Tswana Slang, Setswana Language About: Tswana or Setswana is a language spoken in Southern Africa by about 4. Tswana is an official language of Botswana. [3] English, which was inherited from colonial rule, is the language of official business and most written communication. <p>Tswana, also known as Setswana, is the native language of the Tswana people in Southern Africa and is recognized as a significant linguistic and cultural element in the region. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me. Here are some of the basic phrases in Setswana: If you’re planning a trip to Botswana (and lucky you if you are!), it’s a good idea to pick up a few words in Tswana —or Setswana, as it’s locally known. It is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa and is also spoken in Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It is closely related to the Northern - and Southern Sotho languages. It is a Bantu language belonging to the NigerCongo language family within the Sotho languages branch of Zone S, and is closely related to the Northern- and Southern Sotho languages, as well as the Kgalagadi language and the Lozi Discover who the Tswana people are and understand their culture. Dominant languages in South Africa. Peace Corps/ Botswana An Introduction to the Setswana Language Lesson 1: A Guide to Pronunciation Adapted from: Setswana- English- Setswana Dictionary( Z. Most of the population speak Setswana, but over 20 smaller languages are also spoken. Appendix:Basic Tswana glossary Appendix Setswana, also called Tswana, is a Bantu language spoken predominantly in Botswana and South Africa, as well as parts of Namibia and Zimbabwe. The following lessons have been designed to suit any new learner in Setswana who has had little or no exposure to Setswana language. Matumo, 1993) Back to Top Dive into the rich history, grammar, and significance of the Setswana language, spoken by millions in Botswana, South Africa, and beyond. Basic Tswana Language Course 1. There are also few speakers in Namibia. The majority of speakers, about 3. Setswana Speech and Language Development Tswana, also known as Setswana, is a significant Bantu language spoken by approximately 8. The four major ethnic divisions among Black South Africans are the Nguni, Sotho-Tswana, Shangaan-Tsonga and Venda. On more than one occasion, proposals have been put forward to If you’re planning a trip to Botswana (and lucky you if you are!), it’s a good idea to pick up a few words in Tswana —or Setswana, as it’s locally known. Jump to phrases See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. It serves as the lingua franca of Botswana, where the Tswana-speaking population is predominant, and is one of the eleven official indigenous languages of South Africa. ’ expression of surprise (interjection) elders family (lit. It is based on the Tswana language, particularly the Sekgatla dialect spoken in Hammanskraal, with major contributions from Northern The Tswana language, Setswana, is a language spoken in southern Africa by about five million people. 2 million people. 6 million, live in South Africa, where the language is officially recognised. Formal Greeting (singular) The Tswana language (or Setswana) is a language spoken in southern Africa. [2] Etelä-Afrikassa ja Botswanassa puhuttavien tswanan kielen muotojen välillä on jonkin verran oikeinkirjoitukseen liittyviä eroja. Furthermore, the overall Pretoria Sotho (also called Sepitori by its speakers) is the urban lingua franca of the black residents of the Tshwane metropolitan area in South Africa. children of a person) girls see motsadi Tswana people bridewealth (see also lobola) personhood; connotes dignity, respectfulness, and humane behaviour see kgang 280 Glossary of Setswana Terms Tswana Language (Setswana) Idioms and Proverbs Study and Learn | Tswana Language (Setswana) | M (A)L MasterAnyLanguage. Setswana belongs to the Sotho-Tswana language group and features a rich oral tradition, including poetry, folktales, and proverbs. Dit word deur ongeveer 4,1 miljoen mense as moedertaal gepraat (2011-sensus), hoofsaaklik Tswanas. Together the Nguni and Sotho Tswana phrases taught in simple form #tswanatalk #setswana #learnsetswana #tswana There are many ways to say 'hello' in South Africa, because SA slang borrows from many of the country's 11 official home languages. Translation is fast and saves you time. Useful phrases in Tswana A collection of useful phrases in Tswana, a Bantu language spoken in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Notes: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than Sep 9, 2025 · Appendix:Basic Tswana glossary Appendix Nov 30, 2022 · Common and popular Setswana/Tswana words and their meaning in English, including greetings, directions, love words and phrases and a lot of everyday conversations. It is a member of the Sotho-Tswana language family, close to Northern Sotho and Southern Sotho, and to a lesser extent, Kgalagadi and Lozi. Together the Nguni and Sotho account for the largest percentage of the total Black population. If the audio button's don't work try the Audio Help page. Tswana (Setswana) Tswana is a Bantu language spoken by about 4. About five million people speak it. The Sotho-Tswana group corresponds to the S. In 1806 Heinrich Lictenstein wrote Upon the Language of the Tswana, also known as Setswana, is a Bantu language spoken by the Tswana people in southern Africa. Tswanan kieli (omakielinen nimi: setswana) on bantukieli, jota puhutaan enimmäkseen Botswanassa ja Etelä-Afrikassa. Die taal Tswana (Setswana in Tswana) is een van die elf amptelike landstale van Suid-Afrika en 'n amptelike taal van Zimbabwe. While English is widely spoken (especially in hotels, airports, and national parks), Tswana is the national language and the most commonly spoken tongue across the country. The Setswana language, also known as Tswana, Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, and Sechuana, is a Bantu language belonging to the Niger-Congo language family within the Sotho-Tswana branch. [3] Raamattu käännettiin kokonaisuudessaan tswanaksi ensimmäisen kerran vuonna 1857. Tswana phrasebook Pronunciation guide Phrase list Problems Numbers Time Colors Transportation Lodging Eating Bars Shopping Driving Authority Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like O tsogile?, O teng?, Wa reng? and more. Peace Corps/ Botswana An Introduction to the Setswana Language Setswana is one of the Bantu language groups, mostly spoken in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia (Southern Africa). 30 label in Guthrie's 1967–71 classification [1] of languages in the Bantu family. Who are the Tswana People? Home About News Archive Latest News Conservation & Environment Governance BW Government Travelling to Botswana? Consular Items British High Commission Health Hunting/Poaching Elephant Crisis Mining Travel & Tourism Animals Attractions Flora Lodges & Camps Our Botswana Arts & Culture Buy Local Charities Did You know? Education Experts Hair Healthcare Groups Botswana Reunion (UK) Historic The Sotho-Tswana languages are a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken in Southern Africa. It’s a gateway into a proud and resilient culture. South African Language: TSWANA History The language, Tswana, is spoken widely in Southern Africa. Notes: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like O tsogile?, O teng?, Wa reng? and more. Most Tswana speakers are in South Africa, where four million people Tswana language words & meanings – Dictionary Tswana is another Bantu language, spoken in South African and Botswana (which is named after it and of which it is the official language). Here are some of the basic phrases in Setswana: Background, origin and meaning of Mokanyane: Mokanyane is a name primarily found in Southern Africa, particularly within the Tswana language groups, such as the Tswana people of Botswana and South Africa. About the Setswana Language The Setswana language is one of 11 official languages spoken in South Africa, and one of nine indigenous languages chosen for this title in the post-apartheid constitution. Setswana Swear words from users. The Sotho-Tswana languages are a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken in Southern Africa. The former can be used to help you get through everyday conversations with natives, while the latter will serve you well when you come across new words you don’t know. The people as a whole are Batswana, one person is a Motswana, and the language they speak is Setswana. In total in southern Africa around 5 million people speak Tswana. It belongs to the Niger–Congo language family within the Sotho languages. Explore the list of official languages by country, including nations with the most official languages like Bolivia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. On more than one occasion, proposals have been put forward to Tswana culture influences the population of Botswana. In the United Kingdom, Tswana may be spoken by individuals within the Southern African diaspora community. In the context of UK English, the spelling and vocabulary of Tswana would ’ expression of surprise (interjection) elders family (lit. Mainly in Botswana and in South Africa in the Northern Cape, the central and western Free State and in the North-West Province. [19] In Tswana, Batswana is grammatically plural; its singular form, which can refer to a single member of the Tswana or to a single citizen of Botswana, is Motswana. Who are the Tswana People? Tones differentiate orthographic homonyms such as the second person personal subject marker, O (low tone), and the third person personal subject marker, Ô (high tone). people of the courtyard) children of the social worker (often used for orphans) siblings (lit. Explore its unique features, dialects, and cultural importance in southern Africa. Tswana, also known by its native name Setswana, [a] is a Bantu language indigenous to Southern Africa and spoken by about 8. children of a person) girls see motsadi Tswana people bridewealth (see also lobola) personhood; connotes dignity, respectfulness, and humane behaviour see kgang 280 Glossary of Setswana Terms Peace Corps/ Botswana An Introduction to the Setswana Language Lesson 1: A Guide to Pronunciation Adapted from: Setswana- English- Setswana Dictionary( Z. <p>This is an introductory course to the Setswana language spoken in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Languages of Botswana The official language of Botswana is English, while Setswana is considered to be a national language. English is the official business language, and it is widely spoken in urban areas with most written communication being in this language. It is a Bantu language belonging to the NigerCongo language family within the Sotho languages branch of Zone S, and is closely related to the Northern- and Southern Sotho languages, as well as the Kgalagadi language and the Lozi Tswana Language Learning Books Sadly, there are no reputable Tswana course books, so the next best thing for learning the language is a Tswana phrasebook and dictionary. How to Swear in Setswana. . It is part of the Niger-Congo language family, and Tswana is heavily related to the Sotho Basic Tswana Language Course 1. Spoken by millions in Botswana and parts of South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, Setswana—also known as Tswana—is more than just a language. In the English - Tswana dictionary you will find phrases with translations, examples, pronunciation and pictures. The language is closely related to such languages as Northern and Southern Sotho, Kgalagadi and Lozi. The high-intoned syllable of a word in the Tswana language can be likened to the stressed syllable of a word in English. The first section helps learners get familiar with the sounds and the alphabet. [4] Sotho-Tswana peoples Map showing the proportion of the South African population that speaks a Sotho-Tswana group language (Sotho, Northern Sotho or Tswana) at home, from the 2011 census broken down to ward level. com Some phrases in Setswana Language Important Verbs To be, To Have, To Do, To Say, To Go, To Know, To Want, To Can & To Use Media List of music, dances and movies in Setswana Phrases Extra phrases in Setswana that may be handy Simple phrases Some simple phrases for short term visitors etc For example, the main ethnic group of Botswana is the Tswana people, hence the name Botswana for its country. The course content is aimed for beginners who have no background on the language. (seTswana [language], baTswana [people]) The four major ethnic divisions among Black South Africans are the Nguni, Sotho-Tswana, Shangaan-Tsonga and Venda. Useful phrases in Tswana A collection of useful phrases in Tswana, a Bantu language spoken in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Sekalanga, spoken by the Bakalanga, is the most commonly used of these languages. It is a Bantu language. The various dialects of Tswana, Southern Sotho and Northern Sotho are highly mutually intelligible. Matumo, 1993) Back to Top This lesson teaches you to greet and understand greetings. Tswana culture influences the population of Botswana. 2 million people, primarily in Southern Africa. The demonym Batswana was originally applied to the Tswana, [18] and has also come to be used generally as a term for all citizens of Botswana. 5 million people. Setswana speakers form the fifth-largest language group in South Africa. Setswana is the national language with minor differences in dialect notable around the country. Explore the history of the Tswana people and see important features of the Tswana language. However, knowing and using a bit of Setswana always helps and Batswana will be pleased that you have made the effort. In the Southern Africa, there are about 5 million Setswana speakers. Setswana is an official national language of Botswana. Learn more interesting details about the Tswana culture, ceremonies, language, clothing and their various food. What is the Botswana language? While English is the official language and Setswana the national language, there are over 20 other languages spoken in Botswana, which are mostly used by the non-Setswana-speaking groups. The language is part of the Niger-Congo family Simple phrases Some simple phrases for short term visitors etc Setswana Speech and Language Development Tswana, also known as Setswana, is a significant Bantu language spoken by approximately 8. The Setswana language has strong sounds which I encourage learners to practice in this section. 4 million people in Bostwana, where it is the national and majority language, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is a Bantu language belonging to the Niger–Congo lang What is the Botswana language? While English is the official language and Setswana the national language, there are over 20 other languages spoken in Botswana, which are mostly used by the non-Setswana-speaking groups. Setswana was the first Sotho language written to have a written form. I. [1] It is closely related to the Sepedi and Sesotho languages, as well as the Sekgaladi and the Silozi language. [1] Kieltä kirjoitetaan latinalaisin aakkosin. Discover who the Tswana people are and understand their culture. It is used as a language of instruction in education. It belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. It is also spoken in the townships and villages around Brits, and has been gaining momentum in Rustenburg. dt3gl, i2t8, ieyqyb, rmb6z, bsfok, gnne, fwrwxg, 9bbzt, xvzkx, rtshe,