Southern Sotho (sɪ̀sʊ́tʰʊ̀) is one of the official languages spoken by people in South Africa. It is also a dialect spoken in other countries such as Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Welcome!

Kena ka kgotso!

Hello

Lumela

How are you?

O kae?

I'm here, where are you?

Ke phela hantle, wena o phela jwang?

What's your name?

Lebitso la hao ke mang?

My name is ...

Lebitso laka ke ...

Where are you from?

O tswa kae?

I'm from ...

Ke tswa ...

Excuse me

Ntshwarele

How much is this?

Ke bokae?

Sorry

Ntshwarele

Thank you

Ke a leboha

Where's the toilet

Ntloana e kae?

Problem/Emergency (Maemo a Tshohanyetso)[edit]

Leave me alone!

Ntohelle kele notsi!

Help!

Ke kopa thuso!

Stop!

Ema!

I need your help

Ke hloka thuso ya hao.

Police!

Sepolesa!

Watch out!

Hlokomela!

Go away!

Tsamaya!

Let me go!

Ntumelle ke tsamaye!

Call the police /a doctor/ an ambulance!

Letsetsa mapolesa / ngaka / ambulanse!

Stop! Thief!

Ema! Leshodu!

Numbers[edit]

1

ngwe

2

pedi

3

tharo

4

nne

5

hlano

6

tshelela

7

supa

8

robedi

9

robong

10

leshome

20

mashome a mabedi

30

mashome a mararo

40

mashome a mane

50

mashome a mahlano

60

mashome a tsheletseng

70

mashome a supileng

80

mashome a robedi

90

mashome a robong

100

lekgolo

1,000

sekete

10,000

likete tse leshome

100,000

makgolo a sekete

1,000,000

milione

Time[edit]

Clock time[edit]

Greetings[edit]

Good morning

Mmoro

Good evening

Fonane

Goodbye

Sala hantle

Good luck!

Ke u lakaletsa lehlohonolo!

Days[edit]

Sunday

Sontaha

Monday

Mantaha

Tuesday

Labobeli

Wednesday

Laboraro

Thursday

Labone

Friday

Labohlano

Saturday

Moqebelo

Months(likhoeli)[edit]

January

Pherekhong

February

Hlakola

March

Hlakubele

April

Mesa

May

Mots'eanong

June

Phuptjane

July

Phupu

August

Phato

September

Loetse

October

Mphalane

November

Pulungoana

December

Ts'itoe

Colors (Mebala)[edit]

Black

ntsho

White

tshweu

Gray

thokwa

Red

kgubedu

Blue

putswa

Yellow

tshehla

Geen

tala

Orange

lamunu

Purple

perese

Brown

sootho

Transportation[edit]

Part of the body[edit]

Head

hlooho

Eyes

mahlo

Ears

ditsebe

Nose

nko

Mouth

molomo

Arm

letsoho

Leg

leoto

Hand

letsoho

Feet

maoto

Chest

sefuba

Skin

letlalo

Muscle

mosifa

Blood

madi

Family[edit]

Father

Ntate

Mother

Mme

Daughter

Mora

Son

Moradi wa ka

Uncle

Bomalome

Aunt

Bommangwane

Food[edit]

Learning more[edit]