Language (puo) May 11, 2008
Posted by Rethabile in culture, sesotho.trackback
English is the official language, Sesotho (southern Sotho) is the national language. Some Zulu and Xhosa are also spoken, but on quite a small scale. Sesotho is not supposed to be an easy language, due to its tonal features and its uncommon sounds. But no language is “easy to learn”. Here are some helpful words and expressions:
| ENGLISH | SESOTHO | PRONUNCIATION |
| Yes | E | /ay/ |
| No | Che | /tcheh/ |
| Food | Lijo | /deeJAW/ |
| Water | Metsi | /mayTSEE/ |
| Toilet | Ntloana | /ndlwana/ |
| Car | Koloi | /koLOee/ |
| Please | Ka kopo | /KAkoopaw/ |
| Hello | Lumela (to one person) | /dooMEHla/ |
| Hello | Lumelang (to 2 or more people) | /dooMEHLAng/ |
| How are you? | U phela joang? (to one person) | /oo pheela jwang/ |
| How are you? | Le phela joang? (to 2 or more people) | /Lee pheela jwang/ |
| I’m fine, and you? | Kea phela, oena? | /key ya PHEEla, wehNAH/ |
| I’m hungry | Ke lapile | /key lapeelay/ |
| I’m full | Ke khotše | /key KHOOt-se/ |
| My name is… | Lebitso laka ke… | /lehBEETsaw LAKA kee…/ |
| My surname is… | Fane eaka ke… | /FAHnee YAKA kee…/ |
| I love you | Kea u rata | /kee ya oo RAta/ |
| Thank you | Kea leboha/ | /kee ya layBOOha/ |
| Wake me up | Ntsose | /nTSOOsay/ |
| I’m lost | Ke lahlehile | /key LAH-HLAYheelay/ |
| How much is it? | Ke bokae? | /KEY booka-EE/ |
| It’s expensive | E turu | /ee TWO-roo/ |
| I’m serious | Ke tihile | key TEE-HEE-lay/ |
| I’m sick | Kea kula | /key ya cool ah/ |
| What are you gaping at? | O ahlametseng? | /oo AH-hlaMAYtsing/ |
| Could I have some medicine? | Ke kopa moriana. | /key-koopa moREEYAna/ |
| Do you speak English/Xhosa? | Na o bua Sekhooa/Seqhotsa? | /NA o BOOWA seKHOOa / seQHOtsa/ |
| I don’t care. | Ha ke tsotelle. | /ha KEY TSOtay-L-lee/ |
| What do you want? | O batlang? (sing.) | /oo bah clah-NG/ |
| What do you want? | Le batlang? (pl.) | /ee bah clah-NG/ |
| I want… | Ke batla… | /kee bah-clah/ |
| We want… | Re batla… | /ree bah-clah/ |
| I’m happy | Ke thabile | /kee tah-BEE lay/ |
| We’re happy | Re thabile | /ree tah-BEE lay/ |
| Grandmother | Nkhono | /ng-KHOO-noo/ |
| Grandfather | Ntate-moholo (literally: big father) | /ntah-TAY-moo-WHO-loo/ |
| How was your trip? | O (sing.)/Le (pl.) tsamaile joang? | /oo-tsa-MY-LAY-jwang/ |
| Where’s the hospital? | Sepetlele se hokae? | /seh-PEH-cleh-LEH si hoo-ka-i/ |
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