Difference between revisions of "Sesotho phrasebook"

Revision as of 12:44, 4 September 2010

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

15- 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

Hour - Hora

Hours - Dihora

Minute - Motsotso

Minutes - Metsotso

Second - Motsotswana

Seconds - Metsotswana

Duration

Days

Monday - Mantaha, Tuesday - Labobedi, Wednesday - Laboraro, Thursday - Labone, Friday - Labohlano, Saturday - Moqebelo, Sunday - Sontaha, Weekend - Mafelo a beke.

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority