Sesotho phrasebook

Table of Contents

Pronunciation guide / Vowels / Consonants / Common diphthongs / Phrase list / Basics / Problems / Numbers / Time / Clock time / Duration / Days / Months / Writing time and date / Colors / Transportation / Bus and train / Directions / Taxi / Lodging / Money / Eating / Sesotho phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Shopping / Driving / Authority

Sesotho is the main language of Lesotho and is one of the official languages of South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Lumela. (doomellah )
Hello. (informal): Khotso. (hotsow)
How are you?: U phela joang? (oo-pee-la-jwang)
Fine, thank you.: Kea phela (key-ah-pee-la)
What is your name?: Lebitso la hau ke mang? (leh-beet-saw la-how key-mung)
My name is ______ .: Lebitso la ka ke ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: ke thabela ho u tseba . ( key-ta-bell-a-who-oo-t-see-ba ')
Please.: . (Ke kopa hore o... )
Thank you.: kea leboha. ( )
You're welcome.: . ( )
Yes.: . (Eea )
No.: . (Che )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . (A k'u ntšoarele hanyane)
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . ( )
I'm sorry.: Ntšoarele . ( )
Goodbye: Sala hantle . ( )
Goodbye (informal): . ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].: [ ]. ( [Ha ke tseba ho bua Sefora/Sekhooa ])
Do you speak English?: U bua sekhooa ? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? (Hona le motho ea tsebang ho bua Sekhooa?)
Help!: ke kopa thuso ! ( !)
Look out!: ! (Hlokomela !)
Good morning.: . (Lumaka/Khotso )
Good evening.: . (Lumela/Khotso )
Good night.: . (Lumela/Khotso )
Good night (to sleep): robala hantle . ( )
I don't understand.: Ha ke utloisise . ( )
Where is the toilet?: ? (Ntloaneng ke kae?)

Problems

Numbers

1 - Ngoe 2 - Peli 3 - Tharo 4 - 'Ne 5 - Hlano 6 - Ts'elela 7 - Supa 8 - Robeli 9 - Robong 10- Leshome 11- Leshome le motso o mong 12- Leshome le metso e 'meli 13- Leshome le metso e meraro 14- Leshome le metso e mene 45- Leshome le metso e mehlano 16- Leshome le metso e ts'eletseng 17- Leshome le metso e supileng 18- Leshome le metso e robeli 19- Leshome le metso e robong 20- Mashome a mabeli 30- Mashome a mararo 40- Mashome a mane 50- Mashome a mahlano 60- Mashome a ts'eletseng 70- Mashome a supileng 80- Mashome a robeli 90- Mashome a robong 100- Lekholo 200- Makholo a mabeli 300- Makholo a mararo 400- Makholo a mane 600- Makholo a mahlano 600- Makholo a ts'eletseng 700- Makholo a supileng 800- Makholo a robeli 900- Makholo a robong 1000-Sekete

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating