Dumela! This Tswana course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Botswana. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Tswana language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
Contents
- 1 Lesson 1 – A Guide to Pronunciation
- 2 Lesson 2 – Greetings
- 3 Lesson 3 – Introducing Yourself
- 4 Lesson 4 – Saying Goodbye
- 5 Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 1
- 6 Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 2
- 7 Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 3
- 8 Lesson 6 – Useful Expressions
- 9 Lesson 7 – Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)
- 10 Lesson 8 – Pronouns
- 11 Lesson 9 – Connecting Words
- 12 Lesson 10 – Negation
- 13 Lesson 11 – To Be and To Have
- 14 Lesson 12 – Questions and Commands
- 15 Lesson 13 – Expressing Needs
- 16 Lesson 14 – Food
- 17 Lesson 15 – Family
- 18 Lesson 16 – Time
- 19 Lesson 17 – Daily Activities
- 20 Lesson 18 – Vocabulary 3 (Places)
- 21 Lesson 19 – Words with Similar Spelling But Different Meanings
- 22 Lesson 20 – Asking for Prices
- 23 Lesson 21 – Weather
- 24 Lesson 22 – Health Phrases
- 25 Lesson 23 – Safety Phrases
- 26 Original Course Text
Lesson 1 – A Guide to Pronunciation
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| 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 |
| e (represents two sounds) | ey in “they” or “a” in came | pele, first |
| 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 (represents two sounds) | o in boat | Motse, village |
| 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 |
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Lesson 2 – Greetings
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Formal Dialogue
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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.
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Lesson 3 – Introducing Yourself
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 4 – Saying Goodbye
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 1
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| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 2
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See Lesson 5 Part 1 text
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Lesson 5 – Vocabulary 1 (Verbs) Part 3
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See Lesson 5 Part 1 text
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Lesson 6 – Useful Expressions
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
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Lesson 7 – Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)
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Kitchen
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| tafole | Table |
| setilô | Chair |
| sejana | Plate |
| kopi | Cup |
| leswana | Spoon |
| thipa | Knife |
| lefeêlô | Broom |
Bedroom
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| bolao | Bed |
| kobô | Blanket |
| diaparô | Clothes |
| borokgwe | Pants |
| ditlhako | Shoes |
General Items
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| pensele | Pencil |
| buka | Book |
| bêkê | Bag |
| pênê | Pen |
| fensetere | Window |
| lebati | Door |
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Lesson 8 – Pronouns
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| nna | I |
| wêna | You |
| ênê | She/ he |
| rona | We/ us |
| lona | You (pl) |
| bônê | Them |
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Lesson 9 – Connecting Words
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| le | and |
| mme | But |
| Kgotsa/kana | Or |
| ke | Is |
| jaaka | As/like |
| Ka jalo | therefore |
| Ka gore | because |
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Lesson 10 – Negation
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| I | You (sing) | She/ he | We | You (pl) | tdey | |
| 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 |
When you add the negative ga in the present statement the last letter in the verb changes to e (applicable in negative present tense). When you change the subject marker present “ke” to subject marker past the negative ga changes to sa i.e. negative past tense. In the negative future, the stem ga + pronoun+ kake is used to signify the negation.
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Lesson 11 – To Be and To Have
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Verb to be (-nna)
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 etc.
Verb to have (-na le)
| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 12 – Questions and Commands
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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? |
| bula lebati | Open the door |
| tswala lebati | Close the door |
| êma o buê | Stand and talk |
| êma ka dinao | Stand |
| 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 |
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Lesson 13 – Expressing Needs
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 14 – Food
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| dijô | Food |
| mabêlê | Sorghum |
| phaletshê | Mealie-meal |
| sukiri | Sugar |
| letswai | Salt |
| metsi | Water |
| mashi | Milk |
| ditamati | Tomatoes |
| ditapole | Potatoes |
| mae | Eggs |
| 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 |
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Lesson 15 – Family
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 16 – Time
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
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Lesson 17 – Daily Activities
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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. |
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Lesson 18 – Vocabulary 3 (Places)
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| Tswana | 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 |
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Lesson 19 – Words with Similar Spelling But Different Meanings
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Setswana is what's 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.
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Lesson 20 – Asking for Prices
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 21 – Weather
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 22 – Health Phrases
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Lesson 23 – Safety Phrases
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| Tswana | English |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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