The term Sotho is used for the whole of the language group who call ... those who
are willing to learn Sotho languages, lessons have been prepared; and the.
Peace Corps South Africa An Introduction to Sepedi Language: The term Sotho is used for the whole of the language group who call themselves Basotho. This language group is made up of three main Sotho sub-groups, i.e, the Northern, Southern and Western Sotho, which is also known as Setswana. The Sotho language structure is based on a system of noun classes and a system of concords. In order to help those who are willing to learn Sotho languages, lessons have been prepared; and the following lessons are specifically based on Sepedi language or Northern Sotho.
LESSON 1: A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION In Sepedi the alphabet “a” is pronounced as “a”. This letter is pronounced like the “a” in the English word “father”. Example, “lefase”, which means “the earth”. The letter “b” is pronounced as “b”, and it is pronounced like the second “b” in the word “baby”. Example, “molobi”, which is “the loser”. Or “bana”, which means “children”. “C” is non-existent in Sepedi. “D” is pronounced as “j”, and it is pronounced like the “g” in the word “genre”. For example, “dijo”, which is “food”. The letter “e” is pronounced as “e”, and it is pronounced like the “e” in the word “there”. Example, “ema”, which means “stop” or “stand up”. The letter “f” is pronounced as “f”, and it is pronounced exactly like the “f” in the word “far”. For example, “feela”, which means “only”. “G” is pronounced as “g”, and this letter is pronounced like the sound which is made when one hawks. For example, “gana”, which is “refuse”. “H” is pronounced as “hhh”, and this letter is pronounced exactly like the “h” in the word “house”. For example, “hema”, which means “breath”. Or “huma”, which means “to be rich”.
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“I” is pronounced as “e”, and this letter is pronounced like the “i” in the English word “is”. For instance, “kitima”, which means “run”. “J” is also pronounced like the “g” in the word “genre”. For example, “ja”, which means “eat”. “K” is pronounced as “k”, and it is pronounced like the “g” in the English word “go”. For example, “koša”, which means “song”. “L” is pronounced as “lll” and it is pronounced like the “l” in the word “lion”. For example, “lla”, which means “cry”. Or “lema”, which means “plough”. “M” is pronounced as “mmm”, and this letter is pronounced like the “m” in the word “many”. For instance, “meno”, which means “teeth”. “N” is pronounced as “nnn”, and this letter is pronounced like the “n” in the word “need”. For example, “noka”, which is “river”. The letter “o” is pronounced as “o”, and it is pronounced like the “o” in the word “ought”. E.g, “ota”, which means “to be skinny”. “P” is pronounced as “p”. This letter is pronounced like the “b” in the word “buy”. For instance, “palamonwana”, which means “a ring”. “Q” is also non-existent in Sepedi. And then “r” is pronounced as “rrr”, and this letter is pronounced like the “r” in the word “preach”. Example, “rera”, which means “preach”. “S” is pronounced as “sss”, and it is pronounced like the “s” in the word “sell”. Example, “setlaela”, which means “idiot”. “T” is pronounced as “d”, and it is pronounced like the “d” in the word “democracy”. For instance, “temo”, which means “agriculture”. “U” is pronounced as “ooh”, and it is pronounced like the “u” in the English word “put”. For instance, “uta”, which means “hide something”. “V” is also non-existent in Sepedi. “W” is pronounced as “w”, and it is pronounced like the “w” in the word “wow!”. For example, “wena”, which means “you” in singular. “X” is pronounced as “x”, and this sound is non-existent in English. In Sepedi, there is only one word which has this letter, and that is “nxae”, or “nxanxae”, or “nxase”.
3 “Nxae”, “nxanxae”, or “nxase”, and this means “sorry”. This word is usually uttered when someone gets hurt, to show sympathy for that particular person. And then, “y” is pronounced as “y”, and this letter is pronounced like “y” in the word “yoyo” or “yogi sip”. For example, “yona”, which means “it”, that is, the pronoun “it”. And then, “Z” is also non-existent in Sepedi. In addition to the sounds which are produced by individual alphabets, there are also some sounds which are produced when two or more alphabets are put together. Such sounds may also need a thorough scrutiny. The following are examples: “Ph” is pronounced as “ph”, in Sepedi. These letters are pronounced like the “p” in the word “peach”. For example, “bophelo”, which means “life”. “Ts” is pronounced as “ts”. These letters are pronounced like the “ts” in the word “mats”. For example, “metse”, which is “villages”. We also have “tl” which is pronounced as “tl”. These letters are pronounced like the “cl” in the word “cluck”. For example, “tlema”, which means “tie”. There is also the “th”. “Th” is pronounced as “th”, and these words are pronounced like the “t” in the English word “take”. For example, “thuša”, which means “help”. We also have the “tlh”. “Tlh” is pronounced in Sepedi as “tlh”. These alphabets, when put together, are pronounced like the “cl” in the English word “sclerosis”. For example, “tlhaologanyo”, which means “understanding”. We also have “tsh”. “Tsh” is pronounced as “tsh”. These letters are pronounced with an aspiration almost similar to the “ts” which we have already explained earlier on, but the “h” makes it slightly different from the “ts” sound; and this sound is non-existent in English. For example, “ntsho”, which means “black”. And then we also have “t, s with a cap (š), plus h” (tšh). These letters, when put together, are pronounced like the “ch” in the word “church”. “Tšh” is pronounced as “tšh” in Sepedi. It is pronounced as “tšh”. And we have words such as “ntšha”, which means “take out”, or “tšhaba”, which means “run away”. And then there is also another sound which is made by the alphabet “t, plus s with a cap (tš). “T, plus s with a cap (tš) makes the sound “tš”. And these alphabets are pronounced like the “g” in the English word “engine”. For example, we have the word “letšatši”, which means “day” or “sun”.
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LESSON 2: GREETINGS Good morning / day / evening sir. Good morning / day / evening madam. How are you? I am fine and how are you? I am well. Good day ladies and gentlemen. Good day madam. How are you? (plural). We are well and how are you? I am well. Thank you. Good day sir. Good day madam. How are you? I am fine and how are you? I am fine.
Thobela ntate / tate. Dumela mma / mme. O tsogile bjang? / Go bjang? (Le kae?) Ke tsogile gabotse, wena o tsogile bjang? (Re gona re ka ra lena). Ke tsogile gabotse. (Re gona). Dumelang bontate le bomma / bomme (Dumelang bomme le bontate). Dumela mma / mme / mohumagadi. Le tsogile bjang? Re tsogile gabotse / botse. Ke tsogile gabotse / botse. Re a leboga. Thobela ntate / Tameng ntate. Dumela mme / mma. Le kae? Re gona re ka ra lena. Ke gona / Re gona.
N.B: (“Dumela is not specific to any time of the day and men are expected to take off their hats or caps when greeting elders”).
LESSON 3: INTRODUCING SELF OR SOMEONE My name is Itumeleng. My last name is Moeng. What is your name? I am from Botswana. Where are you from? His name is Thabo. His last name is Thuto. Are you from America? I am a volunteer.
Leina la ka ke Itumeleng. Sefane sa ka ke Moeng. Leina la gago o mang? Ke tšwa Botswana. O tšwa kae? Leina la gagwe ke Thabo. Sefane sa gagwe ke Thuto. A / Naa o tšwa Amerika? Ke moithaopi.
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LESSON 4: LEAVE-TAKING EXPRESSION Good-bye. See you. Have a good day. Good night. See you tomorrow. See you later.
Go lokile / Šala gabotse. (Šalang gabotse). Ke tla go bona. Eba le letšatši le monate. Robala gabotse / O robale gabotse. Ke tla go bona gosasa / ka moswane. Ke tla go bona ka kgapele / kgapele.
LESSON 5: VOCABULARY 1 (VERBS) To-
GoN.B: (The word after slash represents the verb in its past tense form).
Able to, be Advise, remind Afraid of, be Answer Arrive Ask Ask for (polite way) Away, go, travel Be, become Begin Believe, agree Boil
Kgona / kgonne Eletša / eleditše Tšhaba / tšhabile Araba / arabile Goroga / gorogile, Goba Fihla / fihlile Botšiša / botšišitše Kgopela / kgopetše Tsamaya / tsamaile Ba / Bile Thoma / thomile Dumela / dumetše Bela / betše
Borrow Bring Burn Bury Buy Call another person Carry Climb Close Come Come in Come out (emerge)
Adima / adimile Tliša / tlišitše Tšhuma / tšhumile Boloka / bolokile Reka / rekile Bitša motho e mongwe Swara / swere Namela / nametše Tswalela / tswaletše Tla / tlile Tsena (ka gare) / tsene Tšwa / tšwile
6 Cook Cry Dance Delay Destroy Do Drink Early, to be Eat Enter Explain Feel, Hear, Taste Finish Find Fix, prepare Forgive To see Get up / Wake up Give Go Happy, be Help Hold Injure Keep Kind, be Know Laugh Learn, study Listen Like, love Live Need Open Pass Pay Pick up Place, put Refuse Return Say Sell Sick, to be Sit down
Apea / apeile Lla / llile Bina / binne Ditela / ditetše, Goba Diegiša / diegišitše Senya / sentše Dira / dirile Nwa / nwele Goseng, Go tla goseng Ja / jele Tsena / tsene Hlalosa / hlalositše Kwa / kwele Fetša / feditše Hwetša / hweditše Beakanya / beakantše, Goba Lokiša / Lokišitše Swarela / swaretše Bona / bone Tsoga / tsogile Fa / file Ya / Ile Thaba / thabile Thuša / thušitše Swara / swere Gobatša / gobaditše Boloka / bolokile Loka / lokile Tseba / tsebile Sega / segile Ithuta / ithutile Theeletša / theeleditše Rata / ratile Dula / dutše Nyaka / nyakile Bula / butše Feta / fetile Lefa / lefile Topa / topile Bea / beile Gana / ganne Boa (Bowa) / boile Re / rile, Goba Bolela / boletše Rekiša / rekišitše Lwala / lwetše, goba Babja / babjitše Dula fase / dutše
7 Sleep Smoke; pull Speak Spend the night Stay behind Take Teach Tell Tired, become Try Understand Use Visit Want Wash (clothes) Bathe Watch Work Write
Robala / robetše Kgokga / kgokgile; Goga / gogile Bolela / boletše Lala / letše Šala / šetše Tšea / tšere Ruta / rutile Botša / boditše Lapa / lapile Leka / lekile Kwešiša / kwešišitše Šomiša / šomišitše Eta (Etela) / etetše Nyaka / nyakile Hlatswa / hlatswitše (clothes) Hlapa / hlapile Lebelela / lebeletše (Bogela / Bogetše) Šoma / šomile, Goba Bereka / berekile Ngwala / ngwadile
LESSON 6: SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS I am tired I am sleepy I am hungry I am not hungry Where are you going? When are you coming? Where is your home? Where is Andrew? Edward is going to the post office I do not go to the shop I am learning Setswana; I study Setswana I don’t take coffee I need some rest I eat; I am eating He / She is not eating; He / She doesn’t eat She does not study I bathe in the morning I wake up very early It’s becoming late (nightfall) It’s time up
Ke lapile. Ke swerwe ke boroko. Ke swerwe ke tlala. Ga ka swarwa ke tlala. O ya kae? O tla neng? (O boa neng?) Legae la gago le kae? Goba, Ga geno ke kae? Goba (O dula kae?) Andrew o kae? Edward o ya posong. Ga ke ye šopong. Ke ithuta Setswana. Ga ke nwe kofi. Ke nyaka go khutša. Ke a ja. Ga a je. Ga a ithute. Ke hlapa mesong (goseng). Ke tsoga mesong kudu. Go ba bošego. Nako e fedile; Goba E tšhaile (informal).
8 I am thirsty I do not understand Speak slowly Excuse me Speak quickly Do you have a problem(s)? Yes, I have a problem No, I don’t have a problem Do you have any questions? Ask Greet Please Thank you Again
Ke swerwe ke lenyoro. Ga ke hlaologanye, Goba Ga ke kwešiše. Bolela ka go nanya / iketla. Ntshwarele. Bolela ka pela. A o na le bothata (mathata)? Ee, ke na le bothata. Aowa, ga ke na bothata. A o na le dipotšišo? Botšiša. Dumediša. Hle. Ke a leboga. Gape.
LESSON 7: VOCABULARY 2 (NOUNS) Table Chair Plate Cup Spoon Knife Broom
Tafola. Setulo. Sebjana / Poleiti. Komiki. Llepola. Mphaka. Leswielo.
Bed Blanket Clothes Pants Shoes
Malao / mpete. Kobo. Diaparo. Borokgo. Dieta.
Pencil Book Bag Pen Window Door
Phensele. Puku. Peeke. Pene. Lefasetere. Lebati.
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LESSON 8: PRONOUNS I You (singular) He / She We / Us You (plural) Them
Nna Wena. Yena. Rena. Lena. Bona.
LESSON 9: CONNECTING WORDS And But Or Is As / Like Therefore Because
Le / e bile Mme / eupša / empa / “mara” (informal) Goba Ke Bjalo ka (Go swana le) Ka fao Ka lebaka la gore / gobane
LESSON 10: NEGATION I Present
Negative Present
Past
Negative Past
You She / He We (sing) Ke a O a nyaka. O a nyaka. Re a nyaka. nyaka. I want. You want. She / He We want. wants. Ga ke Ga o Ga a Ga re nyake. nyake. nyake. nyake. I do not You do She / He We do not want. not want. does not want. want. Ke be ke O be o O be a Re be re nyaka / Ke nyaka / O nyaka / O nyaka / Re nyakile. nyakile. nyakile. nyakile. I did want You did She / He We did / I wanted. want. did want. want. Ke be ke O be o sa O be a sa Re be re sa nyake / nyake / Ga nyake / Ga sa nyake / Ga ka wa nyaka. a nyaka. Ga ra
You (plu)
They
Le a Ba a nyaka. nyaka. You want. They want. Ga le Ga ba nyake. nyake. You do They do not want. not want. Le be le nyaka / Le nyakile. You did want. Le be le sa nyake / Ga la nyaka.
Ba be ba nyaka / Ba nyakile. They did want. Ba be ba sa nyake / Ga ba
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Negative Future
Future
nyaka. I did not You did She / He want. not want. did not want. Nka se O ka se A ka se nyake. nyake. nyake. I will not You will She / He want. not want. will not want. Ke tla O tla O tla nyaka. nyaka. nyaka. I will You will She / He want. want. will want.
nyaka. nyaka. We did You did They did not want. not want. not want. Re ka se nyake. We will not want.
Le ka se nyake. You will not want.
Ba ka se nyake. They will not want.
Re tla nyaka. We will want.
Le tla nyaka. You will want.
Ba tla nyaka. They will want.
N.B: When you add the negative indicator “ga” in the present statement the last letter in the verb (which is usually “a”), changes to “e” (applicable in negative present tense).
LESSON 11: THE VERB “to be” AND “to have” I am reading. You (singular) are reading. You (plural) are reading. She / He is reading. They are reading. We are reading.
The verb “to have” (-na le) I have a book. You (sin) have a book. You (plu) have a book. She / He has a book. They have a book. We have a book.
Ke a bala. O a bala. Le a bala. O a bala. Ba a bala. Re a bala. N.B: The “a” is applicable in all pronouns and it represents “is”, “am” and “are”. Ke na le puku / buka. O na le puku. Le na le puku. O na le puku. Ba na le puku. Re na le puku.
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LESSON 12 : QUESTIONS AND COMMANDS What is it ? When did you come? Where are you from? How are you? Who are you? Which one? Which ones? Why? Commanding Expressions: Open the door. Close the door. Stand and talk. Stand. Get inside. Come here. Keep quiet / Listen. Go back. Come to the front. Sit down.
Ke eng? O tlile neng? O tšwa kae? Go bjang? Goba O tsogile bjang? (N.B: If it is in the morning) (Le kae?) O mang? / Ke wena mang? Efe?/ Sefe?/ Lefe? (It depends on a noun). Dife? / Afe? (Bafe?). Ke ka lebaka la eng? / Gobaneng? Bula lebati / mojako. Tswalela lebati. Ema o bolele. Ema. Tsena ka gare. Tlaa / Etla mo. Homola / Theeletša. Boela / Eya morago. Etla mo pele. Dula fase.
LESSON 13: EXPRESSING NEEDS What do you want? I want a candle. What do you need? I need money. Where do you want to go? I want to go home. What do you want to do now? I do not know. How do you feel? My head still aches. Why does she need a lot of money? She needs to buy food and clothes. Do you like coffee? No, I do not like coffee. Where are you going tomorrow? I want to go to the shops in the morning.
O nyaka eng? Ke nyaka lekgantlele / lekerese / kerese. O nyaka eng? Ke nyaka tšhelete. O nyaka go ya kae? Ke nyaka go ya gae. O nyaka go dira eng gona bjalo / bjale? Ga ke tsebe. O ikwa bjang? Hlogo ya ka e sa opa. Ke ka lebaka la eng a nyaka tšhelete e ntši? O nyaka go reka dijo le diaparo. A / Naa o rata kofi? Aowa, ga ke rate kofi. O ya kae gosasa? Ke nyaka go ya dišopong / mabenkeleng e sa le mesong.
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LESSON 14: FOOD ITEMS Food. Dijo. Sorghum. Mabele. Mealie-meal. Bupi. Sugar. Swikiri. Salt. Letswae. Water. Meetse. Milk. Maswi. Tomatoes. Ditamati. Potatoes. Matapola. Eggs. Mae. Bread. Borotho. Coffee. Kofi. Tea. Teye. Soft porridge (made from sorghum / Motapa / motepa/ motogo. mealie-meal) Onions. Dianyanese (Dieiye). Orange. Namune / Namone. Apple. Apolo / Apola. Peanuts. Ditokomane / Dimake. Beans. Dinawa.
LESSON 15: FAMILY Grandfather. Grandmother. Father. Mother. Sister; Brother. (My) Older sibling. (My) Younger sibling. Uncle (paternal). Uncle (maternal). Aunt (paternal). Aunt (maternal). Cousin. Parents. Child / children. Family.
Ntate mogolo / Rakgolo. Koko / Makgolo. Tate / Tata. Mme / mma. Sesi; Buti / Kgaetšedi (N.B: Said only to peers of opposite gender). Mogolwake. Nnake / moratho / monyanana. Rangwane / Ramogolo. Malome. Rakgadi. Mmangwane / Mmamogolo. Motswala. Batswadi. Ngwana / Bana.
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LESSON 16: ADVERBS OF TIME Today. Yesterday. Tomorrow. The day before yesterday. Few weeks ago. This week. Last week. Next week. This year. Last year. Next year. This month. At the moment. Later on; earlier on (depending on context). At night. In the morning. At noon (till sunset). Around sunset.
Lehono / Mamohla. Maabane. Gosasa / Ka moswane. Maloba. Dibeke tše mmalwa tša go feta. Beke ye. Beke ya go feta. Beke e e tlago. Ngwaga wo / Ngwago. Ngwaga wa go feta. Ngwaga o o tlago. Kgwedi ye. Gona bjalo. Kgapele / Ka nkgapele / Kgapela. Bošego. Mesong. Mosegare (go fihla le dikela). Ge le dikela / Mathapama.
LESSON 17: DAYS OF THE WEEK Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday.
Mošupologo / Mantaga. Labobedi. Laboraro. Labone. Labohlano. Mokibelo. Sontaga / LaMorena.
LESSON 18: NUMBERS 1 2 3 4
Tee. Pedi. Tharo. Nne.
14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Tlhano. Tshela. Šupa. Seswae. Senyane. Lesome. Lesometee / Lesome-tee. Lesomepedi. Lesometharo. Lesomenne. Lesometlhano. Lesometshela. Lesomešupa. Lesomeseswae. Lesomesenyane. Masomepedi. Masomepeditee. Masomepedipedi. Masomepeditharo. Masomepedinne. Masomepeditlhano. Masomepeditshela. Masomepedišupa. Masomepediseswae. Masomepedisenyane. Masometharo.
LESSON 19: COLOURS White. Black. Purple. Green. Yellow. Red. Pink.
Tšhweu. Ntsho. Phepholo. Tala. Kheri. Khwibidu / Khubedu. Pinki.
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LESSON 20: DAYS ACTIVITIES I wake up at 6 am. I bathe. And then, I eat. I go to school. I spent the day at school. We were doing a lot of things today. There were visitors from the police. I was excited today. When I come back from school, I rest.
Ke tsoga ka 6 (six) mesong / Ke tsoga ka iri ya boselela mesong. Ke a hlapa. Ka ja. Ke ya sekolong. Ke hlwile kua sekolong / Ke feditše letšatši kua sekolong. Re be re dira dilo tše ntši. Go be go na le baeng ba maphodisa / Go be go na le baeng ba go tšwa go maphodisa. Ke be ke thabile lehono. Ge ke bowa (boa) sekolong, ke a khutša / Ge ke etšwa sekolong, ke a khutša.
LESSON 21: VOCABULARY 3 (NAMES OF PLACES) Places: House. Classroom. Toilet. Kitchen. School. Hospital. Clinic. Shop. Post Office. River. Field. Church. Bank. Customary court.
Mafelo. Ntlo. Tlelase / Phaphoši. Thwaelete / Ntlwana ya boithomelo. Khiši. Sekolo. Sepetlele. Tliliniki. Šopo / Lebenkele. Poso. Noka. Tšhemo / Mašemo. Kereke. Panka. Kgoro ya tsheko.
LESSON 22: SOME WORDS WITH SIMILAR OR ALMOST SIMILAR SPELLINGS BUT DIFFERENT MEANINGS Sorghum. Human breasts. To be tired. Family.
Mabele. Matswele. Go lapa. Lapa.
16 To pull. To smoke. To feel. To hear. To taste. To bury. To hide something. How many are there? Where are they?
Go goga. Go kgokga. Go kwa. Go kwa. Go kwa. Go fihla / (Go boloka). Go fihla selo se sengwe / (Go uta selo se sengwe). Ke tše kae? Di kae?
LESSON 23: ASKING FOR PRICES How much is a bag of oranges? How much is it? It is P4.50. How much is each orange? They are 75 thebe each. What is the total price? The total price is P17.50.
Ke bokae mokotla wa dinamune? / Ke bokae lesaka la dinamone? Ke bokae? Ke P4.50. (Naa) namune e tee ke bokae? (Ke bokae namune e tee?) E tee ke 75 thebe. Ka moka ke bokae? / Tšhelete ka moka ke bokae? (Tefelo ka moka ke bokae?) Tšhelete ka moka ke 17 Pula 50 / Tefelo ka moka ke 17 Pula 50.
LESSON 24: WEATHER AND SEASONS Today, it is cold. Today, it is hot. It is warm. It is sunny. It is windy. Today, it is better. Summer. Winter. Autumn. Spring.
Lehono go a tonya / go botšididi. Lehono go a fiša. Go a ruthela. Go na le letšatši / Go letšatši. Go na le phefo / diphefo / moya / ledimo (N.B: It depends on context). Lehono go kaone. Selemo. Marega. Lehlabula. Seruthwane.
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LESSON 25: HEALTH EXPRESSIONS I am not well. I have a headache. My tummy hurts. His eyes are sore. Franco is going to the clinic. She / He went to see a doctor. Her leg is sollen. Seema ate something bad. They want to go to the clinic.
Ke a lwala / Ke a babja. Ke opša ke hlogo / (Hlogo ya ka e a opa). Teng ya ka e bohloko / Mala a ka a bohloko/ Ke babja ke teng. Mahlo a gagwe a bohloko. Franco o ya tliliniking. O ile go bona ngaka / O ile ngakeng. Leoto la gagwe le rurugile / O rurugile leoto. Seema o jele selo se sengwe seo se sa lokago. Ba nyaka go ya tliliniking.
LESSON 26: SAFETY EXPRESSIONS Help me. I need help. I have been attacked; I am being attacked. My house has been broken into. There has been theft in my house.
I have been robbed.
Nthuše. Ke nyaka thušo. Ke hlasetšwe; Ke a hlaselwa. Go thubilwe kua lapeng la ka / Go thubilwe kua ntlong ya ka. Ke utsweditšwe mo ntlong ya ka / (Literally: Go bile bohodu ka ntlong ya ka). Ke swerwe poo.
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