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Sesotho overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Sesotho

25 essential Sesotho phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Hello

Lumela

/loo-MEH-la/

Thank you

Kea leboha

/keh-AH leh-BO-ha/

Goodbye

Sala hantle

/SA-la HAN-tleh/

Yes

E

/EH/

No

Che

/CHEH/

Please

Ka kopo

/ka KO-po/

Welcome

O amoheletswe

/oh a-mo-heh-LEH-tsweh/

Sorry

Ntshwarele

/n-chwa-REH-leh/

How are you?

O phela joang?

/oh PEH-la jo-ANG/

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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/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Lebitso laka ke AmaraMy name is Amara/leh-BEE-tso LA-ka keh a-MA-ra/
  • Lebitso laheno ke mang?What is your name?/leh-BEE-tso la-HEH-no keh MANG/
  • O phela joang?How are you?/oh PEH-la jo-ANG/
  • Ke phela hantleI am fine/keh PEH-la HAN-tleh/
  • MetsiWater/MEH-tsee/
  • DijoFood/DEE-jo/
  • MotswalleFriend/mo-TSWA-leh/
  • NtloHouse/N-tloh/

Counting

Numbers one to five and shopping at the market

  • NgweOne/N-gweh/
  • PeliTwo/PEH-lee/
  • TharoThree/TA-ro/
  • NneFour/N-neh/
  • HlanoFive/SHLA-no/
  • Ke bokae?How much is it?/keh bo-KA-eh/
  • MmarakaMarket/m-ma-RA-ka/
  • MetsiWater/MEH-tsee/
  • CheleteMoney/che-LEH-teh/

Questions people ask about Sesotho

How do you say "hello" in Sesotho?

"Hello" in Sesotho is Lumela, pronounced /loo-MEH-la/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "thank you" in Sesotho?

"Thank you" in Sesotho is Kea leboha, pronounced /keh-AH leh-BO-ha/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Sesotho?

"How are you?" in Sesotho is O phela joang?, pronounced /oh PEH-la jo-ANG/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

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.

Where is Sesotho spoken?

Lesotho and South Africa — around 8 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet.

Can I learn Sesotho for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

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