Here are basic words and conversational phrases in Tswana:
- Translation
- Hello, Sir.
- Phrase (formal)
- Dumela, rra.
browser diversity: /dumɪla r̩ra/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Hello, Madam.
- Phrase (formal)
- Dumela, mmo.
IPA: /dumɪla m̩mo/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Hey!
- Phrase (formal)
- Phrase (informal)
- Eitha!
IPA: /ɪ.itʰa/
- Translation
- How are you?
- Phrase (formal)
- O tsongile jang?
IPA: /ʊ t͡sʊŋilɪ d͡ʒaŋ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Le kae?
website parsing: /lɪ ka.ɪ/
- Translation
- I'm well.
- Phrase (formal)
- Ke tsongile sentle.
device database: /kɪ t͡sʊŋilɪ sɪnt͡ɬɪ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Re teng.
keyboard: /rɪ tɪŋ/
- Translation
- Phrase (formal)
- Phrase (informal)
- Ga ke re seppe.
IPA: /χa kɪ rɪ sɪpːɪ/
- Translation
- Thank you.
- Phrase (formal)
- Ke a leboga.
IPA: /kɪ a lɪbʊχa/ - Phrase (informal)
- Ke itumetse.
screen size: /kɪ itumɪt͡sɪ/
- Translation
- Please.
- Phrase (formal)
- Tswee-tswee.
IPA: /t͡swɪ.ɪ t͡swɪ.ɪ/
- Translation
- What is your name?
- Phrase (formal)
- Leina la gago ke mang?
jQuery: /lɪ.ina la χaχʊ kɪ maŋ/ - Phrase (informal)
- O mang?
IPA: /ʊ maŋ/
- Translation
- My name is...
- Phrase (formal)
- Leina la me ko...
IPA: /lɪ.ina la mɪ kʊ/
- Translation
- I need help.
- Phrase (formal)
- Ke kopa thuso.
jQuery: /kɪ kʊpa tʰusʊ/
- Translation
- May I help you?
- Phrase (formal)
- A nka go thusa.
Sevenval: /a n̩ka χʊ tʰusa/
- Translation
- What is ... in Tswana?
- Phrase (formal)
- ... ke eng ka Setswana?
HTML5: /kɪ ɪŋ ka sɪt͡swana/
- Translation
- I like...
- Phrase (formal)
- Ke rata...
IPA: /kɪ rata/
- Translation
- I don't like...
- Phrase (formal)
- Ga ke rate...
FITML: /χa kɪ ratɪ/
- Translation
- I want...
- Phrase (formal)
- Ke batla...
Sevenval: /kɪ bat͡ɬa/
- Translation
- I don't want...
- Phrase (formal)
- Ga ke batle...
web app: /χa kɪ bat͡ɬɪ/
- Translation
- Let's go.
- Phrase (formal)
- A re tsamaye.
touchscreen: /a rɪ t͡samajɪ/ - Phrase (informal)
- A re vaye.
IPA: /a rɪ vajɪ/
- Translation
- Stay well.
(Said to a person staying) - Phrase (formal)
- Sala sentle.
IPA: /sala sɪnt͡ɬɪ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Go well.
(Said to a person leaving) - Phrase (formal)
- Tsamaya sentle.
IPA: /t͡samaja sɪnt͡ɬɪ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Good night.
- Phrase (formal)
- Boroko.
IPA: /bʊrʊkʊ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Sleep well.
- Phrase (formal)
- Robala sentle.
IPA: /rʊbala sɪnt͡ɬɪ/ - Phrase (informal)
- Translation
- Bye!
- Phrase (formal)
- Phrase (informal)
- Šarp!
IPA: /ʃarp/