Setswana
Tswana
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sotho-Tswana)
Tswana (Setswana) is a Bantu language of the Sotho-Tswana group, the national language of Botswana and one of South Africa's 11 official languages, with ~14M speakers. Closely related to Northern Sotho (Pedi) and Southern Sotho (Sesotho), sharing the Sotho-Tswana clade with characteristic lateral fricatives /ɬ ɮ/ (written tlh, dlh). Has 17–18 noun classes, with concord prefixes throughout the noun phrase, verb conjugations, and pronouns — typical Bantu noun-class system. Major literature includes the missionary translation of the Bible (Robert Moffat, 1857) and works of Sol Plaatje, founder of the African National Congress.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tswana
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sotho-Tswana)
| Meaning | Tswana | Northern Sotho | Sesotho | Lozi | Venda | Tsonga | Swazi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | metsi /metsi/ | meetse /meːtse/ | metsi /metsi/ | mezi /mezi/ | maḓi /mad̪i/ | mati /mati/ | emanti /emanti/ |
| Fire | molelo /moleːlo/ | mollo /molːo/ | mollo /molːo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | ndzilo /ndzilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ |
| Sun | letsatsi /letsatsi/ | letšatši /letʃatʃi/ | letsatsi /letsatsi/ | lizazi /lizazi/ | ḓuvha /d̪uvʱa/ | dyambu /dʒambu/ | lilanga /lilaŋɡa/ |
| Moon | ngwedi /ŋwedi/ | ngwedi /ŋwedi/ | khoeli /kʰwɛːli/ | kweli /kweli/ | ṅwedzi /ŋwedzi/ | nʼweti /ŋweti/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ |
| Star | naledi /naledi/ | naledi /naledi/ | naledi /naledi/ | naleli /naleli/ | ṋaledzi /n̪aledzi/ | nyeleti /ɲeleti/ | inkhanyeti /iŋkʰaɲeti/ |
| Night | bosigo /bosiχo/ | bošego /boʃeχo/ | bosiu /bosiu/ | busihu /busihu/ | vhusiku /vʱusiku/ | vusiku /vusiku/ | busuku /ɓusuku/ |
| Rain | pula /ˈpula/ | pula /ˈpula/ | pula /ˈpula/ | pula /ˈpula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mpfula /ˈmpfula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ |
| Snow | semathana /semaˈtʰana/ | lehlwa /leˈɬwa/ | lehloa /lɛˈɬwa/ | litwa /ˈlitwa/ | mahaḓa /mahad̪a/ | gamboko /ɡamboko/ | lichwa /liǀʰwa/ |
| Wind | phefo /pʰefɔ/ | phefo /pʰɛfɔ/ | moya /mɔja/ | moya /moja/ | muya /muja/ | moya /moja/ | umoya /umoːja/ |
| Earth | mmu /m̩mu/ | mobu /moβu/ | mobu /mobu/ | mubu /mubu/ | mavu /mavu/ | misava /misava/ | umhlabatsi /umɬaɓatsi/ |
| Stone | leje /lɛˈdʒe/ | leswika /leˈswika/ | lejwe /leˈdʒwe/ | licwe /liˈtʃwe/ | tombo /tombo/ | ribye /riˈbje/ | litje /liˈtʃe/ |
| Mountain | thaba /tʰaba/ | thaba /ˈtʰaba/ | thaba /tʰaba/ | lilundu /lilundu/ | thavha /tʰavʱa/ | ntshava /ntsʰava/ | intsaba /intsaɓa/ |
| Sea | lewatle /lewatɬe/ | lewatle /lewatɬe/ | lewatle /lewatɬe/ | liwate /liwate/ | lwanzhe /lwanʒe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ |
| Mother | mmê /mːɛ/ | mma /mːa/ | mmè /mːɛ/ | ma /ma/ | mme /mːe/ | manana /manana/ | make /make/ |
| Father | rrê /rːɛ/ | tate /tate/ | ntate /ntate/ | ndate /ndate/ | khotsi /kʰotsi/ | tatana /tatana/ | babe /ɓaɓe/ |
| Daughter | morwadi /morwadi/ | morwedi /morwedi/ | morali /moɾali/ | mwana wa musizana /mwana wa musizana/ | ṅwananyana /ŋʷanaɲana/ | nʼwana wa xisati /ŋʷana wa ʃisati/ | indvodzakati /indvodzakaːti/ |
| I | nna /nːa/ | nna /nna/ | nna /nːa/ | na /na/ | nṋe /n̪ːe/ | mina /mina/ | mine /míne/ |
| You | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | iwe /iwe/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wéna/ |
| We | rona /rona/ | rena /rena/ | rona /rona/ | luna /luna/ | riṋe /rin̪e/ | hina /hina/ | tsine /tsíne/ |
| Name | leina /leina/ | leina /leina/ | lebitso /lebitso/ | libizo /libizo/ | dzina /dzina/ | vito /vito/ | libito /liɓiːto/ |
| Person | motho /motʰo/ | motho /mʊtʰʊ/ | motho /motʰo/ | mutu /mutu/ | muthu /mutʰu/ | munhu /munʱu/ | umuntfu /umuntfu/ |
| Head | tlhogo /tɬʰoχo/ | hlogo /ɬoχo/ | hlooho /ɬoːho/ | toho /toho/ | ṱhoho /t̪ʰoho/ | nhloko /nɬoko/ | inhloko /inɬoko/ |
| Eye | leitlho /leitɬʰo/ | leihlo /leiɬo/ | leihlo /leiɬo/ | liito /liːto/ | iṱo /it̪o/ | tihlo /tiɬo/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | tsebe /tsebe/ | tsebe /tsebe/ | tsebe /tsebe/ | zebe /zebe/ | nḓevhe /n̪d̪evʱe/ | ndleve /ndɮeve/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ |
| Nose | nko /ŋ̩ˈko/ | nko /ŋˈko/ | nko /ŋ̩ˈko/ | ngo /ŋo/ | ningo /niŋo/ | nhompfu /nʱompfu/ | likhala /likʰala/ |
| Mouth | molomo /molomo/ | molomo /molomo/ | molomo /molomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | nomu /nomu/ | umlomo /umlomo/ |
| Tooth | leino /leino/ | leino /leino/ | leino /leino/ | liino /liːno/ | iṋo /in̪o/ | tino /tino/ | litinyo /litiɲo/ |
| Tongue | leleme /leleme/ | leleme /leleme/ | leleme /leleme/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ririmi /ririmi/ | lulwimi /lulwimi/ |
| Hand | seatla /seatɬa/ | seatla /seatɬa/ | letsoho /letsoho/ | lizoho /lizoho/ | tshanḓa /tʃʰan̪d̪a/ | voko /voko/ | sandla /sandɮa/ |
| Foot | lonao /lonao/ | leoto /leoto/ | leoto /leoto/ | lihutu /liˈhutu/ | mulenzhe /mulenʒe/ | nenge /neŋɡe/ | lunyawo /luɲawo/ |
| Heart | pelo /peːlo/ | pelo /pelo/ | pelo /pelo/ | pilu /pilu/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | inhlitiyo /inɬitijo/ |
| Bone | lerapo /lerapo/ | lerapo /lerapo/ | lesapo /lesapo/ | sapo /sapo/ | ḽirambo /l̪irambo/ | rhambu /rambu/ | litsambo /litsambo/ |
| Blood | madi /madi/ | madi /madi/ | mali /mali/ | mali /mali/ | malofha /maloɸa/ | ngati /ŋɡati/ | ingati /iŋɡati/ |
| Poop | masepa /masepa/ | masepa /masepa/ | masepa /masepa/ | ñanda /ɲanda/ | malaṱwa /malat̪wa/ | — | emasimba /emasimba/ |
| Love | lerato /leɾato/ | lerato /lerato/ | lerato /leɾato/ | lilato /lilato/ | lufuno /lufuno/ | rirhandzu /riɾandzu/ | lutsandvo /lutsandwo/ |
| Tree | setlhare /setɬʰaɾe/ | sehlare /seɬare/ | sefate /sefate/ | kota /kota/ | muri /muri/ | nsinya /nsiɲa/ | sihlahla /siɬaɬa/ |
| Dog | ntša /ntʃa/ | mpša /mpʃa/ | ntja /ntʃa/ | nja /ndʒa/ | mmbwa /mːbwa/ | mbyana /mbjana/ | inja /indʒa/ |
| Cat | katse /katse/ | katse /katse/ | katse /katse/ | kaze /kaze/ | katse /katse/ | mangoyi /maŋɡoji/ | likati /likati/ |
| Fish | tlhapi /tɬʰapi/ | hlapi /ɬapi/ | tlhapi /tɬʰapi/ | tapi /tapi/ | khovhe /kʰovʱe/ | nhlampfi /nɬampfi/ | inhlanti /iɬanti/ |
| Bird | nonyane /nɔˈɲanɛ/ | nonyana /nʊɲana/ | nonyana /nʊˈɲana/ | nyunywani /ɲuɲwani/ | tshiṋoni /tʃiˈn̪oni/ | xinyenyana /ʃiɲeˈɲana/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ |
| Butterfly | serurubele /seruruˈbele/ | serurubele /seruruˈbele/ | serurubele /seruruˈbele/ | sipulumuki /sipulumuki/ | tshisusu /tʃʰisusu/ | phapharhati /pʰapʰaˈrati/ | luvivane /luvivane/ |
| Egg | lee /lɛɛ/ | lee /leː/ | lehe /lehe/ | lii /liː/ | gumba /ɡumba/ | tandza /tandza/ | licandza /liǀandza/ |
| Bear | bera /bɛra/ | bêrê /bɛrɛ/ | bere /bɛrɛ/ | bele /bele/ | biara /biara/ | bere /bere/ | libhele /libʱele/ |
| Horse | pitse /pitse/ | pere /pere/ | pere /pere/ | pizi /pizi/ | bere /bere/ | hanci /hantʃi/ | lihhashi /liɦaʃi/ |
| House | ntlo /ntɬo/ | ntlo /ntɬo/ | ntlo /ntɬo/ | ndu /ndu/ | nnḓu /n̪d̪u/ | yindlu /jindɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ |
| Milk | mashi /maʃi/ | maswi /maswi/ | lebese /lebese/ | mabisi /mabisi/ | mafhi /maɸi/ | masi /masi/ | lubisi /luˈɓisi/ |
| Honey | tswina /tswina/ | todi /todi/ | mahe a dinotshi /mahe a dinotsʰi/ | linosi /linosi/ | mutoli /mutoli/ | vulombe /vulombe/ | luju /ludʒu/ |
| Salt | letswai /letswai/ | letswai /letswai/ | letswai /letswai/ | lizwai /lizwai/ | muṋo /mun̪o/ | munyu /muɲu/ | luswayi /luswaji/ |
| Wine | beine /beine/ | beine /beine/ | veine /veine/ | waine /waine/ | waini /waini/ | vhinyo /viɲo/ | liwayini /liwajini/ |
| Rice | raese /raese/ | reisi /reisi/ | raese /raese/ | laisi /laisi/ | raisi /raisi/ | rhayisi /rajisi/ | lilayisi /lilajisi/ |
| Chocolate | tshokolete /tsʰokolete/ | tšhokolete /tʃʰokolete/ | tjhokolete /tʃʰokolete/ | — | — | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | — |
| Iron | tshipi /ˈtsʰipi/ | tshipi /ˈtsʰipi/ | tshepe /ˈtsʰepe/ | sipi /sipi/ | tsimbi /tsimbi/ | nsimbi /nsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ |
| Wheel | leotwana /leotwana/ | leotwana /leoˈtwana/ | lebili /lebili/ | liwili /liwili/ | mulinga /muliŋa/ | vhilwa /vilwa/ | lisondvo /liˈsondvo/ |
| Silk | silika /silika/ | silika /silika/ | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ | siliga /siliɡa/ | silika /silika/ | silika /silika/ |
| Book | buka /buka/ | puku /puku/ | buka /buka/ | buka /buka/ | bugu /buɡu/ | buku /buku/ | incwadzi /iŋǀʷadzi/ |
| Eat | go ja /χo dʒa/ | go ja /χo dʒa/ | ho ja /ho dʒa/ | kuca /kutʃa/ | u ḽa /u l̪a/ | ku dya /ku dʒa/ | kudla /kuɮa/ |
| Drink | go nwa /χo nwa/ | go nwa /χo nwa/ | ho noa /ho noa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | u nwa /u nwa/ | ku nwa /ku nwa/ | kunatsa /kunatsa/ |
| Sleep | go robala /χo rʊˈbala/ | go robala /χo rʊˈbala/ | ho robala /ho rʊˈbala/ | kulobala /kulobala/ | u eḓela /u eˈd̪ela/ | ku etlela /ku eˈtɬela/ | kulala /kulala/ |
| One | nngwe /ŋːwe/ | tee /teː/ | nngwe /ŋːwe/ | nyinwi /ɲiŋʷi/ | nthihi /ntʰihi/ | rinʼwe /riŋwe/ | kunye /kuɲe/ |
| Two | pedi /pedi/ | pedi /pedi/ | pedi /pedi/ | peli /peli/ | mbili /mbili/ | mbirhi /mbiri/ | kubili /kuɓiːli/ |
| Three | tharo /tʰaro/ | tharo /tʰaro/ | tharo /tʰaʀo/ | talu /talu/ | tharu /tʰaru/ | nharhu /ɳaɾu/ | kutsatfu /kutsʼatfu/ |
| Four | nne /nːe/ | nne /nːɛ/ | nne /nːe/ | ne /ne/ | ṋa /n̪a/ | mune /mune/ | kune /kune/ |
| Five | tlhano /tɬʰano/ | hlano /ɬano/ | hlano /ɬano/ | ketalizoho /ketalizoho/ | ṱhanu /t̪ʰanu/ | ntlhanu /ntɬʰanu/ | sihlanu /siɬaːnu/ |
| Hundred | lekgolo /leχolo/ | lekgolo /leχolo/ | lekgolo /leχolo/ | mwanda /mwanda/ | ḓana /d̪ana/ | dzana /dzana/ | likhulu /liˈkʰulu/ |
| Hello | dumela /dumeːla/ | dumela /dumɛla/ | dumela /dumɛla/ | lumela /lumela/ | ndaa /ndaː/ | avuxeni /avuʃeni/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ |
| Thank you | ke a leboga /ke a leboɣa/ | ke a leboga /ke a leboɣa/ | kea leboha /kea leboha/ | nitumezi /nitumezi/ | ndo livhuwa /ndo livʱuwa/ | inkomu /iŋkomu/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ |
| Good | siame /siaːme/ | botse /botse/ | monate /monate/ | nde /nde/ | zwavhuḓi /zwavʱud̪i/ | kahle /kaɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ |
| New | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | mpsha /mpsʰa/ | ntjha /ntʃʰa/ | nca /ntʃa/ | ntswa /ntswa/ | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | sha /ʃa/ |
| Red | khibidu /kʰibidu/ | hubedu /hubedu/ | khubelu /kʰubelu/ | fubelu /fubelu/ | tswuku /tswuku/ | tshwuka /tsʰwuka/ | bovu /ɓoːvu/ |
| White | tshweu /tsʰwɛu/ | tšhweu /tʃʰwɛu/ | tšhweu /tsʰweu/ | sweu /sweu/ | tshena /tsʰena/ | basa /ˈbasa/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ |
| Black | ntsho /ntsʰɔ/ | ntsho /ntsʰɔ/ | ntšo /ntsʰɔ/ | nsu /nsu/ | ntswu /ntswu/ | ntima /ntima/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ |
| Green | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | dala /dala/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ |
| Blue | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | tala /tala/ | lutombo /lutombo/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ |
| Computer | khomphuta /kʰompʰuta/ | khomphutha /kʰompʰutʰa/ | khomputa /kʰomputa/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | khomphyutha /kʰompʰjutʰa/ | khompyuta /kʰompjuta/ | — |
| Tea | tee /teː/ | teye /teje/ | tee /teː/ | tii /tiː/ | tie /tie/ | tiya /tija/ | litiya /litija/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | likhofi /likʰofi/ |
| Sugar | sukiri /sukiri/ | swikiri /swikiri/ | tswekere /tswekere/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | swigiri /swiɡiri/ | chukela /tʃukela/ | shukela /ʃukela/ |
| Orange | namune /namune/ | namune /namune/ | lamunu /lamunu/ | olenji /olendʒi/ | — | lamula /lamula/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | masome a robongwe robongwe /masome a roboŋwe roboŋwe/ | masome a senyane le senyane /masome a seɲane le seɲane/ | mashome a robong a metso e robong /maʃome a ʀoboŋ a metso e ʀoboŋ/ | — | — | makume nkaye nkaye /makume ŋkaje ŋkaje/ | emashumi layimfica nemfica /emaʃumi lajimfiǀa nemfiǀa/ |
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