Learn Setswana (101)

[khabzela]

Setswana is a language widely spoken in Southern Africa especially in Botswana.

Background info.

Botswana : country in southern Africa

Batswana : ethnically tswana people/ citizens of Botswana (plural) , singular (Motswana)

Setswana : mother language of Batswana

Basic communication


Hello : Dumela

Hello,( reference to a male): Dumela rra.

Hello,(reference to a female) : Dumela mma.

How are you : O tsogile jang? (singular) / Le tsogile jang (plural)

I am fine and how are you? : Ke tsogile, wena o tsogile jang?(singular) / Re tsogile, lona le tsogile jang? (plural)

How much is it? : Ke bo kahe?

I need help/assistance: Ke kopa thuso.

Thank you : Ke a leboga.

Goodbye : Sala sentle.

[precious]

kare ma lessons eSeTswana akgae? Or was that just a 'one off' thing.

[rudolphlboy]

Oh! Precious, ma lessons are Setswana a teng all over, fa o batla short version di teng, fa o batla tse di telele di teng, re ka ruta Setswana on line, ebile let me say this, MicroSoft ko gae ke raya ko Botswana, e busy ka go dira Setswana puo engwe to be used on the internet, very soon, o tla bo o kgona go tsena mo website ya Setswana, o ithute dilo tse ntse, just wait for a moment.......


Batswana re teng mo China jaanong, re tla le tela dibuka ba di bitsa "Thuta Puo ya Setswana, Dipina le Maboko, Puo Ya Bo-rre, Diane tsa Setswana le tse dingwe fela jalo  jalo.........o tla ja monate obo ontshiwe ke mogote................ke ntse ke a go ruta fa ke kwala jaana............

[precious]

It would be great go ithutha seTswana online. I tried to log onto one such website and a nasty prank was played on me.Was given a completely wrong interpretation for" Let's go on a date" You can imagine my horror and embarrasment when I said " O sephinya fela"
 
Anyways,I'm in Zimbabwe but looking forward to more Setswana lessons.I feel so handicapped go tsamaya mo Botswana and ga ke buwe(forgive spellings) Setswana
Ke a leboga

[rudolphlboy]

Hei Presicous , here is something for you................"Wednesday 20 September 2006, Mmegi.       
     
       
 
MS introduces indigenous language programmes

JOEL KONOPO
Staff Writer
9/20/2006 3:50:58 PM (GMT +2)

Microsoft (MS) is working towards unifying communities through the use of indigenous languages, the Regional General Manager for West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, (WECA) Thomas Hansen said yesterday.
 

"We want to let people utilise our technology in a language familiar to them. It is about breaking down barriers," said Hansen, in an exclusive interview with Mmegi at Grand Palm.


Hansen said Microsoft has a responsibility to provide broadband access to the community it operates in, to enable it use their technology effectively and positively.


"We have a Local Language Programme (LLP) in Setswana for Windows and Office. We started off with Kiswahili, then Zulu and it was only logical that Tswana should be the next language to be online," added Hansen.


You see, there is something good coming out for yu, so keep cheking out my sister.........and i will keep on informing you more...........
 
 

[purplehayzzz]

Why?

[sabresaurus]

Revision:

Dumela! Le tsogile jang?

Sala sentle.

Do I pass?

[sabresaurus]

It would be great go ithutha seTswana online. I tried to log onto one such website and a nasty prank was played on me.Was given a completely wrong interpretation for" Let's go on a date" You can imagine my horror and embarrasment when I said " O sephinya fela"
 
Anyways,I'm in Zimbabwe but looking forward to more Setswana lessons.I feel so handicapped go tsamaya mo Botswana and ga ke buwe(forgive spellings) Setswana
Ke a leboga

What is "O sephinya fela"?

[khabzela]

" O sephinya fela "... hmm how do i explain this??  Sephinya is fart.  So an English approximation would be "u are nothing but fart" (not the best English though), the phrase is basically dismissive, ie. U are nothing,u aint shit,... that sort of thing.

not very nice to say to someone.

[sabresaurus]

Perfect.  Now that's what I call 'Learning Setswana 101".

[purplehayzzz]

Again I say Way?