Useful Phrases

1. Ke moeti

   I am a traveller

   Usage

   Used to say you are a visitor travelling here

   Grammar Note

   "Ke" + noun means "I am ...". "moeti" is the word-list equivalent of tourist (plural "baeti") (composed from dictionary-verified words)

2. Ke sepela nnoši

   I am travelling alone

   Usage

   Used to say you are travelling on your own

   Grammar Note

   "sepela" means walk or travel and "nnoši" means by myself. There is no gendered form (composed from dictionary-verified words)

3. Ke tšwa Japane

   I come from Japan

   Usage

   Used to say where you come from; replace the country name as needed

   Grammar Note

   "Ke tšwa" + place means I come from. The language Japanese is "Sejapane" (composed from dictionary-verified words)

4. Ke la mathomo ge ke etela mo

   It is my first time visiting here

   Usage

   Used to say it is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   "lekga la mathomo" (the first time) is attested; here the noun "lekga" is left out. "etela" (visit) shares its root with "ketelo" (visit) (composed from dictionary-verified words)

5. A nka tšea seswantšho?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission before photographing a person or place

   Grammar Note

   "A nka" + verb asks "may I ...". "tšea" means take; "tšea seswantšho" is attested for taking pictures ("tšea ngwana wa gago diswantšho") (composed from dictionary-verified words)

6. A re tšee seswantšho mmogo?

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Used to invite someone to take a photo together

   Grammar Note

   "A re" + subjunctive means "shall we ...". The subjunctive of "tšea" is "tšee" (composed from dictionary-verified words)

7. O se ke wa nnyatša

   Do not look down on me

   Usage

   Used to firmly tell someone not to underestimate you

   Grammar Note

   "O se ke wa" + verb is the prohibition. "nnyatša" is "nyatša" (despise, underestimate) with the object prefix for "me" (composed from dictionary-verified words)

Browse all TravelPhrases languages