Phrases › Tswana
Phrases
In Tswana, hello is Dumela and thank you is Ke a leboga. Here are 36 everyday Tswana phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Tswana · How to say thank you in Tswana · How to say goodbye in Tswana · How to say please in Tswana · How to say sorry in Tswana · How to say how are you in Tswana · How to say my name is in Tswana
| English | Tswana |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dumela |
| Goodbye | Tsamaya sentle Said by the one staying, to the one leaving; the leaver replies Sala sentle. |
| Please | Tsweetswee |
| Thank you | Ke a leboga |
| Yes | Ee |
| No | Nnyaa |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Ntshwarele |
| Do you speak English? | A o bua Seesemane? |
| I don't understand | Ga ke tlhaloganye |
| Please speak slowly | Tsweetswee, bua ka iketlo |
| How much is it? | Ke bokae? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Ntlwana e kae? |
| I'd like this, please | Ke batla se, tsweetswee |
| The bill, please | Bili, tsweetswee |
| Where is …? | … e kae? Fill the gap with the place. |
| Help! | Thusa! |
| I need a doctor | Ke tlhoka ngaka |
| Call the police! | Bitsa mapodisi! |
| I don't speak Tswana | Ga ke bue Setswana |
| Can you help me? | A o ka nthusa? |
| English | Tswana |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dumela to several people or elders: Dumelang |
| How are you? | O tsogile jang? polite plural: Le tsogile jang? |
| I'm fine, thank you. | Ke tsogile sentle, ke a leboga. |
| What's your name? | Leina la gago ke mang? polite plural: Leina la lona ke mang? |
| My name is … | Leina la me ke … put your name in the gap |
| Where are you from? | O tswa kae? polite plural: Le tswa kae? |
| I'm from … | Ke tswa kwa … put your country in the gap |
| Goodbye, see you later. | Tsamaya sentle, re tla bonana. said to the person leaving; the leaver replies 'Sala sentle' |
| English | Tswana |
|---|---|
| Slower, please. | Tsweetswee, bua ka iketlo. |
| Again, please. | Tsweetswee, boelela gape. |
| I don't understand. | Ga ke tlhaloganye. |
| How do you say … in Tswana? | … go bolelwa jang ka Setswana? pointing: Se se bolelwa jang ka Setswana? |
| I'm learning Tswana. | Ke ithuta Setswana. |
| One moment, please. | Ema sebakanyana, tsweetswee. |
| English | Tswana |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest grocery store? | Lebenkele la dijo le le gaufi le kae? lebenkele = shop |
| How do you say this in Tswana? | Se se bolelwa jang ka Setswana? |
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