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English to Setswana translation

Type a sentence, get it in Setswana with a respelling that shows you which syllable to stress. Fifteen translations a day are free and you do not need an account to start.

English to Setswana: everyday phrases

Common phrases from the Setswana course, each with a respelling — capitals mark the stressed syllable.

  • HelloDumela
    Hello/doo-MEH-la/
  • Thank youKe a leboga
    Thank you/keh a leh-BO-ga/
  • WelcomeO amogetswe
    Welcome/oh a-mo-GEH-tsweh/
  • GoodbyeTsamaya sentle
    Goodbye/tsa-MA-ya SEN-tleh/
  • YesEe
    Yes/EH-eh/
  • NoNnyaa
    No/N-nyaa/
  • PleaseTsweetswee
    Please/tsweh-eh-TSWEH-eh/
  • SorryIntshwarele
    Sorry/een-chwa-REH-leh/
  • My name is AmaraLeina la me ke Amara
    My name is Amara/LEH-ee-na la meh keh a-MA-ra/
  • What is your name?Leina la gago ke mang?
    What is your name?/LEH-ee-na la GA-go keh MANG/
  • How are you?O tsogile jang?
    How are you?/oh tso-GEE-leh JANG/
  • I am fineKe tsogile sentle
    I am fine/keh tso-GEE-leh SEN-tleh/
  • WaterMetsi
    Water/MEH-tsee/
  • FoodDijo
    Food/DEE-jo/
  • FriendTsala
    Friend/TSA-la/
  • HouseNtlo
    House/N-tloh/
  • OneNngwe
    One/N-ngweh/
  • TwoPedi
    Two/PEH-dee/
  • ThreeTharo
    Three/TA-ro/
  • FourNne
    Four/N-neh/
  • FiveTlhano
    Five/TLHA-no/
  • How much is it?Ke bokae?
    How much is it?/keh bo-KA-eh/
  • MarketMmaraka
    Market/m-ma-RA-ka/
  • WaterMetsi
    Water/MEH-tsee/
  • MoneyMadi
    Money/MA-dee/

What to know before you translate

About Setswana

Botswana and South Africaaround 8 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet.

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

How accurate is it?

Translations are produced by an AI model, so treat long or legal text as a draft and check it with a speaker. Short everyday sentences — greetings, directions, family talk — are where it is strongest, and the pronunciation guide is written for English readers. Lesson audio is AI pronunciation audio, not a recording of a native speaker.