CEFR Level
A1
Tswana — Beginner Vocabulary
311 words
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.
| # | Word | Type | IPA | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | afokato | Noun | ||
| 2 | aga | Verb | ||
| 3 | akanya | Verb | ||
| 4 | amoga | Verb | to deprive, to take something from someone. | |
| 5 | amogêla | Verb | to receive. | |
| 6 | araba | Verb | to answer. | |
| 7 | atlhama | Verb | ||
| 8 | ba | Verb | to become. | |
| 9 | baba | Verb | to taste hot, spicy. | |
| 10 | badimo | Noun | spirits, ancestors (as a focus for religious beliefs). | |
| 11 | bala | Verb | ||
| 12 | banna | Noun | plural of monna. | |
| 13 | batho | Noun | ||
| 14 | bela | Verb | ||
| 15 | bina | Verb | ||
| 16 | bitsa | Verb | ||
| 17 | bobôkô | Noun | ||
| 18 | bôfa | Verb | to tie, to bind. | |
| 19 | bogobe | Noun | porridge, stiff porridge. | |
| 20 | boitumediso | Noun | entertainment. | |
| 21 | bojalwa | Noun | Equivalent to 'beer': An alcoholic drink fermented from starch material, commonly barley malt; often with hops or some o… | |
| 22 | bolao | Noun | ||
| 23 | bomma | Noun | madams, ladies. | |
| 24 | bona | Verb | ||
| 25 | bontsi | Noun | multitudes. | |
| 26 | bopa | Verb | ||
| 27 | bora | Noun | ||
| 28 | borekhu | Noun | ||
| 29 | borwa | Noun | ||
| 30 | bosigo | Noun | ||
| 31 | botho | Noun | Equivalent to 'ubuntu': A Nguni Bantu ideology focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other. | |
| 32 | botsa | Verb | ||
| 33 | bua | Verb | to skin an animal. | |
| 34 | bupa | Verb | ||
| 35 | dia | Verb | ||
| 36 | dijo | Noun | ||
| 37 | dikeledi | Noun | ||
| 38 | dikgosi | Noun | plural of kgosi. | |
| 39 | dintshi | Noun | plural of ntshi. | |
| 40 | disa | Verb | to look after. | |
| 41 | ditlhong | Noun | ||
| 42 | ema | Verb | ||
| 43 | eta | Verb | ||
| 44 | fatshe | Noun | ||
| 45 | fepa | Verb | ||
| 46 | fofa | Verb | ||
| 47 | fula | Verb | ||
| 48 | galalela | Verb | ||
| 49 | goga | Verb | ||
| 50 | gola | Verb | to grow, to increase. | |
| 51 | hempe | Noun | ||
| 52 | hisetori | Noun | ||
| 53 | hula | Verb | ||
| 54 | huma | Verb | to become rich. | |
| 55 | itsi | Verb | ||
| 56 | ja | Verb | ||
| 57 | jwala | Verb | to plant, to sow. | |
| 58 | kagiso | Noun | peace (absence of conflict). | |
| 59 | karolo | Noun | part, portion. | |
| 60 | ke a go rata | Phrase | Equivalent to 'I love you': An affirmation of affection or deep caring, especially to a family member. | |
| 61 | ke a leboga | Phrase | Equivalent to 'thank you': Alternative spelling of thank-you. | |
| 62 | kgala | Noun, Verb | to dry up (of river etc.). | |
| 63 | kgama | Noun, Verb | Equivalent to 'hartebeest': A species of grassland antelope, Alcelaphus buselaphus, native to parts of Africa. | |
| 64 | kgofe | Noun | ||
| 65 | kgogo | Noun | ||
| 66 | kgomo | Noun | Equivalent to 'cow': An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved. | |
| 67 | kgosi | Noun | chief, chieftain; king. | |
| 68 | kgosigadi | Noun | Equivalent to 'queen': Alternative letter-case form of queen (“consort or widow of a king”). | |
| 69 | kgosikgolo | Noun | emperor, supreme chief. | |
| 70 | kgotla | Noun | tribal assembly, kgotla. | |
| 71 | khawa | Noun | ||
| 72 | khokhonute | Noun | ||
| 73 | khudu | Noun | Equivalent to 'tortoise': Any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of the family Testudinidae (chiefly Canada, US) or the… | |
| 74 | khwanya | Verb | ||
| 75 | kolêkê | Noun | contribution. | |
| 76 | kolobe | Noun | ||
| 77 | koloi | Noun | wagon; vehicle. | |
| 78 | koma | Noun | ||
| 79 | kopanela | Verb | ||
| 80 | kopano | Noun | ||
| 81 | kotsi | Noun | ||
| 82 | kubu | Noun | hippopotamus. | |
| 83 | kukama | Noun | Equivalent to 'gemsbok': A large African antelope (Oryx gazella). | |
| 84 | kwala | Verb | ||
| 85 | kwena | Noun | Equivalent to 'alligator': Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator si… | |
| 86 | laeborari | Noun | Equivalent to 'library': An institution which holds books and/or other forms of media for use by the public or qualified… | |
| 87 | lala | Verb | to spend the night. | |
| 88 | latela | Verb | to follow. | |
| 89 | latlha | Verb | to throw away. | |
| 90 | latswa | Verb | ||
| 91 | lebele | Noun | a single head or panicle of sorghum. | |
| 92 | lebone | Noun | ||
| 93 | lee | Noun | ||
| 94 | lefatlha | Noun | ||
| 95 | lefoko | Noun | ||
| 96 | legala | Noun | ||
| 97 | legodimo | Noun | sky, heaven. | |
| 98 | legwafa | Noun | ||
| 99 | lehihiri | Noun | cartilage. | |
| 100 | leina | Noun | ||
| 101 | leino | Noun | ||
| 102 | leitlho | Noun | Equivalent to 'eye': A large village and civil parish in the City of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England (OS grid ref… | |
| 103 | lekaêlagongwe | Noun | ||
| 104 | lekatane | Noun | melon, (reticulated) cantaloupe; watermelon. | |
| 105 | lema | Verb | to farm, to cultivate. | |
| 106 | lengau | Noun | ||
| 107 | lenginana | Noun | ||
| 108 | lengole | Noun | ||
| 109 | lenong | Noun | a vulture. | |
| 110 | lenyalo | Noun | Equivalent to 'marriage': A union of two or more people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social, or religiou… | |
| 111 | leobo | Noun | A type of thatched shelter, often part of a kgotla. | |
| 112 | lerago | Noun | ||
| 113 | leru | Noun | Equivalent to 'cloud': A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. | |
| 114 | leruarua | Noun | Equivalent to 'whale': Any one of numerous large marine mammals comprising an informal group within infraorder Cetacea t… | |
| 115 | lesapo | Noun | ||
| 116 | letsatsi | Noun | Equivalent to 'sun': The star at the center of the Solar System (our solar system), which shines in our sky, represented… | |
| 117 | letsetse | Noun | ||
| 118 | letsha | Noun | ||
| 119 | letsogo | Noun | ||
| 120 | letsolo | Noun | air vent of an anthill. | |
| 121 | letswai | Noun | ||
| 122 | lewatle | Noun | ||
| 123 | loa | Verb | to bewitch. | |
| 124 | lobala | Noun | sports field. | |
| 125 | lodule | Noun | contentment, calm, peace. | |
| 126 | lofofa | Noun | ||
| 127 | lokwalodikgang | Noun | newspaper. | |
| 128 | loleme | Noun | ||
| 129 | loma | Verb | ||
| 130 | lorato | Noun | ||
| 131 | lwa | Verb | to fight, to struggle. | |
| 132 | mabele | Noun | ||
| 133 | madi | Noun | ||
| 134 | mafura | Noun | lotion, cream. | |
| 135 | makasine | Noun | ||
| 136 | makatane | Noun | plural of lekatane. | |
| 137 | malome | Noun | maternal uncle. | |
| 138 | manyalo | Noun | plural of lenyalo. | |
| 139 | maši | Noun | ||
| 140 | mathe | Noun | ||
| 141 | matsolo | Noun | plural of letsolo. | |
| 142 | metsi | Noun | ||
| 143 | mma | Noun | Equivalent to 'Mrs': Abbreviation of Missus or Mistress; used before an adult woman's name or surname, used for any high… | |
| 144 | mmala | Noun | ||
| 145 | mme | Noun | ||
| 146 | mmino | Noun | ||
| 147 | mmutla | Noun | Equivalent to 'rabbit': The fourth of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the… | |
| 148 | moabêlwa | Noun | recipient. | |
| 149 | modimo | Noun | ||
| 150 | modula | Noun | ||
| 151 | moêng | Noun | guest, visitor. | |
| 152 | mogala | Noun | ||
| 153 | mogwe | Noun | son-in-law. | |
| 154 | mojako | Noun | ||
| 155 | mokabaowane | Noun | Equivalent to 'klipspringer': A small antelope native to eastern and southern Africa having a dense, brown, speckled coa… | |
| 156 | mokoro | Noun | canoe, mokoro, boat. | |
| 157 | molelo | Noun | ||
| 158 | molemi | Noun | ||
| 159 | moloi | Noun | Equivalent to 'witch': A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to in… | |
| 160 | molomo | Noun | Equivalent to 'mouth': The front opening of a creature through which food is ingested. | |
| 161 | monna | Noun | man (human male). | |
| 162 | monwana | Noun | ||
| 163 | monwane | Noun | snowberry, simpleleaf bushweed, Flueggea virosa. | |
| 164 | mophane | Noun | mopane, Colophospermum mopane. | |
| 165 | morafe | Noun | tribe, or community. | |
| 166 | more | Noun | ||
| 167 | morena | Noun | lord, chief, master King. | |
| 168 | mosadi | Noun | ||
| 169 | mosela | Noun | ||
| 170 | mosidi | Noun | ||
| 171 | motho | Noun | ||
| 172 | motlakase | Noun | ||
| 173 | motsadi | Noun | ||
| 174 | motswala | Noun | cross-cousin. | |
| 175 | motswedi | Noun | fountain, spring. | |
| 176 | motuka | Noun | ||
| 177 | mpa | Noun | belly, stomach. | |
| 178 | mpho | Noun | Equivalent to 'gift': Something given to another voluntarily, without charge. | |
| 179 | nama | Noun | meat, flesh. | |
| 180 | namane | Noun | Equivalent to 'Calf': A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo. | |
| 181 | nare | Noun | ||
| 182 | nawa | Noun | Equivalent to 'Clitoris': A sensitive elongated erectile sex organ at the anterior part of the vulva in female humans an… | |
| 183 | ngaka | Noun | traditional healer, witch doctor. | |
| 184 | nganga | Verb | to dispute, to argue. | |
| 185 | ngwaga | Noun | ||
| 186 | ngwana | Noun | ||
| 187 | ngwetsi | Noun | daughter-in-law. | |
| 188 | nkgodi | Noun | bird of prey, hawk. | |
| 189 | nko | Noun | ||
| 190 | nku | Noun | ||
| 191 | nkwe | Noun | ||
| 192 | noga | Noun | Equivalent to 'snake': The sixth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chine… | |
| 193 | noka | Noun | ||
| 194 | nong | Noun | a big bird. | |
| 195 | nonyane | Noun | a small bird. | |
| 196 | notshe | Noun | ||
| 197 | notshi | Noun | ||
| 198 | nta | Noun | ||
| 199 | ntlo | Noun | ||
| 200 | ntša | Noun | ||
| 201 | ntsala | Noun | ||
| 202 | ntšhe | Noun | ||
| 203 | ntshi | Noun | Equivalent to 'Eyelash': One of the hairs which grows along the edge of eyelids. | |
| 204 | ntwa | Noun | ||
| 205 | nwa | Verb | ||
| 206 | nyala | Verb | ||
| 207 | oma | Verb | to be dry. | |
| 208 | otla | Verb | ||
| 209 | pampiri | Noun | ||
| 210 | papa | Noun | father (male parent). | |
| 211 | pela | Noun | ||
| 212 | peo | Noun | ||
| 213 | petsana | Noun | ||
| 214 | phala | Noun | Equivalent to 'impala': An African antelope, Aepyceros melampus, noted for its leaping ability; the male has ridged, cur… | |
| 215 | phetiso | Noun | transmission. | |
| 216 | philo | Noun | ||
| 217 | phiri | Noun | ||
| 218 | phofu | Noun | Equivalent to 'eland': A genus of large South African antelope (Taurotragus), valued both for its hide and flesh. | |
| 219 | phologolo | Noun | Equivalent to 'animal': Any member of the kingdom Animalia of multicellular organisms that are usually mobile, whose cel… | |
| 220 | phuti | Noun | Equivalent to 'duiker': Any of several species of small southern African antelopes of the Cephalophinae subfamily. | |
| 221 | pitsa | Noun | cooking pot. | |
| 222 | podi | Noun | Equivalent to 'goat': Alternative letter-case form of GOAT (“greatest of all time”). | |
| 223 | poo | Noun | Equivalent to 'bull': An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. | |
| 224 | potso | Noun | ||
| 225 | pula | Noun | Equivalent to 'rain': Condensed water falling from a cloud. | |
| 226 | rata | Verb | ||
| 227 | reka | Verb | ||
| 228 | rôbala | Verb | ||
| 229 | rra | Noun | sir; gentleman. | |
| 230 | rre | Noun | ||
| 231 | rwala | Verb | to carry (on the head). | |
| 232 | ša | Verb | ||
| 233 | sala | Verb | to remain. | |
| 234 | šapa | Verb | ||
| 235 | seatla | Noun | ||
| 236 | sebete | Noun | type of senna plant, Senna italica. | |
| 237 | sefuba | Noun | chest (of the body). | |
| 238 | sega | Verb | ||
| 239 | segagabi | Noun | ||
| 240 | segofatsa | Verb | ||
| 241 | segokgo | Noun | Equivalent to 'spider': Any of various eight-legged, predatory arthropods, of the order Araneae, most of which spin webs… | |
| 242 | segwagwa | Noun | ||
| 243 | sehuba | Noun | chest (of the body). | |
| 244 | seipone | Noun | ||
| 245 | sejana | Noun | ||
| 246 | sekgwa | Noun | forest, thicket. | |
| 247 | sekgwama | Noun | ||
| 248 | seledu | Noun | Equivalent to 'chin': The bottom of a face, (specifically) the typically jutting jawline below the mouth. | |
| 249 | selemo | Noun | ||
| 250 | selepe | Noun | ||
| 251 | senya | Verb | ||
| 252 | sera | Noun | ||
| 253 | serai | Noun | trap, snare. | |
| 254 | seretse | Noun | sediment (in liquids). | |
| 255 | serobe | Noun | ||
| 256 | serurubele | Noun | Equivalent to 'butterfly': A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity… | |
| 257 | sesepa | Noun | ||
| 258 | sethunya | Noun | ||
| 259 | sethuthuthu | Noun | motorcycle, motorbike. | |
| 260 | setlha | Noun | ||
| 261 | setlhare | Noun | ||
| 262 | sha | Verb | ||
| 263 | simolola | Verb | ||
| 264 | šoka | Verb | ||
| 265 | swa | Verb | ||
| 266 | tau | Noun | ||
| 267 | tedu | Noun | ||
| 268 | thaba | Noun | ||
| 269 | thakadu | Noun | Equivalent to 'aardvark': The nocturnal, insectivorous, burrowing, mammal Orycteropus afer, of the order Tubulidentata… | |
| 270 | thato | Noun | ||
| 271 | thebe | Noun | ||
| 272 | thelebishene | Noun | television. | |
| 273 | thipa | Noun | Equivalent to 'knife': A utensil or a tool designed for cutting, consisting of a flat piece of hard material, usually st… | |
| 274 | tholo | Noun | greater kudu. | |
| 275 | thutafatshe | Noun | geography. | |
| 276 | thutlwa | Noun | Equivalent to 'Giraffe': A ruminant, of the genus Giraffa, of the African savannah with long legs and highly elongated n… | |
| 277 | thwala | Verb | ||
| 278 | tla | Verb | ||
| 279 | tlala | Noun | ||
| 280 | tlatsa | Verb | ||
| 281 | tlhafuna | Verb | ||
| 282 | tlhako | Noun | ||
| 283 | tlhama | Verb | to invent. | |
| 284 | tlhapi | Noun | Equivalent to 'fish': Acronym of fluorescent in situ hybridization, a molecular cytogenetic technique used to identify w… | |
| 285 | tlhware | Noun | Equivalent to 'Python': Any member of the comedy troupe Monty Python: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric I… | |
| 286 | tlola | Verb | ||
| 287 | tlou | Noun | Equivalent to 'elephant': A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native… | |
| 288 | toropo | Noun | ||
| 289 | tsala | Verb | ||
| 290 | tsamaya | Verb | ||
| 291 | tsebe | Noun | ||
| 292 | tsela | Noun | Equivalent to 'road': A way used for travelling between places, originally one wide enough to allow foot passengers and… | |
| 293 | tsetse | Noun | tsetse fly. | |
| 294 | tshaba | Verb | ||
| 295 | tshega | Verb | ||
| 296 | tshegofatso | Noun | ||
| 297 | tshenekegi | Noun | ||
| 298 | tshepe | Noun | Equivalent to 'springbok': A small, fast antelope native to southern Africa, Antidorcas marsupialis. | |
| 299 | tshipi | Noun | Equivalent to 'Sunday': The first day of the week in many religious traditions, and the seventh day of the week in syste… | |
| 300 | tšhuba | Verb | to set alight. | |
| 301 | tshwene | Noun | Equivalent to 'Baboon': An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek po… | |
| 302 | tsie | Noun | ||
| 303 | tsoga | Verb | to wake up. | |
| 304 | tšoma | Verb | ||
| 305 | tswa | Verb | to emerge, go out. | |
| 306 | tswaana | Verb | to separate. | |
| 307 | tumelo | Noun | ||
| 308 | utlwa | Verb | to hear, to listen. | |
| 309 | wa | Verb | ||
| 310 | ya | Verb | ||
| 311 | yunivesithi | Noun | university. |
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