Sesotho overview

Free Sesotho starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

A one-page Sesotho cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Sesotho spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. Lesotho and South Africaaround 8 million.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • LumelaHello/loo-MEH-la/
  • Kea lebohaThank you/keh-AH leh-BO-ha/
  • O amoheletsweWelcome/oh a-mo-heh-LEH-tsweh/
  • Sala hantleGoodbye/SA-la HAN-tleh/
  • EYes/EH/
  • CheNo/CHEH/
  • Ka kopoPlease/ka KO-po/
  • NtshwareleSorry/n-chwa-REH-leh/

Free starter kit

Get all 25 Sesotho phrases

Enter your email and the full printable Sesotho starter kit opens right here — every phrase, meaning and pronunciation respelling. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks. Unsubscribe from any email.

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Is Sesotho hard to learn?

  • Lesotho and South African spelling conventions differ slightly.
  • Written with many separate short words, unlike the Nguni languages.
  • Greeting properly before any request is expected, not optional.