Re ne re sa batle Le ne le sa batle Ba ne ba sa batle I did not want You did not want She/he did not want We did not want You did not want They did not want Negative future Ga ke kake ka batla Ga o kake wa batla Ga a kake a batla Ga re kake ra batla Ga le kake la batla Ga ba kake ba batla I will not want You will not want She/he will not We will not want You will not want They will not want Future Ke tlaa batla O tlaa batla O tlaa batla Re tlaa batla Le tlaa batla Ba tlaa batla I will want You will want She/he will want We will want You will want They will want Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 9
- 10. 9 When you add the negative ga in the present statement the last letter in the verb changes to e (applicable in negative present tense). 9 When you change the subject marker present “ke” to subject marker past the negative ga changes to sa i.e. negative past tense. 9 In the negative future, the stem ga + pronoun+ kake is used to signify the negation. Back to Top Lesson 11: Verb “to be” and “to have” Verb to be (-nna) ke a bala I am a reading o a bala You are (sing) reading Lo a bala You are (pl) reading o a bala She/ he is reading Ba a bala They are reading Re a bala We are reading the ‘a’ is applicable in all pronouns to mean am,is are e.t.c. Verb to have (-na le) ke na le buka I have a book O na le buka You have (sing) a book Lo na le buka You have (pl) a book O na le buka She/ he has a book Ba na le buka They have a book Re na le buka We have a book Back to Top Lesson 12: Questions and Commands Eng? Ke eng? What is it? Leng? O tsile leng? When did you come? Kae? O tswa kae? Where are you from? Jang? O tsogile jang? How are you? Mang? O mang? Who are you? Efe? O batla efe? Which one? dife ? O batla dife? Which ones? reng ? go reng/ ka go reng? Why? Commanding expressions bula lebati Open the door tswala lebati Close the door êma o buê Stand and talk êma ka dinao Stand Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 10
- 11. tsêna mo teng Get inside tlaa kwano Come here didimala/reetsa Keep quiet/Listen boela kwa morago Go back tlaa kwa pele Come to the front nna fatshe Sit down Back to Top Lesson 13: Expressing Needs o batla eng? What do you want? ke batla kêrêsê I want a candle o tlhôka eng? What do you need? ke tlhoka madi I need money o batla go ya kae? Where do you want to go? ke batla go ya kwa lapeng I want to go home o batla go dira eng jaanong? What do you want to do now? ga ke itse I do not know o ikutlwa jang? How do you feel? tlhogo yame e santse e opa My head still aches ke eng a tlhoka madi a mantsi? Why does she need a lot of money? o tlhôka go reka dijo le diaparo She needs to buy food and clothes o rata kofi? Do you like coffee? nnyaa, ga ke rate kofi No. I don’t like coffee o ya kae kamoso; kamoso o ya kae? Where are you going tomorrow? ke batla go ya shopong phakela I want to go to the shops in the morning Back to Top Lesson 14: Food Items dijô Food mabêlê Sorghum phaletshê Mealie-meal sukiri Sugar letswai Salt metsi Water mashi Milk ditamati Tomatoes ditapole Potatoes mae Eggs Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 11
- 12. borotho Bread kofi Coffee tee Tea motôgô Soft porridge (made from sorghum / mealie-meal) anyense; kwii Onions namunê Orange apole Apple manôkô Peanuts dinawa Beans Back to Top Lesson 15: Family ntate mogolo Grand father nkuku Grand mother ntate Father mmê; mma Mother kgaitsadi (said only to pers. of opposite gender) Sister ; Brother nkgonne (to either elder sister/ brother) Older sibling nnake (to either younger sister/ brother) Younger sibling rangwane Uncle (paternal) malome Uncle (maternal) rakgadi Aunt (paternal) mmane; mmangwane Aunt (maternal) ntsalake cousin batsadi Parents ngwana; bana (pl) Child/Children Lelwapa ; lelapa Family Back to Top Lesson 16: Adverbs of Time gompieno Today maabane Yesterday kamoso Tomorrow maloba a maabane The day before yesterday maloba Few days ago beke e This week beke e e fitileng (lit. the week that passed) Last week beke e e tlang (lit. the week that is still to come) Next week ngwaga e This year ngogola ; ngwaga e e fitileng Last year ngwaga e e tlang Next year kgwedi e This month Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 12
- 13. gone jaanong At the moment kgantele Later on; earlier on (depending on context) bosigo At night phakêla In the morning motshegare At noon (till sunset) maitseboa Around sunset Back to Top Lesson 17: Days Activities Ke tsoga ka 6 phakela I wake up at 6am Ke a tlhapa I bathe Ke bo ke ja And then I eat. Ke ya sekolong Then I go to school Ke tlhôtse kwa sekolong I spent the day at school Re ne re dira dilo tse dintsi we were doing a lot of things today Gone go na le baeng ba mapodisi there were visitors from the Police Ke ne ke itumetse gompieno I was excited today Fa ke tswa sekolong, ke a itapolosa When I come back from school I rest. Back to Top Lesson 18: Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places) Places English Ntlo House Tlelase Classroom Thoelêtê Toilet Kitsi kitchen sekolo; sekole School Sepatela Hospital kokelwana Clinic shopo; lebênkêle Shop Poso Post office noka; molapô River Tshimo Field Kêrêkê Church Banka Bank Kgotla Customary court Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 13
- 14. Lesson 19: Some Words with similar spelling but different in meaning High tone Low tone mabêlê mabêlê 9 9 Sorghum Human breasts lapa lapa 9 9 To be tired Home gôga gôga 9 9 To pull To smoke utlwa utlwa utlwa 9 9 9 To feel To hear To taste nna nna 9 9 Me To sit go fitlha go fitlha 9 9 To bury To hide something di kae? di kae? 9 9 How many are there? Where are they? Setswana unlike English, it is what is called a tonal language. In other words, every syllable has a high or low tone associated with it. It is this that gives Setswana its melodic sound. Back to Top Lesson 20: Asking for Prices kgetse ya dinamunê ke bokae? How much is a bag of oranges? ke bokae? How much is it? ke P4.50 It’s P4.50 namunê e le nngwe ke bokae? How much is each orange? e le nngwe ke 75 thebe They are 75 thebe each ke bokae gotlhe?; madi otlhe ke bokae? What’s the total price? madi otlhe ke P17.50 The total price is P17. 50 Back to Top Lesson 21: Weather Gompieno go serame; tsididi Today it is cold Gompieno go mogôte; molelô Today it is hot Go bothithô It is warm Go letsatsi It is sunny Go diphefô; phefô It is windy Gompieno go botoka Today it is better Selemô Summer mariga Winter Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 14
- 15. Lesson 22: Health Expressions ke a lwala; ga ke a tsoga I am not well ke opiwa ke tlhogo I have a head ache mala ame a botlhoko My tummy hurts matlho a gagwe a botlhoko His eyes are sore Franco o ya tliliniking Franco is going to the clinic o ile ngakeng She/ he went to see the doctor o rurugile leoto Her leg is swollen Seema o jêle sengwe se se sa siamang Seema ate something bad ba batla go ya tliliniking They want to go to the clinic Back to Top Lesson 23: Safety Expressions nthuse Help me ke kopa thuso I need help ke tlhasetswe I have been attacked, I am being attacked. go thubilwe kwa lwapeng;ntlung My house has been broken into. Ke utswetswe There has been theft in my house. ke thukuthilwe I have been robbed Back to Top Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 15
- 16. Introduction to Setswana, Peace Corps/ Botswana 16