Setswana overview

Free Setswana starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

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

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • DumelaHello/doo-MEH-la/
  • Ke a lebogaThank you/keh a leh-BO-ga/
  • O amogetsweWelcome/oh a-mo-GEH-tsweh/
  • Tsamaya sentleGoodbye/tsa-MA-ya SEN-tleh/
  • EeYes/EH-eh/
  • NnyaaNo/N-nyaa/
  • TsweetsweePlease/tsweh-eh-TSWEH-eh/
  • IntshwareleSorry/een-chwa-REH-leh/

Free starter kit

Get all 25 Setswana phrases

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Is Setswana hard to learn?

  • Tone distinguishes otherwise identical words.
  • The g is pronounced as a throaty sound, closer to Scottish loch.
  • Politeness markers attach directly to verbs.