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Language
Setswana is the national language with minor differences in dialects. However, English is the official business language and it is widely spoken in urban areas with most written communication being in this language. However, knowing and using a bit of Setswana always helps and Batswana will be pleased that you have made the effort.
Here are some of the basic phrases in Setswana:
| English | Setswana | Hear
it! |
| Yes | Ee (Ee, mma - answering a woman, ee rra - answering a man) |  |
| No | Nnyaa, mma/rra | |
| Hello (to a woman) | Dumela, mma (Dumelang, bo mma - plural) | |
| Hello (to a man) | Dumela, rra (Dumelang, bo rra - plural) | |
| How are you? | Le kae? O tsogile jang? | |
| Good bye - it is OK | Go siame | |
| Go well | Tsamaya sentle | |
| Stay well | Sala sentle | |
| Thank you | Ke itumetse | |
| I do not know | Ga ke itse ("g" is pronounced as "r" in French) | |
| Do you speak Setswana? | A o bua Setswana? | |
| I speak Setswana just a little | Ke bua Setswana go le gonnye fela | |
| I don't speak Setswana | Ga ke bue Setswana | |
| No problem | Ga gona mathata | |
| I am fine | Ke tsogile sentle. Ke teng. | |
| Come in | Tsena (Tsenang - plural) | |
| Come here | Tla kwano | |
| How much is this? | Ke bo kae? | |
| I don't have any money | Ga ke na madi | |
| What would you like? | O batla eng? or O rata eng? | |
| I want some water | Ke batla metsi | |
The above audio clips are all in mp3 format. To listen to them you need to have an mp3 player installed on your system. If you do not have one, please download Windows Media Player, Real Player or WinAmp.
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